Marina Operator Convicted 4th Time For Littering Waterway

News Release

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The owner of a Temagami marina has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation for two years after his fourth conviction under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act.

William Kitts, 57, was convicted of depositing construction debris on the ice of Lake Temagami during the winter of 2004. Kitts owns Temagami Marine Ltd.

Court was told that Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers and Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) fishery officers responded to a complaint of debris on the ice in April 2004. They found several large piles of material containing sand, gravel, broken concrete, and pieces of wood – the result of work being done on the Temagami Marine property. The DFO officer issued an order requiring Kitts to remove the material from the site.

Court was also told that Kitts had been previously convicted in 1992, 1995, and again in 2003 for similar offences under the Public Lands Act. Two of these offences occurred at the same property.

Kitts was convicted on March 9, 2006 and sentenced on May 4, 2006 in the Ontario Court of Justice in Haileybury by Justice of the Peace Joseph Oreskovich.

The ministry reminds members of the public that work permits are required for many construction related activities in and around water. Contact your local ministry office for more information before starting work around water.

Call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time to report a natural resource violation or contact your ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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