Click here for the Boating Safety and Emergencies Mandate and Committee Members
We sit on both the Provincial and Federal Recreational Boating Committees to offer governments input on rules and regulations for licensing, speed, navigational aids and the wearing of PFDs.
We work with the OPP, Canadian Safe Boating Council, Safe Quiet Lakes, and fellow cottager associations such as the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) and Boating Ontario (the marina operators’ association) to ensure continued boating safety and mutual respect between boaters and cottagers.
We consult with the OPP, the Coast Guard, Ministry of Natural Resources and Fire (MNRF) and ORNGE on issues of importance for our members.
Click here for the Boating Safety and Emergencies Mandate and Committee Members
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada between 25 and 30 Canadians die in ice-related incidents each year and many more must be rescued. Mild temperatures this winter have made ice conditions very unpredictable and no ice is safe ice especially when temperatures have not been cold enough for long enough to form thick ice. It can take many consecutive days of sub-zero temperatures to form ice that is thick enough to venture out on. Even if the ice is thick enough to venture out on, there are still considerable risks. - https://youtu.be/T7HHOMsB4YY No Ice is Safe Ice! - Don't overestimate the strength or quality of ice! Always, always use extreme caution if you are venturing out on a frozen lake. Before you go, there are three key steps to perform to assess the safety of the ice: -
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and its Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) partners are cautioning snowmobilers about the increased risks posed by a milder winter and reminding them of the common sense approach needed to avoid a tragic outcome to their riding season. The late onset of cold temperatures and lack of snow in many parts of Ontario have set a particularly dangerous stage for snowmobilers, especially those who are considering riding on frozen waterways. Close to 40 per cent of OPP-investigated snowmobile fatalities have occurred on frozen lakes and rivers over the past 10 years. Snowmobilers are therefore urged to avoid all frozen waterways at all times! The majority of OFSC trails are currently unavailable and snowmobilers need to stay off all OFSC trails e
With weather conditions becoming more unpredictable and storms becoming increasingly severe, being prepared on a winter drive can make a life-or-death difference. Preparing a winter survival kit for your vehicle can save you if you are stuck on the side of the road in poor conditions. Aside from keeping you fuel tank filled and making sure you have an ice-scraper and washer fluid that works down to -40ºC, a winter survival kit for your vehicle should include: a charged cell phone water and non-perishable food flashlight blanket and warm clothes a first aid kit with seat belt cutter jumper cables shovel traction mats or sand candles and a lighter or matches tow rope antifreeze warning light or flares whistle fire extinguisher The government
We all want to protect our properties as best we can over the long winter, but if you use or are considering installing a bubbler to prevent ice damage, there are some import issues to consider. Bubblers are a type of de-icing system that prevent ice from forming around waterfront structures by creating zones of agitated and warmer water. Without careful planning, management and consideration of the nature of your waterfront area, your bubbler can de-ice a significantly larger portion of the water than is necessary to protect your property creating large areas of open water. Legal Implications There is no law against using a bubbler, but Section 263 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada (Duty to safeguard opening in ice) is very clear that those who make or cause to be made
Excessive boat motor noise, caused by boats with no mufflers or ineffective mufflers, is a pervasive problem on many waterways in Canada. Unlike the USA and Europe, Canada does not currently have legislation to restrict excessive boat noise. The simplest solution is to put limits on the amount of noise that boat motors can make. GBA has been working with the Decibel Coalition to encourage the adoption of new legislation on decibel limits that are effective and enforceable. Earlier this spring we asked you to tell Transport Canada your thoughts on the best way to curb boat noise. Now it's time to take this issue to our MPs. You can write to your federal MPs both at the cottage and at your fulltime residence asking them to support these regulatory changes. The Decibel Coalition ha
Nine people using inflatables, paddleboards, and a foam mat had to be rescued by OPP in Georgian Bay last week in four separate incidents. All of these incidents occurred when the water toys and paddleboards were blown too far away from shore and only one person was wearing a lifejacket. Police would like to remind the public of the hazards involved with using inflatable toys, paddleboards and other water based equipment. Here are a few important tips: Always wear a lifejacket. Know your limitations. Set a good example for your children. Check the weather and wind conditions. Conditions may appear smooth near the shoreline, but deteriorate the further you go out. Don't mix alcohol or drugs with water activities. Avoid distractions. Stay off your cellphone. Inflatable to
Questions, questions, questions…and you should find out the answers! The beginning of the cottage season brings a big to do list: fix everything that’s not working, a ton of spring cleaning, check your boating equipment, and change the batteries in your smoke detectors to name just a few. One other job you should add to your list is to do a comprehensive review of your insurance coverages. Fewer companies are offering cottage and boat insurance. Property values and building and repair costs have surged and prices for insurance are going up, but we strongly suggest this is something not to be skimped on. A lack of insurance can make a bad situation so much worse. Remember that Rice Insurance offers a 15% discount to all GBA members on all your insurance needs. You can also ask yo
What the heck are VORRs? VORRS are Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations. A Bit of Background... The federal government has exclusive legislative authority over navigation in all Canadian waters. The Canada Shipping Act (CSA) 2001 governs shipping and navigation in Canadian waters. Part 10 of the Act is specific to pleasure craft. The Minister of Transport is responsible for the administration of this Act. More details... One of the regulations under the CSA 2001 that affect pleasure craft is the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORR’s). VORR’s allow any level of government (federal, provincial, municipal or territorial etc.) to ask the federal government to restrict the use of commercial or recreational vessels on any Canadian waters to promote safety, pro
As many head out on the waters for the first long weekend of the season, Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) wants you to be prepared when you hop in your boat. - This year the CSBC has 5 key focuses to promote safe and responsible boating practices when you’re on the water this season: - Wear Your lifejacket - the majority of recreational boating related deaths in Canada continue to involve individuals who were not wearing a PFD (80%+) and sadly most of these fatalities were avoidable. Boat Sober – the use of any intoxicants (alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs) is both irresponsible and illegal. Be prepared, You and Your Vessel – make sure you and your boat are properly equipped for your activities. Take a Boating Course – our waterways will be very busy
It’s a beautiful sunny day. And you or your family or your guests can’t wait to get on the water. The canoe is just sitting there on the dock so what better way to spend the afternoon on the water than to hop in a canoe, get a tan and soak in nature. There’s no motor, people will be close to shore so what could go possibly wrong - even if the people in the canoe are totally inexperienced? But the fact is that troubling numbers have emerged about the use of canoes and the drowning fatalities associated with them. It seems that people look at canoes as one of the safest on water activities. But nothing could be further from the truth. Last year’s OPP fatality data showed canoes as the vessel type with the most drownings at 10 of the 27 that occurred or 37%. In 2020 the results
Last year in Ontario there were 1,198 wildland fires – with approximately 793,325 hectares of forests burned - a record. This number includes a 200,000-hectare fire, the largest since the province started keeping statistics in 1960. Each year about half of all wildland fires are caused by people. The Ontario government is ready to respond to this year’s wildland fire season, which lasts from April 1 until October 31. Ontario’s resources to fight wildland fires include: Up to 800 fire rangers with the ability to bring in more as needed, and a support staff of more than 500 A fleet of specialized aircraft used to suppress wildland fires and transport staff across the province nine water bombers six twin otters five turbo beavers and eight helicopters use
Fantastic news for Georgian Bay boaters! Transport Canada has issued a Tier 1 Policy to accept electronic visual distress signal devices (eVDSD) in lieu of traditional pyrotechnic distress signals (flares) in an effort to improve pleasure craft safety. The policy, which applies only to pleasure craft, came into force on November 9th, 2021 and will be reviewed in five years. Small Vessel Regulations currently require all pleasure craft longer than six metres to carry pyrotechnic distress signals unless: they are operating on a river, canal or lake in which they can at no time be more than one nautical mile from shore; or they have no sleeping arrangements and are engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition The Burning Issues with Tr
Boating from October through June offers a very different experience steeped in solitude and excellent fishing. It is a beautiful time to be on the water. But boating during this season also requires extra attention to detail and the ability to be self-sufficient given that there are fewer boaters around should you require assistance. Here are some helpful tips from the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) and the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters to make off-season boating safer for you. Check the weather forecast. The weather can change quickly and storms can be more violent. Fog is also more common. Ensure that your boat and engine are in good working order. Ethanol-based fuel can allow water contamination in the tank. The use of a fuel additive prevents water in the f
Here are some things to think about around Fire Safety at the cottage: Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and working. Have a list of local emergency numbers posted for all to see. Include all pertinent cottage location information. Have the right fire extinguishers in the right places. Have an individual fire plan for evacuation. Make sure your plan has two escape routes. Respect local fire ratings. Have a fire pump and use it regularly to ensure it is in good working order. At the very least have a list of neighbours to call for assistance. Follow your association’s emergency plan if it exists. Make sure you have insurance. Make sure you understand what it covers and that it is adequate to rebuild and covers contents AND fire de
Large wakes continue to be a bone of contention. They cause damage to docks and shorelines and can be very disruptive to cottagers enjoyment of their docks. What can be done? The occasional disruption and damage caused by excessive wakes are an ongoing source of irritation between boaters and cottagers. Boaters are responsible for their wakes and any damage caused by them. But the OPP tells us that damage caused by wakes is a civil issue. And so what you need to do is be able to identify the vessel and the operator and pursue the matter in small claims court if a reasonable result can’t be agreed upon between the parties on their own. However, if a boater is observed to be operating their vessel in a dangerous or careless way then the OPP should be called. They ideally would like t
This past summer there seemed to be a search & rescue operation happening and it left many cottagers confused about what was going on. The questions were about what to do in a situation like that - where to get information, and potentially how to help. When involved in a current investigation the OPP generally will not disseminate info through the media. They most often feel they have the resources to adequately conduct a search. Note that, if the OPP does ask the public for assistance, they are civilly liable if a member of the public gets injured while searching, and so tend not to involve the public. If the OPP is not successful then they will ask the public for assistance through media channels. If people have questions they can call the OPP non emergency ( 1 800-310-1122 ) num
Do you know what your boat insurance covers? I just found out that mine doesn’t cover environmental damage/clean up charges. If there is damage done to the environment from your boat in any way ( spills or collisions or whatever ), the government, whether they clean it up or bring in a private contractor, will bill the owner of each boat involved. Under the Marine Liability Act the responsibility for costs associated with spill clean up resides strictly with vessel owners. And that can be expensive. My wake up call about environmental coverage serves as a reminder that it is a good thing to review the coverage you have on your boat. The following are some of the points you might want to consider. But remember these are general points only. You must discuss and confirm you have the
Here is an outline of boating (vessel) offence excerpts from the Criminal Code, Canada Shipping Act and Ontario Liquor License Act. They were sourced using the online applications, BOATsmart and Shield Basic Ontario and the web site of Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Read here.
What to do about missing or out of place channel markers, faded reflectors, etc. If you notice a missing or out of place channel marker, damaged red triangle or black square or faded reflectors on any of these you should report this information to the Canadian Coast Guard in Parry Sound. You should include as much information as possible including buoy numbers, name of channel or specific location and details of the problem you are reporting. Written notes can be sent to; Canadian Coast Guard Supervisor Operations, Aids to Navigation, 28 Waubeek street, Parry Sound, ON, P2A 1B9 or phoned into 705-773-4322
The Insurance Bureau of Canada and the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations have compiled the following list of 10 Safety Tips to remind people to make safety a priority getting to and while at the cottage. Here are the top 10 safety tips as you prepare to head up to the cottage, and after you get there. Check your car’s lights, signals, tire pressure and fluids before the trip to the cottage. Check your first-aid kit and replace any missing supplies. Check and maintain cottage smoke detectors and CO detectors. Check the condition of boat(s), including fuel lines and tanks. Check that all required safety equipment is on board and in good repair. Remove dry leaves and debris from the cottage roof and/or eavestroughs to reduce fire risk. Prepare for extreme
Responsibilities of Cottage Owners who rent or lend cottage boats.
First, check with your insurance company – are there any issues?
If a cottage owner still chooses to make a boat available to a person renting a cottage they should be aware...
Here is a link to a great short video our friends at Safe Quiet Lakes produced on Boat Noise.
By Cottage Life A joy of cottage life often involves walking down to the dock and taking the boat out to indulge in a variety of activities like fishing, parasailing, or water skiing. For the less active among us, there’s always the joy of taking a pleasure cruise out as far as possible before sinking the anchor and simply taking in the sunshine. When you’ve got a boat, there are multiple ways to take advantage of our great summer weather on our rivers and lakes. Our summers may be short, but it’s important to take the time to ensure your boating experiences are both fun and safe, so you and your family can enjoy time together on the water for many summers to come. Here are 5 tips you should follow when you’re out on the water at the cottage this summer and every summer: