I am strongly opposed to the…

I am strongly opposed to the proposed new anchoring regulations as laid out. The municipalities and province have allowed the overpopulation and development of waterfront properties on our lake systems to the extent that the natural beauty and the environmental safety for the most part has been lost. Our waterways in this province should be shared by all people for the enjoyment, relaxation and education not just the wealthy few that bring their metropolitan idea of nature to our lakes.
As a longtime boater and cottager in Ontario, I believe the water beyond the many docks is a shared and open area for all to enjoy. The 300m rule for anchoring is absurd. It takes away most anchorages in Georgian Bay as the shelter can not be provided at those distances. A 30 m distance would be excessive in some of the smaller bays and shelters. For other lakes such as Simcoe and Couchiching, there would be no anchorages as the shoreline is wall to wall development.
If the province is trying to force regulation on boaters for environmental reasons, maybe they should start a phased in regulation for the handling of grey water (holding tanks) Larger cruiser style and sailboats are already equipped with blackwater handling (holding tanks).
Events of recent years has caused a surge of boaters on our waterways that are less experienced and less cordial to neighbours both on shore and water. A provincial campaign to educate everybody on waterway use and some common sense around “love thy neighbour” would go further than regulations that would be difficult to enforce, cause interpretation issues and have cottagers taking on the role of administrator.
As far as reducing anchorages goes toward economic effect, I offer that it would destroy boating on Georgian Bay. Overnight dockage at most marinas, municipal and private is expensive. So is boating. If you reduce the ability for boaters to explore the waterways, they will simply stop boating. Fuel, dockage, interest rates, luxury taxes etc. are all hard economic realities that boaters are well aware of. It is a discretionary spend.To most that is the first thing that comes under scrutiny when times get tough. To take away a major part of the enjoyment, anchoring in bays and shelters, further reduces the pleasure in owning a boat.
Think of proactive ways to harmonize all the activities on our waterways and stop trying to regulate it!