A group of people trying to quell boat motor noise says their efforts have reached a critical point.
The Decibel Coalition is a group of lake associations and municipalities from across Canada that is urging the federal government to change the regulations around loud boat motors. Rob Bosomworth, Chair of the Decibel Coalition and board member of its sponsor Safe Quiet Lakes, says only the federal government can regulate the amount of noise on waterways. However, due to weak legislation and a lack of enforcement, loud boat motors make enjoying peace and quiet on waterways difficult, especially on large lakes.
Bosomworth points to surveys they have conducted which show the public wants these regulations. In a survey conducted in the Georgian Bay, Muskoka and Haliburton regions, 67 per cent of respondents said they want police to enforce the law, and 64 per cent say they want decibel limits placed on boat motors. However, Bosomworth also notes that municipalities have, in the past, not been able to enforce solutions and says a cross-country group is needed to enforce the laws.
Bosomworth says they are now at a critical time in making sure the legislation changes. Transport Canada is currently taking input from the public on their Let’s Talk Page. He urges the public to answer the questions the government body is asking and to support Option 5: Performance Standards for Noise Emission. Comments for the survey close on May 13th.