OUTLAW EAGLE MANUFACTURING

[ALEX]

Wildsight and other environmental groups are dedicated to closing off access by jet boats to the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers.They have persuaded the Federal government to propose a restriction on 150 km of the Columbia from Fairmont to Golden;once this is in they will try and extend this to the whole Columbia/Kootenay River system.Please contact your MLA and voice your opposition.Google "Canada Gazette Columbia River" to see regulation.
See below:

Wildsight is on another mission to close the main channel of the upper Columbia River...please contact your MP and voice your opposition.
To: Michele Rae, Project Manager, Legislative, Regulatory and International Affairs, Marine Safety and Security, Department of Transport; and The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transportation.

Cc: Wayne Stetski, Member of Parliament, Kootenay Columbia

I would like to voice my opposition to the proposed vessel operation restriction regulation for the main channel of the Columbia River and its tributaries between Fairmont Hot Springs and Donald, BC.

[Xerophobic]

Hope everyone takes time out for this not only because no rivers should be closed like this but also because this proposed ban is pretty ridiculous. This is hardly a "high traffic" boating area, in fact of the dozens and dozens of times I've boated this river(I'm in Golden nearly every weekend in the Summer) I've hardly seen a soul on the water, powered or not. There is just simply no way any measurable effect of powered boats could be even be measured much less justify this closure. I'm sure they don't make the argument in this way but they should.

For those who haven't been to this area the majority of the Columbia is a wide slow meandering channel. Waterskiing is already prohibited as is powered travel in any of the wetlands off the main channel.

This closure would also seriously hamper access to the lower Kickinghorse and BlaeBerry rivers

Thanks for the headsup Alex

[Xerophobic]

For one of the most serious posts on this forum in a long time I am amazed there is hardly a peep about this. Where are the comments from the clubs, CARBA etc? This a real serious matter folks, our hobby, our love, our passion depends on this type of thing being stopped. It doesn't matter its not the river you use, it cant be allowed to happen on ANY river and this process has gone a LONG way through the red tape process.

[Dale]

All the Alberta clubs and the FSJ club have been informed and all have sent letters out, hopefully. All members have been asked to write letters also.

Dale

[rotech]

Whitecourt Riverboat (1982) Association
Box 1553
WHITECOURT, AB
T7S 1P4

April 28, 2016

Attn: Michele Rae, Project Manager,
Legislative, Regulatory and International Affairs (AMSX), Marine Safety and Security, Department of Transport,
Place de Ville, Tower C, 330 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5

RE: Canada Gazette Vol. 150, No. 14 — April 2, 2016 Regulations Amending the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations - Columbia River vessel operation restriction.


Dear Michele,

The Whitecourt River Boat Association, which operates in conjunction with the many other boating clubs and foundations throughout Canada, and its more than 3,000 members, objects and is deeply concerned about the proposed.

As found in the Canada Gazette; “The proposed Regulations Amending the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (Columbia River) would implement a year-round restriction on the operation of power-driven vessels on the main channel of the upper Columbia River and its tributaries (between 1.6 km northwest of Fairmont Hot Springs and Donald Station) in B.C. Vessels with motors 15 kW (20 hp) or less would be exempt from this proposed restriction.”

Please accept this letter, opposing the Vessel operation restriction for the Columbia River main channel and its tributaries between Fairmont Hot Springs and Donald, BC.

As an organization, our concerns are that the Nations Rivers are here for all users to share, and we feel it is unacceptable that special interest groups seek to have others banned. Our members are not only power boaters, but we are also recreational rafters, kayakers, and naturalists. We contribute thousands of hours of volunteer work towards river stewardship, reporting polluters and poachers, performing rescues, garbage collection, and assisting government and municipal agencies.

Every citizen should have equal rights to our wonderful resources, realizing that the rivers are here for all to enjoy. As an organization we care about the health of our rivers and wetlands, but disagree with those groups who hide behind the generalization that "its damaging to the environment".

Thank you for taking the time to read our concerns.


Regards,
Troy Hittel
President
780-779-3162

[Arthur]

Good work WC/Troy!

[rotech]

I cannot take all the credit. Thanks to Richard Grant for the assistance.

[ALEX]

Comments close on May 2nd...please make your voice heard...

Wildsight and the BC Ministry of the Environment have jointly asked the federal government for a 20 hp limit for boats on the main channel of the upper Columbia River and its tributaries. The regulation extends from just northwest of Fairmont Hot Springs to Donald, with the exception of Lake Windermere. The proposed regulation is now open for public comment until May 2nd.

[Xerophobic]

the argument hasn't changed, this restriction isn't based on science, safety or traffic whatsoever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4jShletIBI

[Xerophobic]

Had a lengthy chat with Peter tonight, please visit and continue to support his efforts and web site. He has been fighting this proposal aggressively for some time and will continue to do so as long as it takes. He has the right vision and the correct plan of attack IMO. This proposal is based on passion and politics, not science and fact. For those reasons alone it needs to be defeated by any means or frankly our sport will die period. Bans based on passion could potentially close any river, anywhere.

Simply because the comment period is closed does not mean we cannot still be heard we all need to continue the pressure on the gov to reject this proposal

http://www.columbiarivervalley.com/home.html

[Xerophobic]

Please take a minute and swamp this papers poll with "no this hp limit must be stopped"

http://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/?p=17806

Thanks

[Xerophobic]

More lunacy....(info from Peter Lafontaine)

Pass this message along if you agree. This will make you laugh, possibly cry! If this is how Ottawa is making decisions and passing laws that fine people $100,000 dollars and or a year in jail! God help us.

Recently Transport Canada when ask to provide evidence of how this new boating restriction will increase public safety used this a 2008 - 2015 Coroners report to support their positon.. And this is their only empirical evidence as it relates to public safety! These are Transport Canada’s words. “Our empirical proof is a Report from the Province of British Columbia’s Coroner on accidental deaths in waterways – which lists 7 deaths on the Columbia River, making it the 4th most deadly river for drowning in BC during the period of 2008-2015.” http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/death-investigation/statistical/accidental-drowings.pdf

I asked the Coroner’s office for the details. 5 or 7 deaths were not from the restriction area, 7 or 7 had nothing whatsoever to do with Marine Vehicles, kayaks, boats paddleboard rafts or tubes. Here are the details. See what you think.

If you have any ideas to share with me I am all ears. Transport Canada are actively moving ahead on this legislation.

Accidental Drowning Deaths on the Columbia River, 2008-2015
Ref. # Date of Incident Circumstances of Death Location Drug/Alcohol Involvement
1 1 January 2008 Adult entered river to swim. Trail (Gyro Park) Alcohol involved.
2 25 March 2008 Child slipped on rock and fell into river. Trail (Gyro Park) -
3 10 July 2013 Adult entered river to flee police. Trail Drugs involved.
4 30 July 2014 Adult jumped from bridge into river. Revelstoke (LaForme Creek Bridge) -
5 6 June 2010 Unknown as to how decedent entered water. Known to jump off bridges. May have been at Robson Bridge Castlegar. Castlegar Alcohol involved.
6 4 July 2008 Adult dived into river from shore to unsnag fishing line. Golden -
7 15 February 2015 Adult fell through ice into river. Golden Alcohol involved.





























Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport Canada. So called “Man of Science” had working for you! Speak up before more of this distroys your rights.

www.columbiarivervalley.com


Here is marc’s email address. marc.garneau@parl.gc.ca

[Xerophobic]

For those who care the gov has passed this ridiculous regulation.

Our sport, passion and hobby just lost one of the largest rivers in north America for utterly no reason. It additionally also destroyed access to multiple other rivers.

I say we gather some funds and file a massive lawsuit, class action of huge proportions whos in???

[Xerophobic]

I will be filing additional freedom of information act requests on this tomorrow and encourage anyone interested in being part of those unwilling to sit back and let this pass to get in touch with me. We need to get this reversed asap and it will involve time money and dedication. Times are tough but we can't sit back.and let such a huge river get closed based on complete lack of science and logic. If we do no river is safe anywhere

[riverboater]

Had an interesting conversation with a friend from Radium yesterday. I was asking him about this closure. He told me a story of being at a golf tournament at the course along side the river. He was witness to a couple of jet boats roaring around with the jet-o-vator full up hosing down anybody they could catch close enough to the river. likely only one small part of the reason for this closure but it all adds up.Once again the actions of a few are taken out on the rights of the many.