Thank you, Chair and all committee members.
My name is Margaret Creighton. I'm a director of the Port Dover Waterfront Preservation Association.
In April 2007, the federal government transferred ownership of the Port Dover Harbour Marina to Norfolk County as part of the recreational harbour divestiture program. Through the transfer, the citizens of Norfolk County gained a tremendously valuable asset. Over the years, our association has advocated to keep the marina as a publicly owned and operated facility. This is so the public may enjoy recreational boating and retain both physical and visual access to the waterfront.
Port Dover is a community with a vibrant marine heritage. We have an active commercial fishery, along with the Port Dover Harbour Marina. Both of these draw in local and tourist dollars and drive our economy.
There are 458 slips in the marina, along with 11 transient slips. They provide recreational boaters with public waterfront access to Long Point Bay. In addition, the Port Dover Yacht Club and Sailing School, which has occupied the marina for more than 15 years, teaches boating safety and sailing skills to students of all ages and abilities. Our association would like to see the marina remain a public asset to protect the public's ability to pursue recreational boating on Long Point Bay.
Port Dover is one of three safe harbours on the north shore of Lake Erie. The Canadian Coast Guard, stationed at the marina, plays a major role in search and rescue operations to keep boaters safe. Lake Erie, as the shallowest of the Great Lakes, has a tendency to produce unpredictable conditions that can result in strong winds and waves over 20 feet high. The vital role of the Canadian Coast Guard cannot be overemphasized.
Recreational boaters' access to the Port Dover Harbour and marina is critical for safe passage. Over time, when sediment builds up, dredging becomes absolutely necessary. The funding for dredging should continue to be both a municipal and federal responsibility.
The following issues are relevant to the Port Dover Harbour Marina, as well as the majority of marinas across Canada.
The first is the PCOC. As previously mentioned, at the present time, Transport Canada does not require a pleasure craft operator card for individuals who rent boats or jet skis. Rental businesses provide a temporary boating licence to those who do not have a PCOC. Given the high speeds that powerboats and jet skis can travel at, it would be most prudent if operators were well aware of safe boating rules on the water. The requirement of a PCOC would help reduce the potential for tragedies on our waterways.
Next is distress flares. Again, this was previously mentioned, but in September, Bill Jerry, commander of CanBoat Port Dover, sent a letter to Transport Canada advocating for the reinstatement of funding under the boating safety contribution program for the distress flare collection and disposal program. This program was previously administered through the Canadian Power and Sales Squadrons, now called CanBoat/NautiSavoir, across Canada. There is no other Canada-wide program, and there are only a few local disposal options left.
Many boaters are carrying the pyrotechnic distress flares required by Transport Canada and older flares that are now expired and potentially dangerous. Some of these toxic flares are ending up in landfills, while others are being lit on land. It is imperative that Transport Canada take action on this issue.
On education, our local CanBoat Port Dover still does courtesy safety equipment checks of vessels by request. A safety day may be held next year, which would include these checks. It would be of great benefit if Transport Canada produced up-to-date videos on mandated safety equipment and how to handle emergencies on the water. Perhaps CanBoat and Transport Canada could work collaboratively on this.
Our recommendations are as follows: maintain a strong presence at Canadian Coast Guard stations across Canada; support safety on our waterways by requiring boat and jet ski renters to have a PCOC; reinstate the funding under the boating safety contribution program for the distress flare collection and disposal program; work with CanBoat to produce safety equipment videos and videos demonstrating how to handle on-water emergencies; work with municipal and private marinas to ensure that recreational boating and safety on the water are being promoted; and finally, encourage and protect the public's physical and visual access to our waterways while promoting recreational boating.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.