Southern Ont. men plead guilty to dredging shorelands without permit

An undated image of an Ontario conservation officer vehicle parked on the side of the road. (Ministry of Natural Resources)

Two Southern Ont. men have pleaded guilty to unlawfully dredging shorelands along a Haliburton lake without a permit.

The men, both from Haliburton, were each fined $2,000 after admitting to the offence under Ontario’s public lands legislation.

The court heard that on Aug. 11, 2025, the pair were operating an excavator along the shoreline of Lipsy Lake in the Township of Dysart et al.

While attempting to remove woody debris and aquatic vegetation, the excavator was driven into the lake.

“The lakebed was scraped and dredged using the heavy machinery without obtaining a permit,” stated the Ministry of Natural Resources in its findings. “Witnesses observed the excavator in the water and immediately reported the incident to the ministry TIPS line.”

This prompted a response from ministry staff and an investigation by conservation officers.

The Ontario Court of Justice heard the case in the City of Kawartha Lakes on Feb. 24, 2026.