A man has been convicted for operating as a livestock dealer without the proper licence in Ontario.
Dennis Bakker, whose business activity took place at 1643 Sale Barn Road in Greely, was found guilty of violating Section 2(a) of the Livestock and Livestock Products Act (LLPA), which prohibits unlicensed individuals from engaging in livestock trading.
The offence occurred on March 17, 2024, and the conviction was handed down on May 15, 2025, in Ottawa Provincial Offences Court. Bakker pleaded guilty before Justice of the Peace Maryse Marie France Genest and was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 plus a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, bringing the total penalty to $1,250.
The case originated from a complaint received by the Regulatory Compliance Unit (RCU) of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA). Investigators confirmed that Bakker was actively dealing cattle at the Ottawa Livestock Exchange despite lacking the mandatory licence required under provincial law.
The ministry emphasized the importance of licensing in maintaining traceability, health standards, and accountability within Ontario’s livestock sector.
