Bill Boyd has pleaded guilty to environmental charges stemming from last year.
Days before his retirement from politics, the former cabinet minister was charged with three counts under The Environmental Management and Protections Act and one count under The Wildlife Habitat Protection Act.
On Tuesday, in a courtroom in Kindersley, Boyd pleaded guilty to one charge under the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act and one charge from the Environmental Management and Protections Act.
Court heard Boyd cultivated wildlife habitat owned by the Ministry of Agriculture and made significant changes to waterways around the river near Eston for an irrigation system. He did all of this without even applying for a permit.
The Crown argued while Boyd’s actions did not appear to be deliberate, someone in his position in government should have known better.
The two other charges were dropped.
Boyd could face fines totalling more than $30,000 including $5,000 for the first charge and $25,000 to $30,000 for the second.
The case was adjourned and Boyd will be back in court to hear a judge’s decision on fines for the charges on April 17.
— With files from Global Saskatoon’s Meaghan Craig