Terry Thoms, Reginald Cook and Jose Madariaga were sentenced last April at Prince Albert Provincial Court, but the public was only made aware on Wednesday. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Environment

Prince Albert area men fined over $8,000 for illegal possession and transport of timber

Nov 19, 2025 | 12:02 PM

Three men from the Prince Albert area who did not have the required paperwork to transport a load of birch, have been fined $8,229.

Terry Thoms, Reginald Cook and Jose Madariaga pleaded guilty in Prince Albert Provincial Court to offences under The Forest Resources Management Act.

In October 2022, a truck carrying a load of birch travelling along Highway 916, north of Prince Albert National Park, attracted the attention of a conservation officer, who pulled the vehicle over.

The driver, Reginald Cook, was transporting the wood to Terry Thoms to be sold as firewood, but did not have the required shipping and receiving reports.

Further, Thoms had no permit to harvest the birch. The officer travelled to where the wood was being harvested, finding Jose Madariaga in the process of loading two more loads of birch. All the wood was seized and the three were charged.

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Thoms and Madariaga both plead guilty to possessing forest products without a licence. Thoms was fined $4,130 and Madariaga was fined $4,099. In addition to the fines, they were required to deliver the timber to Great Blue Heron Provincial Park, where it was to be used as firewood for visitors.

Cook pleaded guilty and received a Notice of Violation for transporting forest products without shipping and receiving reports.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Environment, resource laws, including the requirement for a licence to harvest Crown timber, are in place to ensure that Saskatchewan’s forests remain sustainable and healthy for future generations.

“The dues and fees paid ensure that the people of the province receive a fair return from those who use public resources and that funds are available to renew the forest.”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell