R. v. Tremblett (W.), (2007) 281 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 282 (NLPC)

• Judge: Kennedy, P.C.J.
• Court: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court (Canada)
• Case Date: May 18, 2007
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: (2007), 281 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 282 (NLPC)

R. v. Tremblett (W.) (2007), 281 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 282 (NLPC);

    863 A.P.R. 282

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2008] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. NO.027

Her Majesty the Queen v. William Tremblett

(No. 0606A00135)

Indexed As: R. v. Tremblett (W.)

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court

District of Clarenville

Kennedy, P.C.J.

May 18, 2007.

Summary:

The accused held a snow crab licence. He was charged with failing to remove crab pots prior to the commencement of a closed time contrary to s 25(2) of the Fisheries Act. The accused, whose boat became unseaworthy just before the end of the season, alleged that he did everything that a reasonable fisher could have done and exhausted all reasonable options to remove the pots.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court found the accused guilty.

Fish and Game - Topic 2107

Fishing offences - Defences - Due diligence - The accused held a snow crab licence - He was charged with failing to remove crab pots prior to the commencement of a closed time (Fisheries Act, s. 25(2)) - The accused's boat became unseaworthy just before the end of the season (end of July 2005) - He alleged that he did everything that a reasonable fisher could have done and exhausted all reasonable options to remove the 280 pots - First, he arranged for Fisher to haul in the pots and informed the Department of Fisheries (DFO) - Three good weather days were needed - But Fisher took another job in mid-August - The accused signed a contract with Durdle to retrieve the pots but Durdle failed to do so despite having weather opportunities to do so - In the Fall of 2007, the accused contacted Efford to retrieve the pots but Efford required $7,000 up front - The accused did not complete the agreement because he was unable to obtain funding or the money - The accused had periodic contact with DFO - DFO warned that the pots had to be out of the water by December 10th or prosecution would be likely - Finally, DFO retrieved 230 pots on February 7, 2006 - The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court found the accused guilty - The accused was participating in a highly regulated industry - He was aware of the risks inherent in leaving the pots in the water - The court had to balance any hardship imposed upon the accused in complying with the conditions of his licence against the need to protect and prevent the endangerment of the interest of the public in the conservation and management of the fishery resource - The accused had a viable albeit expensive option in order to comply but he did not use that option - He allowed his personal economic circumstances to take priority over the public interest - His reasons for not complying were excuses and were not valid reasonable reasons for non-compliance.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Sault Ste. Marie (City), [1978] 2 S.C.R. 1299; 21 N.R. 295; 40 C.C.C.(2d) 533; 3 C.R.(3d) 30; 7 C.E.L.R. 53; 85 D.L.R.(3d) 161, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Chapin, [1979] 2 S.C.R. 121; 26 N.R. 289; 45 C.C.C.(2d) 333, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. and Chedore, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 154; 130 N.R. 1; 49 O.A.C. 161; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 161, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Nova Scotia Pharmaceutical Society (No. 2), [1992] 2 S.C.R. 606; 139 N.R. 241; 114 N.S.R.(2d) 91; 313 A.P.R. 91; 74 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 15 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Longmire (M.E.) (1997), 162 N.S.R.(2d) 52; 485 A.P.R. 52 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Jarvis, [1993] N.S.J. No. 639 (Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Agpro Grain Inc. and Bielka (1996), 142 Sask.R. 37 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Ship Elm et al., [1998] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. Uned. 31 (Nfld. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Alexander (B.) (1999), 171 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 74; 525 A.P.R. 74 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Ploughman, [2002] N.J. No. 67 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Starvish (1986), 76 N.S.R.(2d) 43; 189 A.P.R. 43 (Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 21].

Coronach Credit Union Ltd. v. Saskatchewan Housing Corp. (1991), 94 Sask.R. 49 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 21].

Thompson Newspapers Ltd. v. Director of Investigation and Research, Combines Investigation Act et al., [1990] 1 S.C.R. 425; 106 N.R. 161; 39 O.A.C. 161; 76 C.R.(3d) 129, refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Latimer (R.W.), [2001] 1 S.C.R. 3; 264 N.R. 99; 203 Sask.R. 1; 240 W.A.C. 1; 2001 SCC 1, refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. Perka, Nelson, Hines and Johnson, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 232; 55 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. Mardane Construction, [1995] O.J. No. 4944 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Cyanamid Canada Inc. (1981), 11 C.E.L.R. 31 (Ont. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Cachem Inc., [1989] N.S.J. No. 499, refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Commander Business Furniture Inc., [1992] O.J. No. 2904 (Prov. Div.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Gonder (1981), 62 C.C.C.(2d) 326 (Yuk. Terr. Ct.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Consolidated Mayburn Mines Ltd., [1993] O.J. No. 2935 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 30].

Vancouver (City) v. Access Collateral Pawnbrokers Ltd., [2006] B.C.T.C. 1514 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Bata Industries Ltd. et al. (1992), 70 C.C.C.(3d) 394 (Ont. Prov. Div.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Bremner and Bremner Engineering and Construction Ltd. (1991), 119 A.R. 81 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. Bleta, [2003] O.J. No. 1672 (Prov. Div.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Fletcher (R.L.) (1996), 174 N.B.R.(2d) 317; 444 A.P.R. 317 (T.D.), dist. [para. 39].

R. v. Mac's Convenience Stores Inc. (1985), 14 C.E.L.R. 120 (Ont. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 40].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Strautz, N.J., Beyond R. v. Sault St. Marie: The Creation and Expansion of Strict Liability and the Due Diligence Defence (1992), 30 Alta. L.Rev. (No. 4) 1233, generally [para. 31].

Swaigen, John, Regulatory Offenses in Canada, Liability and Defences (1992), pp. 80, 81 [para. 23].

Counsel:

J. Hughes, for the Crown;

Catherine Boyde, for the defence.

This matter was heard before Kennedy, P.C.J., of the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, District of Clarenville, who delivered the following oral ruling on May 18, 2007.