Media Release - Tay Valley Township Clarifies Position on Tow Sports on its Lakes

Tay Valley Township Clarifies Position on Tow Sports on Its Lakes

A report titled “Tow Sports on Tay Valley Lakes” came forward to the September 12^th Township Committee of the Whole meeting in response to numerous complaints on one of its lakes.  This report contained a recommendation for the Township to request that the federal government “expedite the federal process underway to regulate tow sports on lakes according to the width and depth of lakes”.

As a reading of the report makes clear, the focus of the Township is not on tow sports in general, but rather wake boats, in particular. This issue arose for the Township this past summer when citizens filed formal complaints concerning wake boat operation on Pike Lake, with allegations of wake damage or potential damage to docks, boats, shorelines, and wildlife, and concerns re: the safety of other water users. Other citizens, and other lake associations within the Township also expressed informal complaints about wake boat operation.

This issue is not unique to Tay Valley, nor particular to Pike Lake. Concerns about wake boats exist in other areas (e.g., Muskoka lakes), and the issue is on the radar of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations. Transport Canada is examining the issue in the context of potential updates to the federal Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORRs).

At the September 26 Tay Valley Township Council meeting, Council agreed that the Township would write to Transport Canada to express its interest in federal regulation of wake surf boats and to request that both the Township and its residents be consulted on proposed changes to the VORRs. Council also directed staff to draft a communications strategy by which the Township would keep residents informed on this matter as more information is obtained.

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For more information:

Rob Rainer, Reeve, 613-314-7755, rrainer.reeve@tayvalleytwp.ca
Amanda Mabo, CAO/Clerk, 613-267-5353 ext. 123, cao@tayvalleytwp.ca

Be #WakeAware: https://www.bewakeaware.com/
Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 157, Number 24: Regulations Amending the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations, Regulatory Analysis Impact Statement
https://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2023/2023-06-17/html/reg4-eng.html