The problems with jet-skis

Letter to the Editor
As summer nears, I’m again challenging the federal government to deal with safety and environmental problems that personal watercraft — also known as jet-skis — are causing on many lakes and rivers.
Last fall, Bill S-10, The Personal Watercraft Act, died on the order paper when Parliament was prorogued. I re-introduced it as Bill S-10 and it is now before the Senate energy, environment and natural resources committee.
The bill gives communities a way to restrict personal watercraft similar to the way they now can control water skiing or ban all powerboats on local waters.
Local authorities send their requests to the fisheries minister, along with evidence of why they’re needed for safety or environmental protection, plus proof that the local community has been consulted.
The minister must publish each request in the Canada Gazette, and invite comments. Legally, Ottawa must be involved because only the federal government has authority over navigation virtually anywhere a boat can float in Canadian waters.
I’d be delighted if Fisheries Minister Robert Thibault would make my bill redundant - something he could do simply by adding personal watercraft schedules to existing federal boating restriction regulations.
To date, however, the government has shown no indication that it wants to help cottagers, swimmers, canoeists and others find local solutions to their real problems. Would you like senators to know what you think about personal watercraft and the bill?
You can send your thoughts, postage free, to Senator Tommy Banks, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4 or via e-mail at: bankst@sen.parl.gc.ca

–Senator Mira Spivak
Ottawa