Theft of Timber
The offence of theft of timber is outlined in section 339(1) of the Criminal Code.
A person commits the offence of theft of timber when they:
- take, hold, keep, conceal, receive, appropriate, purchase, or sell any lumber or lumber equipment found near or in any Canadian rivers, streams, lakes, or coastal waters;
- when they remove alter, obliterate, or deface a mark or number on such lumber or lumbering equipment; or
- where they refuse to deliver such lumber or lumbering equipment to its owner.
Examples
Person A spots a neatly wrapped stack of sawlogs adrift in a lake and decides to take it out of the water, load it onto their truck, and take it home to use as firewood.
Person B finds an unattended pile of timber stacked ashore next to a lake with markings on them clearly indicating they belong to person C, who person B knows well. Person B, however, decides to keep the timber for themselves.
Offence Specific Defence(s)
Not Lumber or Lumbering Equipment
Where the person takes, holds, keeps, conceals, receives, appropriates, purchases, or sells something that is not lumber or lumber equipment, they have not completed the offence of theft of timber.
Colour of Right
Colour of right refers to a person’s legal right to something. If a person owns a piece of lumber, they have colour of right in that lumber.
Lack of Intent
Where the person lacks the intention to steal, they may not have completed the offence of theft of timber.
For example, if lumber that person A is transporting by stream happens to wash ashore onto person B’s land without person B’s knowledge, person B may not have completed the offence of theft of timber.
No Clear Owner
Where it is not clear who the owner of the found lumber or lumber equipment is, a person who does not deliver this lumber or lumber equipment to its owner may not have completed the offence of theft of timber.
More Legal Information
Law Newbie™ is a free legal assistant developed by our criminal lawyers to help you understand the law.
In criminal cases, there are very strict rules governing what evidence can be used and how it can be used.
The rights enjoyed of all those within Canada are contained in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Criminal procedure is the process by which an accused person is arrested and brought through the justice system.
Sentencing refers to the punishment that is ordered when an individual is found guilty of a criminal offence.
Offences in Canada are listed in the Criminal Code. They include crimes related to people, vehicles and weapons.