Item - 2026.EX30.2

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the Personal Watercraft Safety Plan as described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 30, 2026) from the City Manager, the General Manager, Parks and Recreation and the Interim Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards.

2. City Council thank Toronto Port Authority for the implementation of Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zone by-laws at Hanlan's Point Beach, Humber Bay Shores and Woodbine Beach for the 2026 season, and request the Toronto Port Authority to continue implementation of Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zone by-laws at Hanlan's Point Beach, Humber Bay Shores and Woodbine Beach for the 2027 and future summer seasons.

3. City Council request the Toronto Port Authority to affirm that the Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zones they have agreed to establish prohibit all motorized watercraft including sailboats with motors, and powerboats as well as personal watercraft. 

4. City Council request the Toronto Port Authority to extend the Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zone 200 metres from the shoreline of Hanlan’s Point Beach as implemented in the 2025 season and install a minimum of 4 large navigation buoys.

5. City Council request the Toronto Port Authority to absorb the costs associated with the 2026 removal, maintenance and storage of the large buoys used to mark the Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zones at Woodbine Beach, Hanlan's Beach, and Humber Bay Shores (east side of Humber Bay Park).

6. City Council request the Toronto Port Authority, in consultation the General Manager Parks and Recreation and the local Councillor, to implement a Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zone for Cherry Beach and the Outer Harbour, at the earliest opportunity, and to develop an ongoing seasonal implementation plan such as those at Humber Bay Shores, Hanlan’s Point Beach, Woodbine Beach, Marie Curtis Park and Bluffers Park Beach. 

7. City Council, as part of the consultation process, request the appropriate City staff or Agency to convene a Stakeholder Advisory Committee in order to consult and advise on the details of the Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zone at Cherry Beach and the Outer Harbour, including key members of the Outer Harbour Sailing Federation. 

8. City Council request the City Manager to report to the May 6, 2026 meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on implementation of Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zonefor the 2026 summer season and subsequent years.

9. City Council request the Toronto Port Authority to provide additional protections for non-motorized watercraft in the Eastern Gap to ensure safe crossings between Cherry Beach, Toronto Islands and Biidaasige Park.

10. City Council request the Toronto Port Authority and the Toronto Police Service to develop and publicize an education and enforcement protocol for Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zones for the 2026 season.

11. City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the Toronto Port Authority, the General Manager, Parks and Recreation and the Toronto Police Marine Unit, to install signage on each side of the eastern gap to indicate the permitted speed allowed in that area.

12. City Council request the Director, Waterfront Secretariat, in consultation with the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Toronto Police Service Marine Unit and other City officials as required, to finalize requested boundaries and submit an application to Transport Canada to establish a Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations which prohibits power driven vessels and vessels driven by electric propulsion in the waters off of Marie Curtis Park, Humber Bay Park East, and Bluffer's Park Beach and in the Humber River.

13. City Council request the Federal Minister of Transportation to enact an Interim Order to restrict motorized watercraft offshore of Marie Curtis Park, Humber Bay Park East and Bluffer’s Park for the 2026 season.

14. City Council request to the Toronto Police Service Board to request the Chief of Police to further enhance boating and water-safety enforcement through a multi-year strategy that reflects City-wide policing needs.

15. City Council request the Director, Waterfront Secretariat, in consultation with the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the General Manager, Parks and Recreation as well as the Toronto Port Authority, Waterfront Toronto, CreateTO and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, to explore potential sites that could be feasible for use by compliant Personal Watercraft rental companies and report back to the appropriate committee in 2027 with an assessment of feasible site options.

Toronto has experienced increasing safety risks, compliance challenges, and public concern related to the use of Personal Watercraft (PWCs) along the waterfront, particularly in near‑shore and high‑use areas. Unsafe operation of PWCs can conflict with swimmers and paddlers, and unpermitted commercial PWC rental activity in City parks and beaches have highlighted the need for a coordinated, multi‑jurisdictional response that takes into account the various roles and responsibilities of the City, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) Marine Unit, and external partners such as the Toronto Port Authority and Transport Canada.

PWC is the regulatory and industry term for a vessel less than four metres in length that uses an internal combustion engine powering a water-jet pump as its primary source of propulsion, and that is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside it. Common brands of PWCs include Jet Skis, Sea-Doos, and WaveRunners. PWCs do not refer to non-motorized, human powered pleasure craft such as canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards.

This report presents Toronto's Personal Watercraft Safety Plan for Council's consideration. The Plan provides an integrated strategy to improve safety, reduce risk, and strengthen compliance related to PWC activity along Toronto’s waterfront. It responds to City Council direction (2025.MM32.16 and 2025.MM33.20) and has been developed collaboratively with key partners noted above as well as through engagement with waterfront stakeholders.

The Plan focuses on actions within the City’s control, while coordinating with federal authorities responsible for on‑water regulation. Key components include enhanced land‑ and water‑based enforcement, targeted public education and signage, and continued collaboration with federal partners on exclusion zones for motorized watercraft. The Plan also proposes exploring and identifying potential sites for compliant PWC rental operations to launch, subject to Council direction and applicable approvals.

Collectively, the actions outlined in the Plan aim to reduce the risk of incidents, deter unpermitted commercial activity on City property, improve public awareness and voluntary compliance, and strengthen coordination across agencies. The plan supports safe and equitable access to the waterfront while protecting swimmers, boaters, and Toronto’s natural environment.