THUNDER BAY – Crime News – A mining company and a construction and mining services company have been fined under the Public Lands Act for illegally building a mining camp.
Vancouver-based Fancamp Explorations Ltd. pleaded guilty and Webequie Logistics Ltd. of Thunder Bay was found guilty of carrying out construction work without the authority of a work permit. They were fined $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Webequie Logistics Ltd. was also found guilty of disobeying a stop work order and fined $5,000.
Webequie Logistics Ltd. president Clayton Downton, of Thunder Bay, and director Samuel Lappage, of Cochrane, Alberta, were found guilty, and fined $2,000 and $2,500 respectively, for carrying out construction work without a work permit. Lappage was also fined $2,500 for disobeying a stop work order.
The court heard that Fancamp Explorations Ltd. contracted Webequie Logistics Ltd. to build and service a mining camp on Fancamp Explorations Ltd.’s mining claims, located on the north shore of Koper Lake, 350 kilometres north of Geraldton, in the Ring of Fire area. Between October and December 2010, the Ministry of Natural Resources informed Webequie Logistics Ltd. several times that a work permit was required for construction. An investigation confirmed that the company continued construction without a work permit and in contravention of a stop work order. Under the authority of a work permit, Fancamp Explorations Ltd. later cleaned up the site prior to its court date.
The cases were heard in the Ontario Court of Justice, Thunder Bay, by Justice of the Peace Robert Michels on June 5, 2013, and Justice of the Peace Ray Zuliani on November 24, 2013, and February 5, 2014.
To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free 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).
Ken Tuuri, Nipigon District, 807-887-5021
Ken Albu, Nipigon District, 807-854-1836 ontario.ca/mnr
