A person from Nicolet receives a penalty of $5,000 for violating the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994

October 10, 2019 – Trois-Rivières, Quebec – Environment and Climate Change Canada

On June 17, 2019, Raymond Faucher (of Nicolet) appeared at the Trois-Rivières courthouse to face a summary conviction charge for violating the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994. He was fined $5,000, and his migratory bird hunting licence was suspended for one year after he pleaded guilty to possessing a crossbow in the Nicolet Migratory Bird Sanctuary to hunt white-tailed deer.

On October 26, 2017, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s enforcement officers joined wildlife protection officers from Quebec’s department of forests, wildlife, and parks on an inspection patrol in the Nicolet Migratory Bird Sanctuary. On Moras Island, the officers discovered a metal lookout positioned above a feeding area. Two weeks later, the officers went to Moras Island, where they apprehended Mr. Faucher while he was hunting. Mr. Faucher did not have a licence to possess a crossbow in the migratory bird sanctuary.

The fine and the summary conviction charge take into account the fact that the Nicolet Migratory Bird Sanctuary is located in the National Defence’s Munitions Experimental Test Centre, where unauthorized access to the public is strictly prohibited for security reasons.

In addition to the fine, Raymond Faucher was ordered to pay three administrative monetary penalties totalling $600 after no-hunting zone posters were found at his residence. The Migratory Birds Regulations state that no person shall deface, tear down, or damage a poster, notice, or sign that has been erected pursuant to these regulations.

The total fine will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.

Quick facts

• The general prohibitions of the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations apply to the Nicolet Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Without a permit issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada or specific authorization from the regulations, hunting migratory birds is prohibited. In addition, no one may disturb, destroy or take their nests, or have in their possession a live or dead migratory bird or a nest or egg of a migratory bird. Possession of firearms or any hunting appliance is prohibited, and dogs and cats must not be permitted to run at large.
• Under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, Environment and Climate Change Canada is responsible for protecting migratory birds, their nests, and populations and for regulating potentially harmful human activities that may affect them.
• The Environmental Damages Fund is administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. It was created in 1995 to provide a mechanism for directing funds received as a result of fines, court orders, and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit the environment.

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