Sinking ice huts net $600 fines

In two separate cases, ice hut owners from Sudbury have been fined for leaving their ice huts on the ice after it became unsafe and began to break up.

Stephen Allen pleaded guilty to failing to remove his ice hut from Ramsey Lake and was fined $600.

Kyle Brown pleaded guilty to failing to remove his ice hut from Broder Township Lake No. 23 and was also fined $600.

Allen’s ice hut had been moved away from rapidly deteriorating ice by Ministry of Natural Resources staff, but Allen failed to respond to a request from ministry staff to take the hut off the lake, according to a news release from the MNR. Allen’s ice hut was then vandalized and became a hazard on the lake bed of Ramsey Lake.

MNR staff also tried unsuccessfully to work with Brown to get his ice hut removed from Broder Township Lake No. 23.

Both ice huts were eventually removed from the lakes by ministry staff and conservation officers. Other ice huts on these lakes were removed in time.

The MNR reminds the public that the final deadline for ice hut removal in Fisheries Management Zone 10 is March 31, but ice-hut owners must be aware of ice conditions and remove ice huts and other property before March 31 if the ice becomes unsafe or breaks up.

Justice of the Peace Lori-Ann Toulouse heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury on Aug. 14.

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