BOAT SAFETY

The M.D.’s Public Safety Department is excited to announce that starting July 1, M.D. Peace Officers will be periodically offering boat safety tips to users at boat launches throughout the M.D.

Boat safety has changed significantly over the last decade with the introduction of the Pleasure Craft Operator Card and several other restrictions and guidelines. The information can be overwhelming when we consider that rules can be significantly different from one application to another. Things that affect the restrictions may include boat length, engine horsepower, number of passengers, type of water body, and so on. We are here to help!

Peace Officers have been educated in basic boating regulations and can help you sort through the items you must legally have on your boat, how to avoid mishaps and dangers, and provide some safety tips on how to plan your day on the water.

While you may see Peace Officers partnering with Fish and Wildlife and the RCMP who have their own mandates, M.D. Peace Officers will not be patrolling area lakes as part of this program. This is an educational program aimed at increasing awareness and helping ratepayers and visitors ensure they are compliant with regulations and operating their vessels in a safe and efficient manner.

Anyone with questions about this program, or who wants to have their vessel assessed through Public Safety can schedule an appointment by calling 780-812-3332

It’s Electric!

Electric bikes, scooters, and other electronic transportation methods (ETMs) seem to be all the rage these days.

As the quality of manufacturing has improved, many people are seeing electric transportation as the new norm rather than the exception. E bikes have become more popular for a few reasons, all of which may see you purchasing one of these devices sooner rather than later. For example, pricing has started to come down as more manufacturers begin entering the marketplace. Range has also improved dramatically as manufacturers work to improve battery life, reduce weight, and improve components that electric devices need to function more efficiently.

The M.D. has been working diligently to provide more recreation and transportation methods for ratepayers, and our new Consolidated Public Safety Bylaw allows for the use of electronic bikes, scooters, and other devices on our recreational trail systems – provided a few safety restrictions are observed.

For example, ETMs must be restricted to a top speed of no greater than 32 km/h on our recreation trails. This is a way of ensuring that those walking, cycling, skateboarding, or similar are not overrun by users on ETMs. Additionally, the engine and battery must be able to produce no more than 500 watts of energy during the operation (it is understood that 500 watts may be exceeded during the acceleration phase). Operators of ETMs must be at least 12 years of age, and those under 14 years old must wear a properly fitted helmet as is the standard when operating a regular bicycle.

Please check in with the Public Safety Department at 780-812-3332 if you have any questions.