A Kawartha Lakes man has been fined and placed on probation after admitting he sold livestock without the required licence.
The Case
On July 8, 2025, Darryl Evans appeared in Perth Provincial Offences Court and pleaded guilty to violating the Livestock and Livestock Products Act. The offence took place between July 9 and August 29, 2024. During that time, Evans bought and sold cattle at Kawartha Lakes Community Sales Barn Inc. in Woodville and Renfrew Pontiac Livestock Ltd. in Cobden without a valid dealer’s licence.
The Investigation
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness began looking into Evans’ dealings on August 26, 2024. Investigators with the Regulatory Compliance Unit found that he had been making regular purchases of cattle without meeting the legal requirements. Ontario law makes a licence mandatory for anyone operating as a livestock dealer, in order to protect both producers and the marketplace.
Court Decision and Penalties
Justice of the Peace Andrew Seymour accepted Evans’ guilty plea. The court fined him $2,500, ordered a two-year probation, and applied a 25% victim fine surcharge under the Provincial Offences Act. The probation order prevents Evans from committing a similar offence during that time.
This conviction highlights Ontario’s effort to enforce rules that keep livestock sales fair, transparent, and accountable.
