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MNR stole my ice hut, claims controversial owner

The Ministry and the OPP combined yesterday to pull his hut off the ice and onto a flatbed tow truck.
ice hut rental mnrf seize mh 2017
MNRF officers seize the ice hut belonging to Marc Hyndman. Submitted photo.

The man at the centre of a battle with the MNRF is accusing the government ministry of stealing his ice hut and depriving his family of its income.

Marc David Hyndman (aka Rochefort) told BayToday that, "I'm in trouble. This is how our government spends our tax dollars. They have wasted/spent more in one day than I would have earned all winter!"

The Ministry and the OPP combined yesterday to pull his hut off the ice near Sunset Point on Lake Nipissing and onto a flatbed tow truck on which it was hauled away.

See: Infamous ice hut owner defies ministry

In a video Hyndman sent to BayToday he can be heard accusing the MNRF of "stealing my hut".

"Violating my rights to safety, and violating my right to provide for my family and violating my right as a father to provide for my son."

Hyndman came into public focus after posting an online ad for his fishing business, Icehutrentals.ca, in which he said natives carrying status cards were not welcome.

See: UPDATE: Apology issued (Ice hut rental ad draws complaints of racism)

A call to the MNRF for comment was not returned by publication time.

Hyndman doesn't have a commercial license, but attempted to circumvent the law by not charging customers.

Earlier, he wrote BayToday, "We had 2 customers from last year for the last 2 days and are coming back tomorrow plus 2 new guys. I haven't asked for a dime from them. I am on a donation basis and literally if all you had was lint in your pocket that's enough for me. Some people bring food, some people donate some small piece of fishing equipment or something the hut needs, some people put some gas in my truck."

He also claims broad support from other anglers in his effort to have equal rights as natives to fishing the lake.

"The business community is speaking loud and clear, besides 2 whiny girls not focused on their own ice fishing business. We have rights too. We are claiming it is against our inherent human rights for any group to claim special and superseding rights to a common and needed resource. 'If it's not equal it's not legal'. I have to feed my son just as much as the man on the other side of the lake.

"If your a man and I'm a man, then your children and my children can all play by the same rules. Treaties need to become legal with the current times and be passionately agreeable for both parties otherwise when one party holds hostage and degrades the interests of another party, well we get what we have here on Lake Nipissing! Ice Fishing Wars"

BayToday will update this story.

 

 


 


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Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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