2023-Jul-12
Proposed Regulations Amending VORRs Are Now Available for Comment
There are a number of items that are addressed in this submission including engine power limits, updating exemptions, technical requirements for signage, wake surfing restriction, designation authority and administrative corrections. The two topics more likely to impact our membership are engine power limits and wake surfing.
Engine Power Limits
At present because of the limited scope of subsection 2(4), if local authorities want to specify an engine power limit on a local body of water that is not within a public park or controlled access body of water they have had to apply for another form of restriction. For example, local authorities wishing to request a maximum engine power restriction have instead requested a speed limit because an engine power limit was not available as an option.
Engine power limits are easier to enforce than speed limit restrictions because the latter requires active monitoring, the use of detection equipment that at times may not provide reliable and accurate readings, and the gathering and production of evidence. On the other hand, a restriction on engine power is easier to enforce because a simple visual inspection of the engine can confirm its power. For example, with such a restriction in place, any vessel equipped with an engine over a certain hp would not be permitted to be operated on the designated body of water.
Wake Surfing
Wake surfing has been a discussion with stakeholders for quite some time. Local authorities who have identified wake surfing activities as problematic on all or portions of their bodies of water have been asking for a way to address these issues without limiting other types of recreational activities (e.g. waterskiing) that may not pose a problem. Under Schedule 7 of the current regulations, wake surfing activities could be prohibited but that restriction would also apply to all towing activities. Removing wake surfing from Schedule 7 and creating a unique wake surfing schedule would respond to local authorities’ desire to address limiting or prohibiting wake surfing in a more precise manner.
We encourage you to fully investigate all of the proposed changes here.
How to comment
Federal departments and agencies allow interested groups and individuals to review and comment on proposed regulations published in Part I of the Canada Gazette before they become official. You can comment on proposed regulations found in the open consultations section of this page. Once the consultation period is over, you will be able to view all submitted comments in the closed consultations with published comments.