As frustration grows with the many different stay-at-home rules and regulations, boaters say the rules they’re forced to adhere to are for the most part “pointless.”
Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott recently said the government will reopen recreational amenities “on or before June 2,” which was promising to many people, but the local boating community is not happy with the current situation.
The City of Barrie Marina, located between Centennial Beach and the Spirit Catcher, can hold just over 340 boats and is usually very lively at this time of year as boaters get their vessels into the water.
However, with the stay-at-home Order in place, the provincial government order states: "Any person who operates a marina shall not permit it to be used for recreational boating purposes. Marinas are permitted to place boats or other watercraft in the water to be secured to a dock until the marina is open to the public."
The provincial government opted to close all recreational amenities on April 16 dues to COVID-19's third wave.
Carrie Kennedy, who along her husband have had their boat at the Barrie marina for six years, is one of the people who think the restrictions on boaters is less than ideal.
“Oh, it's (B.S.), absolutely,” Kennedy told BarrieToday. “We can put our boat there, but then we have no access to it? The hydro is on and the marina is staffed, so we are still going to have to pay fees, which we have paid already as they're due Jan. 31.”
Kennedy says they pay a little over $3,000 a year for a slip at the Lakeshore Drive marina and should either be able to use their boat or be reimbursed.
“The crazy thing is that we can’t go to our boat and head out into the lake, but the Tiffin launch just down the street is open and anyone from anywhere can use it,” she said. “So if you’re from Toronto, no problem and head out to the bay. If you’re from Barrie, which all marina users are supposed to be, you can’t”
City marina supervisor Robert Walter told BarrieToday via email that the Barrie marina is closed to public access, but you can still put your boat in the water.
“The patrons are allowed to launch their boats and secure them in the slips. They are then not allowed to come back to the boats until the order is lifted,” said Walter. “The marina is fully staffed 24/7 and makes frequent regular checks on the boats.”
Walter said there were no restrictions on recreational boating or public launch ramps, which means the Tiffin Boat Launch is open.
“The marina ramp is closed because it is located inside the marina,” he added.
Steve Hemphill has a boat docked at his Friday Harbour townhouse in neighbouring Innisfil. While Hemphill is able to be on the 29-foot cabin cruiser while in the resort area, he can’t leave and head into open water on Kempenfelt Bay and Lake Simcoe.
“Oh yeah, it's 100 per cent pointless,” he said. “You can be on your boat, have your family unit on there, but you can’t take those same people into the lake because you’ll get a ticket for pleasure boating.
“This is a great time to get repairs done for people, but you can’t because you can’t leave the area," Hemphill added. "They have a flotation (marker) blocking the way out, so people are pretty upset.”
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Jennett Mays told BarrieToday the department's recently launched marine unit hasn’t had any issues and have not issued any tickets for boaters.
Mays said marine officers are “focusing on engaging, education and then enforcement.”
