The Town of Huntsville is expected to move forward with better signage and more education in concert with OPP enforcement, at least if it wants to try and keep boat speeds down along the Muskoka River and other bodies of water.
Councillor Bob Stone brought the issue to staff and council’s attention following complaints he received from property owners along the river.
With the high water level at times and boats going by, because there will always be a wake, it is eroding the shoreline and they’re pretty upset Councillor Bob Stone
Wayne Atkins with Transport Canada was before council on September 25. He said the Town has a Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORR) in place, which covers the Muskoka River and restricts boat speeds to no more than 9km/h. He also said that unless properly signed, enforcement is difficult as anyone trying to fight the $250 ticket for going over the speed limit will have a good chance in court if the limit isn’t properly posted.
He said the municipality is responsible for all signage, which includes its maintenance and removal. “Transport Canada never asked for the speed restriction, this was done by your forefathers in this council. That’s how it happened,” he said. “None of these regulations were implemented by the Federal Government of Canada, except maybe when there is a dam involved.”
He also told council that no wake signs are illegal and a myth. “There is no such thing as a no wake law in Canada,” he said, adding that even a canoe or a mallard duck creates a wake. He said all signage has to be properly marked and cannot mislead navigation. “If you’re smart, you wouldn’t even get into this buoy business, especially if you’re a citizen trying to protect your cottage. I know that’s what you’re doing. It’s not enforceable and if there is an incident at two o’clock in the morning and the boater goes, ‘the buoy confused me,’ guess who’s in trouble… you cannot mislead navigation. You need permission; you need permits to place things in water. You have to follow regulations,” he told those present.
He said there is something called a Universal Shoreline Restriction, which applies to all waters in Ontario where a VORR does not exist. With some exceptions, it mandates that boats cannot go faster than 10km/h within 30 metres of the shoreline.
Rather than use regulation to try and achieve certain behaviour on the lakes and rivers, Atkins said education could work just as well. He said signs on land or boat launches can be effective. He spoke of an organization called Safe Quiet Lakes, who he said has done great work with education.
“We’re finding that the education thing and the outreach is working,” he added.
Municipal staff has been asked to bring a report back to council on the issue by no later than December 31, 2017.
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My understanding has always been that slower boats cause more continual wake, and therefore more damage. Faster boats obviously cause more wake at the origin, but it is far more quickly dissipated.
Arlene, Vernon Narrows was not mentioned. A report with more details is expected to return to council by year end.
Does this also include the Vernon Narrows?
It amazes me that all you have to do to drive a boat is go to a tent at CTC fill out a quiz and you are a boater. Some of these people have never been on a boat or know what to do. But they have a licence, we should do the same for driving the roads fill out a questionnaire and you are a driver doing 150K. I know when we come to town from Penn Lake going through the canals is like driving Hwy 11 after a long weekend everybody is on your tail because “I can’t go that slow the boat won’t steer” I say b____ s___t learn how to drive a boat!