Transport Committee on Oct. 29th, 2024

[Benjamin Furtado]

In terms of awareness, we have a bylaw, but we also have information brochures, an info letter and an Internet page, which is easy to find and well set-out. We give brochures to users who arrive at the dock to use the ramp, so that they have all the information they need and are aware of all applicable bylaws.

Even though we don't really have the right to prohibit water sports, we at least propose areas where they can be practised. As I mentioned earlier, we also hired a private security firm to conduct water patrols. The patrols serve to raise awareness and enforce the few bylaws that the municipality is able to enforce. I think the municipality is very proactive on this issue.

We refer to a provincial policy on environmental protection, especially when it comes to shoreline erosion. I'm sure we can find studies on water quality.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

You have mentioned quite a few good measures which are having various impacts. Could you table documents with the committee about what you just explained to us?

[Benjamin Furtado]

Are you talking about the work we do to raise awareness?

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Yes.

[Benjamin Furtado]

Yes, I could send you some documentation on that.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Apart from hiring a security firm, what other steps have you taken to ensure bylaw compliance?

What has proven to be the most impactful?

[Benjamin Furtado]

Do you want to know which bylaw is broken the most often?

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Earlier, your colleagues talked about activities and behaviours on the waters of Lake Simon that violate your bylaws. What process does the municipality follow in cases of bylaw violations?

[Benjamin Furtado]

We usually proceed by identifying the boaters, particularly with the help of the stickers they we issue for boats. Then, depending on what has taken place, we issue a ticket.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

What is the negative impact of these bylaw violations? What exactly are the impacts? How do they harm the environment?

[Benjamin Furtado]

As we explained earlier, we are seeing shoreline erosion and sediment suspension in the water. As I also stated, we have to deal with certain behaviours, i.e., when people anchor in shallow bays, have a drink and then do their business in the water.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I have one last question for you: As my Conservative colleagues tried to infer earlier, does the gas tax or carbon tax have any impact on bylaws?

[Benjamin Furtado]

Not at all.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Mr. Iacono.

Mr. Barsalou-Duval, you now have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

So far, we've talked about municipalities or other entities regulating navigation on lakes.

I would like the representatives of the Municipalité de Lac-Simon and Memphremagog Conservation Inc. to explain the requirements for obtaining a boating licence. If someone wants to get their licence to operate a boat, what do they have to do? Do you think the licence requirements are sufficiently stringent right now?

[Ariane Orjikh]

You have to take an online test to get your licence, but I don't think you can really fail it. Every year we have young patrollers, and we've never seen anyone fail that online test. That said, the test could include questions on the environment of the lakes. Currently, there is nothing in the test about the fact that you have to stay away from the shorelines to prevent erosion. This could be an opportunity to make boaters aware of the impact they have on the environment. That's the comment I wanted to make.

Boaters on Lake Memphremagog must have a sticker that proves they are local residents. If you don't have that sticker, you have to wash your boat before sailing on the lake, in order to avoid spreading exotic invasive species. However, a resident who has his sticker can navigate the St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain or anywhere else and come back to Lake Memphremagog without having to wash his boat again. I should point out that the sticker is valid for the entire season.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

Next we have Mr. Bachrach.

Mr. Bachrach, floor is yours. You have two and a half minutes, sir.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll ask a question of Mr. Layzell about PFD regulations. I don't come at this from any particular angle other than being curious about what the data already says.

I'm sure he's familiar with some of the data around recreational boating accidents, and I wonder what his recommendations would be, based on what he knows about who drowns in recreational boating accidents. Should it be based on the size of the craft? Should it be based on propulsion? What is the recommendation thus far? I know you're recommending a fairly lengthy survey based on law enforcement, but I know there is data out there. What can the data tell us?

[Rick Layzell]

The data as it exists today is inconclusive, specifically when it comes to the length of the vessels involved in the incidents. That is what we have communicated with Transport Canada and our partners around the table. We desire to have the facts of the size of the boats that are causing the problem.

One of the concerns that we've seen is that, typically, when the data is presented, there's a breakout of canoes and kayaks, but then every single powerboat that's involved in an incident across Canada is lumped together. That's where we've come out collectively, in saying that we support mandatory wear for human-powered vessels, because if you pull the canoes and the kayaks together, the incidence with those is, quite frankly, higher than it is with powerboats.

What we want are meaningful solutions that still allow Canadians to go boating and enjoy the sport while being properly protected. We feel that a proper, comprehensive survey.... Right now we have the OPP who have said that they want six metres and down. We want a comprehensive survey that truly collects the data across Canada from the RCMP, the Coast Guard, Sûreté du Québec, OPP, Toronto Police and what have you, and that properly tracks the size of the boats involved in the incidents. Then, we can make evidence-based decisions.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thanks, Mr. Layzell.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the study from the Drowning Prevention Research Centre done in collaboration with Transport Canada. It goes from 2008 to 2017. It compiles all of the recreational boating-related deaths by boat type. It breaks it down in terms of boats over five metres and under five metres. I just wonder if five metres is a logical cut-off or a logical threshold for analyzing data.

You work with a lot of boats. Is that a common threshold for defining small and large powerboats?

[Rick Layzell]

It depends on who you talk to. For many, five metres is very much a small boat. For others, a boat under 30 feet is a small boat.

I am somewhat familiar with that study. We have challenges with some of the data as collected and presented in that. That's why we have made the request for a more comprehensive survey from law enforcement.

To answer your question, again, five metres is a number that's out there. What we feel should be happening is that it's the actual size of the boats involved, not just a threshold. There's a difference between a 12-foot boat and a 16-foot boat. That's what we're talking about here. With five metres, it's basically 16 feet. There's a big, big difference between a 12-footer and a 16-footer. We're looking to secure that data.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Mr. Bachrach and Mr. Layzell.

As a watercraft operator myself, I too dream of summer that lasts forever.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I want to thank today's first group of witnesses for their time and input.

Colleagues, I'll suspend for a few minutes before we welcome the next round of witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I call this meeting back to order.

We will begin with opening remarks from our next round of witnesses.

From the National Marine Manufacturers Association of Canada, we have Marie-France MacKinnon, executive director, by video conference.

Sonia Daoust, executive director of the Organisme de bassin versant de la Yamaska, will be testifying via video conference.

From Port Rowan Harbour Committee, we have Ron Bankes, by video conference.

Ms. Daoust, you will go first as you are not able to stay with us until 5:15 p.m. You have five minutes for your presentation.