Item - 2026.IE28.12

Councillor Dianne Saxe recommends that:

1.  The Infrastructure and Environment Committee direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, to work with the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, Toronto Hydro and other city divisions and agencies as appropriate, in consultation with the public, and to report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee in 2027 on whether to adopt a city policy phasing out the storage and launch of jet skis and two-stroke boat engines from property owned or managed by the city, and whether to install electric charging facilities to serve one or more boat clubs on public property.

General Government Committee recently recommended approval of 20-year renewals of 24 waterfront boat club leases, including a condition that jet ski rentals will be prohibited on these leased lands. During debate, evidence was presented that most of the clubs would strongly welcome expansion of this restriction to include privately owned jet skis, as well as those that are rented. It also became obvious that privately owned jet skis have been a large part of the conflict relating to the Humber Yacht Club which led staff not to propose renewing its lease.

However, staff also confirmed that they have neither studied nor consulted the public on whether additional steps should be taken to reduce noise and water pollution associated with jet skis and two stroke boat engines at these clubs. Both are well known to pump petroleum products into the water in which they operate. Much cleaner boat engines are available, including an increasing variety of clean electric engines, which could be used if charging facilities were made available.

A separate study of the safety of personal watercraft is underway, per 2025.MM33.20, but this did not include an examination of pollution impacts or cleaner engine alternatives.