REASONABLE SOUND LEVEL LIMITS NEEDED FOR LAKES

RE: Boating safety and noise emissions concerns for Parry Sound, Almaguin lake-goers

I would like to expand on Brian Bonnick's comments regarding Transport Canada's options to enhance the Small Vessel Regulations to limit the amount of noise that boat motors can make.

I agree that reasonable sound level limits should be put in place, and I agree that they must be imposed on boat manufacturers. This will ensure that all future boats entering the market will not add issues of noise to our lakes and waterways, as well as reduce the burden on citizens to identify and manage decibel limits for their water vessels.

However, across Canada there are thousands of existing boats that have very high noise emissions and they must also be subject to decibel limits.

In addition to the ways that noise pollution from boats impacts human enjoyment of our lakes and waterways, the environmental impacts are also important to consider. We know that high noise emissions affect marine life, often disturbing, scaring, and impacting their habitats. Research confirms that freshwater biodiversity in Canada is declining at record rates and that mitigating noise levels is a key element to preserving biodiversity and aquatic life.

Given Canadians are increasingly prioritizing the environment, it only makes sense that we attend to the issue of how noise pollution caused by boats is negatively impacting marine life and their habits.

The solution to this problem is for Transport Canada to introduce objective and measurable decibel limits for boat motor noise that are applicable to manufacturers and operators. Paired with achievable enforcement guidelines, this is key to helping and providing enforcement agencies with the tools they need.

Transport Canada is actively considering options to update boat muffler and sound emission regulations. In March, they opened their public consultations web portal. Canadians are encouraged provide their input online before the deadline of May 13. They have presented five options, however only option five will effectively address the issue: introduce noise emission performance standards (i.e. decibel limits) for manufacturers and vessel operators.

The Decibel Coalition encourages readers to write to their member of Parliament in support of option five. It is easy, quick to do, and every letter helps make a positive impact on our lakes, waterways, and the marine life that inhabit them.

To do so, readers can visit safequiet.ca/our-initiatives/decibel-coalition/ email-your-member-ofparliament-today.

ROB BOSOMWORTH