As someone who lives on…

As someone who lives on lakefront property on Lake of the Woods, floating accommodations have increased immensely over the past 5 years. As rising property costs continue to increase more and more people are choosing a floating home to replace a cottage and 'life on the lake' access.
People put there houseboats in the water as soon as the ice is out and leave them in until freeze up. They boat in and out to their permanently anchored homes. Often these houseboats are anchored in well sheltered bays and areas that have reduced impacts by weather. They are a complete invasion to personal properties that exist on land who pay significant property taxes and costs of owning lakefront property. Some boats have regular parties on weekends, use drones over personal properties, telescopes, binoculors and more. To have them literally moored off the end of your dock for the entire summer is simply not acceptable. In some occasions we have had up to 6 houseboats in our bay in one busy weekend with parties continuing for an entire weekend. This limits us leaving our windows open, enjoying our lakefront property and feeling like we have continual unwanted neighbours.
Something has to be done to regulate these floating accommodations and enforce limitations to where they are permitted to moor and for very short durations. Considering habitation is extremely important. Equally important is these boats being permitted to make any crown land their permanent island for the summer. They don't own it and any more than a few days in one location is not reasonable. Locally it is well known in the area the floating accommodations that sit on certain islands all summer and have for years. Some of us have paid significantly for our lake properties, and these individuals that use crown land as their own the entire summer is not acceptable.

I am thrilled to see the Province is finally making changes that will help to regulate these vessels. Enforcement will be equally as important and the OPP marine units need to ensure they are policing it regularly to keep these boats moving and stay out of the privacy of lakefront property owners.