MAN FINED $5,000 FOR DEALING CATTLE WITHOUT A LICENCE

November 4, 2008

KITCHENER - A Waterloo resident has been convicted for dealing cattle without a licence. The charges arose from an investigation by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).

On October 20, 2008, William Parsons pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice in Kitchener to one count under the Livestock and Livestock Products act. The court heard that between February 5 and March 16, 2008, Parsons had been engaging in the business of buying and selling cattle at the Ontario Livestock Exchange in Waterloo, without a dealer's licence as required under the act.

Justice of the Peace Gord Chaput sentenced Parsons to a fine of $5,000 plus victim fine surcharge. This is Parson's second offence under the Act. He was convicted of dealing cattle without a licence for the first time in January 2007.

In Ontario, all livestock dealers (abattoirs, associations, livestock auction markets, country dealers and packing plants) are required to be licensed under the LLPA. This legislation is administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) with investigative and prosecution services provided by MNR.

Anyone with information regarding violations of provincial food and inspection legislation is asked to contact Nicola Finlay, OMAFRA's acting compliance and enforcement manager at (519) 826-4537 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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