Frederic Serre
The Advocate
The strong arm of the law has come down hard on 75 men and women throughout Quebec’s Montérégie and Lanaudière territory, each found guilty of poaching charges in the wake of a four-year investigation that saw fines totalling $314,430 levied against members of what investigators say belonged to a well-organized network.
The Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs in November released the details of its lengthy investigation. Dubbed Operation 57, more than 100 provincial wildlife investigators swooped in on various locations in the region four years ago, on Nov. 27, 2019, making the arrests after acting on tips received from local residents regarding various offences related to poaching. The arrests resulted in the dismantling of a well-organized poaching network, investigators said.
In a recent statement issued Nov. 20, 2023, the provincial authorities provided a detailed list of individuals, including their addresses, charges and fines.
The investigation focused on various activities, including the sale, purchase, illegal possession and exceeding of limits of fish and game, as well as the illegal fishing of yellow perch, walleye, sturgeon and striped bass. Some individuals were also charged with using live fish bait, a practice that is prohibited in Quebec, while others were charged with picking, possessing and selling wild garlic.
According to the ministry, the majority of individuals charged pleaded guilty.
The person facing the biggest fine is Francis Laroche of Beauharnois, slapped with a $67,925 penalty for a total of seven violations – illegal sale of fish, exceeding limits and illegal possession of fish, use of live bait, illegal purchase of large game, non-compliance with fish size limits, use of prohibited fishing gear, and fishing during prohibited times. Laroche also has had his hunting and fishing permits suspended for two years. He is also prohibited from fishing or possessing fishing gear within 100 meters of any body of water for a period of two years (from April 8, 2022).
The second most heavily fined individual is Marcel Champagne of Ste. Barbe. He was fined $54,350 in connection with the illegal purchase and selling of fish, the illegal purchase of large game and the sale and purchase of wild garlic.
Also listed among those facing the heaviest fines were Paul-Emile Richer of Godmanchester, who was fined $20,975; and Jessy Maurice of Beauharnois, who was hit with $11,175 in penalties.
Fifteen residents of Salaberry de Valleyfield were charged. They include Jean-Michel Leboeuf ($6,705), David Breton ($6,375), Jocelyn Faubert ($5,475), Réal Moyen ($5,475), Michel Forget ($5,000), Martine Durocher ($3,650), Patrick Deschambault ($3,650), Carl Delaunière ($3,000), Réal Dufour ($3,000), Gaétan Patry ($3,000), Yolande Laporte ($2,500), Gaétanne Charrette-Giroux ($2,500), Linda Pilon ($2,500), Michèle Schryer ($2,500), François Lafrenière ($2,500).
Richard Clément ($6,650) and Denis Poirier ($3,000), both of Ste. Barbe, as well as Gérald Galipeault of St. Louis de Gonzague ($5,475) and Etienne Nuckle of Terrebonne ($4,600) were among those listed.
Meanwhile, Roger Archambault of St. Zotique, pleaded guilty to illegal fishing and was fined $2,500, while Richmond Monette of Coteau du Lac also pleading guilty to illegal fishing, and fined $2,000. Luce Laberge of St. Zotique was fined $1,825 for the illegal purchase of fish, and Robert Latreille of St. Zotique, was fined $1,825 for the same offence.