Municipalities in Muskoka want to crack down on improper vessel designations in the district.
At the District of Muskoka Community and Planning Services Committee, a letter was introduced which would be sent to the Federal Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez. The letter requests that floating structures currently classified as “vessels” should be classified as “float homes” and properly regulated.
According to the letter residents in Muskoka are bypassing provincial and municipal regulations by classifying floating homes as vessels. At the community and planning meeting Georgian Bay Mayor Peter Koetsier spoke about the issues his community has with these floating homes. He went on to outline how the designation is allowing people to take advantage of the system.
“The bigger picture we have here is that people are hiding under the vessel designation and the privileges that go with having a vessel but creating something that is not designed in any way for the transportation of goods or people from A to B, but is designed to be a dwelling,” Koetsier said.
Koetsier called on Rodriguez to alter the designation to properly reflect the use of these structures.
“Floating structures are currently and erroneously classified by your department as “vessels”. In reality, these structures are designed and intended exclusively to be residences, not vessels,” Koetsier said.
The letter outlines that these float homes pose environmental, safety and navigation risks. Currently designating the structures as vessels means that the federal government is the only entity in a position to properly regulate them.
It is highlighted in the letter that a comparable situation took place in British Colombia in 2001. The letter states that in response to provincial requests the federal government changed the vessel designation to crack down on float homes in Victoria Harbour.
The letter states that despite not having jurisdiction over float homes Ontario municipalities are still expected to provide basic services to these structures. This includes fire fighting and ambulance services, even though these structures do not pay property tax due to their vessel designation.
Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays, Bracebridge and Huntsville have all passed resolutions requesting Transport Canada to address the issue. The letter also reports that Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Graydon Smith has expressed willingness as a partner in this process once the designation is altered.
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