Comment
I think Ontario has way more then enough red tape in place.
Boating and “boat camping” is one of the last peaceful “getaways” left to do in ontario without having to pay some sort of fee or obtain a permit etc.
People have been camping on the water for hundreds of years without concern.
Instead of putting new rules/laws into affect on how and where a boat should stay,claiming it will “help the environment” the MNRF should enforce the laws of illegal black and grey water dumping by actually checking boats that are at anchor in a bay to ensure compliance.
I am a huge advocate for sustaining our lakes and river systems but this is just more red tape that will do nothing, most boaters will not even know these new rules would exist, secondly it would require some level of enforcement which I am sure would be very hard to do ( counting how many days a specific vessel was anchored in a specific location).
If you really want to get serious about doing something to protect the environment then I suggest the MNRF start with vessel bilge inspections and enforcing black and grey water compliance, I personally know that thousands of vessels on our Ontario waters have “oily bilges” which get pumped directly overboard every day.
These vessels should be inspected and ordered to be hauled out of the water until the bilge area is clean of any toxins, then a follow up with MNRF before relaunch.
To summarize, Ontario needs more inspections, enforcement and follow-up inspections on existing laws on the water before it implements any more new laws “ that will not be enforced and followed up on “ .
Submitted March 8, 2023 4:25 AM
Comment on
Proposal to amend Ontario Regulation 161/17 to the Public Lands Act to change the requirements related to floating accommodations
ERO number
019-6590
Comment ID
82933
Commenting on behalf of
Comment status