Advertisement
Northern Ontario
"Unfortunately, we still have had, thus far, a couple fatalities on our waterways that we patrol," OPP Const. Phil Young told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in a Zoom interview.
Consuming alcohol on a boat
Young said there are some circumstances where people can legally consume alcohol on a boat.
"We're not out there to ruin somebody's weekend or their day and cause them, you know, a hard time regarding this," he said.
"We get it, when you get back to shore, when you get back to your dock and you sit at your dock and you're not going anywhere and you're going to sit on your vessel and have a beer or a drink, so be it."
Three things need to happen to drink on a vessel:
- The boat must be tied up to a dock or shore or anchored somewhere
- Boat has a pump-out head for the black/wastewater
- Permanent cooking facilities
"What we are seeing more now are pontoon boats where the retailer has told them, 'well, all you need is a port-a-potty screwed onto the back of the boat or onto the front of the boat and a barbecue, or hibachi,'" Young said.
"So that doesn't fly. That's not the intention of the rules and the guidelines, according to Transport Canada."
Human waste must be disposed of properly and not just thrown into the water.
Cooking facilities need a stove, oven or microwave to be considered a permanent cooking facility.
While it may be okay to enjoy an alcoholic beverage after a day of boating, Young stresses public water safety.
"Please don't go out on that boat again after you've been consuming alcohol and or drugs too," he said.
Report impaired drivers
"If you suspect someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. It is important to call 911 to report it," OPP said.
Young said not a lot of people want to get involved when they see a suspected impaired driver, but to think of the risk of not reporting it.
"They see that happen and they think … 'I'll let somebody else call or it's not a big deal, I'm just going to go home, mind my own business," he said.
"But think of that as one of your loved ones out on the water or one of your children out fishing or out kayaking, or your grandparents, or you're somebody out on the water, enjoying the waterway."
Top Story
- Two arrested following shooting on Manitoulin Island
- Ongoing bed bug issue at a Timmins apartment building is 'like living in hell' 2
- Ontario won't support making Truth and Reconciliation Day a holiday for now: minister
- Irregular sleep patterns may raise risk of heart attack and stroke, study suggests
- Trudeau Liberals' two-month GST holiday bill passes the House, off to the Senate 22
- Greater Sudbury buys more property for new events centre 1
- Advocates push Ontario, federal governments for change in dealing with IPV incidents 1
- Canada Post strike could hurt Sudbury Food Bank fundraising effort 1
- Heavy police presence ends in Wikwemikong, area being cleared
- Province says upgrades to Northern Health Travel Grant coming Dec. 1 1
- Northern MPP calls for Sept 30 to be stat holiday in Ontario 1
- 'Let me rot in Canada,' pleads Canadian ISIS suspect from secret Syrian prison 1
- Impaired driver in Espanola, Ont., calls police on themselves
- Man accused of firing at vehicles on Hwy. 401 arrested after attempted carjackings, shootings in Toronto’s east end 4