A charge against county councillor Lou Maieron for keeping a swan on his property has been stayed.
On Feb. 16 Justice Jeannette De Jong stayed the charge of unlawful possession of a migratory bird.
The decision came after it was discovered a Crown witness improperly observed proceedings in the courtroom prior to offering evidence.
Maieron, owner of Silver Creek Aquaculture, was charged after an Environment Canada officer visited his farm last June.
Despite admitting to feeding the bird and placing it in a cage from time to time, Maieron was challenging the charge and the $180 fine, calling the law “ridiculous” and “a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.”
