Councillor Bradford to bring forward motion to ban motorized watercraft off Woodbine Beach
By ALAN SHACKLETON
In the wake of growing safety concerns regarding the use of personal watercraft (jet skis) and other motorized watercraft in the Woodbine Beach area, local councillor Brad Bradford is calling for the operation of the machines to be banned along the Eastern Beaches waterfront.
Bradford will be submitting a motion to Toronto Council’s Wednesday, July 23, meeting to request Ports Toronto implement a Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zone by-law at the earliest opportunity of at least 100 metres from the shoreline of Woodbine Beach, within the area beginning at the western most edge of Woodbine Beach and extending east to the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant.
“The rise in illegal and dangerous activity by unlicensed personal watercraft (Jet Ski) rental operators along Toronto’s waterfront this summer is deeply concerning and completely unacceptable,” said Bradford in his motion.
“Operating high-powered machines near swimmers and crowded beaches, these reckless actors are endangering lives, disrupting families, and undermining the safety of our cherished waterfront and public beaches.”
The issue of jet skis being rented by unlicensed individuals and firms is among the key concerns of Bradford, community members and licenced companies along the Eastern Beaches that rent out non-motorized watercrafts such as paddleboards, kayaks and canoes.
Brian Quinn, from iPaddle Adventures, told Beach Metro Community News earlier this month that there have been dangerous situations of jet ski operators circling paddleboarders and causing wakes and waves.
“It’s a case of some of these guys being really obnoxious around clean-water equipment,” he said.
Quinn said he’s had customers planning to go out for an evening paddle who changed their minds because they were afraid of some of the jet ski operators. As a result of the concerns surrounding both safety and the unlicensed renting out of the jet skis, a crackdown was initiated by Toronto police and bylaw officials between July 9 and 12.
The focus was put on the Woodbine Beach and Ashbridges Bay area as officers from the Toronto police Marine Unit and 55 Division (which covers the Eastern Beaches including Woodbine), along with City of Toronto bylaw officers, parking enforcement officers, parks staff and private towing partners took part in the crackdown.
In a news release on July 14, police said Project S.A.R (Sea Doos and Rentals) “focused on addressing the growing number of unlicensed personal PWC rental operations and associated safety risks.”
As a result of Project S.A.R., police said the following actions were taken:
• 50+ provincial offence tickets issued (over $12,000 in fines) under the Canada Shipping Act, Small Vessel Regulations, primarily for safety equipment violations and licensing issues.
• 49 vessel safety inspections.
• 20+ bylaw charges laid (over $5,000 in fines), including illegal mooring and unauthorized business operations in parkland.
• 14 Sea-Doos towed.
• 1 “Jet Car” towed.
• 4 vehicles and 8 trailers towed.
• 4 parking tickets issued.
“Each summer, the Marine Unit responds to as many as 10 complaints a day related to PWCs – most often involving speeding, operating too close to shorelines, entering designated swim zones, and generally unsafe behaviour. Many of these complaints involve inexperienced operators who have received little or no training prior to getting on the water,” said police in Tuesday’s news release.
“The Marine Unit continues to work closely with Transport Canada, Ports Toronto, City Bylaw Officers, Municipal Licensing & Standards, Toronto Parks, Parking Enforcement, and Green P to pursue both immediate enforcement and long-term regulatory solutions.”
In a statement to Beach Metro Community News on July 18, Bradford said he was grateful to police and city staff for the “strong enforcement action” they had taken to date.
“We’re going to need to keep sending that message to make it clear that these illegal companies will not be welcome or tolerated on Woodbine Beach,” he said.
“That’s why I’m bringing forward a motion to establish a motorized watercraft exclusion zone off Woodbine Beach. Paddleboards and kayaks will still be allowed, just not high-powered, dangerous vehicles like jet skis.”
Bradford is also calling for continued police and city bylaw enforcement in the area, and for improved signage to let members of the public know that “these companies are Illegal and they should work with only licenced providers, like the two companies set up to rent paddleboards and kayaks on the beach.”
