The Union of Municipalities of Quebec (UMQ) is delighted to now have more control over the regulation of recreational boating on the lakes in their territories. Municipalities will still have to “put their pants down”, says Michèle Gérin, former general director of the Bleu Massawippi association, who has been at the forefront of the fight.
Thursday, the Minister of Revenue, Marie-Claude Bibeau, who had taken charge of this file as MP for Compton–Stanstead, in Estrie, announced that Transport Canada will now have the power to quickly publish a decree when a municipality, for example resolution and after having clearly justified the decision, will want to regulate access to a lake or the speed of boats traveling there, for example.
“People from Lake Memphremagog have been hoping for this for 50 years. We, at Lake Massawippi, presented the file to Minister Bibeau on September 8, 2016, relates Mme Gerin. I remember it perfectly. It took seven years, she listened to us. »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Michèle Gérin, in 2022, in front of pleasure boats on the shores of Lake Massawippi
We don’t know if this will solve the problem. Here, at Lake Massawippi, there are five municipalities. Will they manage to get along?
Michèle Gérin, former general director of the Bleu Massawippi association
Mme Gérin also fears that in the event of a change of government – the federal Liberals are in the minority – everything could change.
Satisfaction of mayors
Joé Deslauriers, mayor of Saint-Donat and president of the UMQ local municipalities caucus, is satisfied that ministers Marie-Claude Bibeau and Pablo Rodriguez (for Transport) “have taken into account the grievances and recognize the role of the governments of proximity [les municipalités] “, in this file.
Is there not a risk of small and large battles in the future in municipal meetings between those who want to use personal watercraft and wakeboards and local residents who may be worried about the health of their lake or who demand more peace and quiet?
Mr. Deslauriers says that the solution will come through moderate positions.
There can be no question of “banning personal watercraft”, he says, but of regulating them, undoubtedly, yes, in certain places.
Because this week’s decision by the Canadian government “is not carte blanche to municipalities”, which will have to do their homework and prove that restrictions are really necessary, if that is the case.
“The Constitution recognizes the right to navigate on bodies of water,” says Mr. Deslauriers.
He explains that in Saint-Donat, where he is mayor, fees of $450 per season have nevertheless been imposed on motor boats, while electric boats have free access to the surrounding lakes.
And this was not disputed? “Yes, but we won in court. Because the day something happens to the lake, it would not be fair for the work to be done to be the sole responsibility of local residents and for those who also used it to have nothing to pay. »
Some municipalities charge hundreds of dollars for a single day’s access, says Mr. Deslauriers, adding that this type of case ends up before the courts.
NAUTIQUE QUÉBEC was not available to offer comments.