Decibel Coalition Newsletter
We are very encouraged by the progress of the Decibel Coalition since the first newsletter last August and want to take this opportunity to update all of our members. Later in this letter is news that is perhaps the most important of all!
Growing the Decibel Coalition Membership
Starting in November 2019, the first months of the Coalition were spent getting organized, developing our strategy, gathering information, researching lake associations across the country and making initial contacts with our stakeholders.
From the original five we now have over 20 lake associations as members and our geography now includes Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. Together they represent over 10,000 waterfront property owners and their families. We continue to add new members almost every week. You can see the list of current members with links to their websites at the end of this newsletter.
New Members of your Committee
Our hard working committee of six Safe Quiet Lake (“SQL”) board members has expanded to nine. We very much welcome Alan Drinkwater of Vancouver and Lake Shuswap. Alan is to be thanked for all our BC members. Alan joined a fellow Shuswap resident, Gary Milne to form a local coalition called Shuswap and Mara Lakes Decibel Coalition (“SMLDC”) which is 100% aligned with the national Coalition as well as focused on the specific problems and solutions for boat motor noise in that area. Attached is their first newsletter. Alan has enthusiastically assumed responsibility for getting new members for all of western Canada!
We also welcome Robert Benoit from Lac Memphremagog. Robert is the Volunteer President of Memphremagog Conservation Inc. and was instrumental in getting them to become a member of the Coalition. Robert is very knowledgeable on how things work in Quebec and is bringing his energy and connections to help expand the Coalition in that province.
Nancy Croitoru joined the SQL Board and became a member of the Decibel Coalition committee. She brings a wealth of experience ranging from public relations to television production and industry association CEO. Nancy can be thanked for many of our new members in Ontario.
Next Phase – Municipalities We can use your help!
Your committee continues its bi-weekly meetings having not missed one since it was formed in November 2019. As well as adding lake associations, we are now expanding our focus to municipal governments. In Ontario, we know the Muskoka town and township governments well and have started the process to delegate to their councils. Robert is using his contacts in the eastern townships. SMLDC will wait until it has a few more members in the Shuswap area before approaching municipal governments.
We would like your help to expand the municipal list. Local knowledge of councils and how best to approach them is important. If you would like us to delegate to your local municipality and can help, please contact Rob Bosomworth, the Chair of the Coalition. We have a power point deck and a draft resolution ready to go. The more municipalities, the better the influence we will have.
Enforcement Agencies
Enforcement agencies input to Transport Canada will be critical to getting the Regulations changed. Our relationship with the OPP is very good and we have every reason to believe they will welcome these changes and will work with Transport Canada to that end. We have also established a contact with the RCMP in western Canada and will start working with them immediately.
Marine Industry
Late last December, we had a joint meeting with the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Boat BC, Boating Ontario and Boating Atlantic. Although they declined to join the Decibel Coalition, they are in favour of updating the Small Vessel Regulations with respect to mufflers.
Transport Canada – Exciting News
Finally, as promised, the most important news! We were delighted to learn that Transport Canada (“TC”), at the Canadian Marine Advisory Council (“CMAC” a council run by TC) meeting on November 12, 2020, has opened the topic of boat mufflers to “discuss and receive comments on possible options for the future”. They have heard community input including from SQL that excessive boat muffler noise is a growing concern on Canadian waterways. A link to their presentation is attached.
We have recently met with Transport Canada, started the dialogue and provided them with some information and contacts to aid their work. This is very encouraging as it may mean the route to success could be significantly shortened. It also means we need to pick up the pace for expanding the membership base, especially with municipalities.
We have come a long way in just over a year. What we thought could take up to five years may be less. We all remain very committed to success. I can’t stress enough how effective and committed your committee is and I thank them all for it.
Next Few Months
The next three to six months are both critical and exciting as we actively engage with the staff at Transport Canada. We need to keep the momentum going and would be very happy to hear from you with your suggestions and ideas especially on how best to approach your local municipal council.
Click here for more information about the Decibel Coalition.