Man fined $10K for abandoning homemade barge in Lake Nipissing

A man from Lavigne, Ont., has been fined $10,000 for abandoning a homemade barge in Lake Nipissing. (FIle)

A man from Lavigne, Ont., has been fined $10,000 for abandoning a homemade barge in Lake Nipissing.

Benjamin Lindsay was found guilty of unlawfully depositing materials on public lands and unlawfully depositing materials on water covering public lands. In addition to the fine, he is prohibited from camping on Crown land in Ontario for five years.

"The court heard that an investigation was made after complaints were received in June 2023 about a home-made barge on Lake Nipissing," the Ministry of Natural Resources said in a news release Friday.

"At the time, it was partially sunk in the public boat launch. The barge, which was built using an old pontoon boat and agricultural water tanks, was overloaded with a camper trailer, a truck topper and a variety of appliances, tools, motors and other items."

The barge was later abandoned in the northwest bay of Lake Nipissing, where it spent the winter.

"In the spring of 2024, the barge was found partially sunk along with a wide variety of household materials, broken equipment, fuel and oil cans and other garbage along the adjacent shoreline," the MNR said.

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Justice of the Peace Ruby Beck heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay on Sept. 26.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667. Call Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-222-TIPS.

For more information about unsolved cases, click here.