Charges dropped against former Bracebridge mayor accused of violating Endangered Species Act
Charges have been dropped against former Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith for allegations of violating Ontario's Endangered Species Act back in 2021.
Smith, now the Minister of Natural Resources, was accused, along with the municipality and two town employees, of destroying Blanding's turtle's nests and endangering their habitat during a road grading project on Peace Valley Road.
Micheal Opara, who brought forth the charges, claims to have seen a Blanding's turtle in the area on two separate occasions.
On Tuesday, the matter was heard virtually through the Provincial Offences Office in Bracebridge.
Court heard from the agent representing the Ministry of the Attorney General that the charges were reviewed and could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, saying there was insufficient evidence of the turtles being in the area at the time.
"It's unfortunate the town doesn't have the desire to preserve our turtle species," said Opara in court. "It's unfortunate and unfortunate where this has come to. We have a town that doesn't care and doesn't do its job."
CTV News reached out to Graydon Smith for comment but was referred to the municipality.
In a press release, the town said it's "committed to environmental stewardship and protecting the beauty of Muskoka while keeping our roads safe. The town's innocence was shown by the intervention of the crown and withdrawal of these unsubstantiated charges."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
A Nigerian chess champion plays the royal game for 60 hours - a new global chess record
A Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate played chess nonstop for 60 hours in New York City's Times Square to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.