March 24, 2023 The…

March 24, 2023

The Honourable Graydon Smith, M.P.P.,
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry,
Room 6630, 5th Floor,
99 Wellesley St. West,
Toronto, ON M7A 1W3

Dear Sir,

We are writing to provide input regarding the proposal to amend Ontario Regulation 161/17 under the Public Lands Act regarding floating accommodations (Environmental Registry of Ontario # 019-6590 – Regulation).

Amendments to this Regulation (initially proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on February 24, 2023) – which would clarify the types of accommodation units that can be used to camp on water over public land, and the conditions that must be met when doing so – are welcomed.

We have concerns, however, about the modifications to this original proposal that were put forth on March 16, 2023. Specifically, it is important that amendments to this Regulation include reinstatement of the following conditions:

1. reducing the number of days that a person can camp on water over public land (per location, per calendar year), from 21 days to 7 days;

2. increasing the distance that a person camping on water must move their camping unit to a different location, from 100 metres to 1 kilometre; and,

3. prohibiting camping on water within 300 metres of a developed shoreline, including any waterfront structure, dock, boathouse, erosion-control structure, altered shoreline, boat launch, and/or fill.

These three conditions will help to decrease the environmental pressures sustained by waterways (e.g., negative impacts to water quality, aquatic plants, and fish and wildlife habitats), reduce impediments to navigation, and ensure that the rights of property owners and other recreational users (e.g., canoeists, boaters) to enjoy these areas are valued.

Respectfully submitted,

Nicole Brooker and Paul Tamburro,
Board of Directors,

Temagami Lakes Association
1720 Lake Temagami Access Road,
Temagami, ON P0H 2H0