Call about fishing ban, or maybe take up knitting instead

[OldTimer]

(06-11-2012 01:07 PM)MuskieBait Wrote:  You gotta make a strong stance for something that you believe in...especially since fishing is a passion of mine.

Here, Here!

Mine too...............

[--G--]

(06-11-2012 07:58 AM)OldTimer Wrote:  Or send a polite email - simply saying that you are not happy with the No Fishing signs, and that you support fishing and the Gone Fishin motion……..to all these parties:

councillor_holyday@toronto.ca

mayor_ford@toronto.ca

councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca

councillor_vaughan@toronto.ca

I couldn't get anywhere on the phone, but did send emails...

[OldTimer]

(06-11-2012 02:45 PM)--G-- Wrote:  

(06-11-2012 07:58 AM)OldTimer Wrote:  Or send a polite email - simply saying that you are not happy with the No Fishing signs, and that you support fishing and the Gone Fishin motion……..to all these parties:

councillor_holyday@toronto.ca

mayor_ford@toronto.ca

councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca

councillor_vaughan@toronto.ca

I couldn't get anywhere on the phone, but did send emails...

Great stuff!

Come on fellas - if you havent......... do the same - only hours left to do so ........ then the show begins.

[MichaelAngelo]

I believe I got a call back at 12:30, however I was away from my cell and miss the call. No caller ID.

I called back and they gave me the number for James, one of the managers. 416 392 1122.

I left a message with the secretary there. You guys should call this number as well. It just takes a minute.

[MuskieBait]

I sent this email to each member of the Executive Committee, the Mayor, my Ward Councillor, as well as other councillors. In additon, I have sent this to the Toronto Port Authority, the Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation and Fishing Forever, among other fishing communities.

>>>

As a concerned resident of Toronto, I would like to respond to the recent prohibition of fishing across the city’s waterfront public and park properties. The ban, which comes into effect June 11, 2012, has been acted upon undemocratically, without justification and no public consultation.

I have been following the development of this issue since the original story where professional angler Dave Chong was told by Toronto Police Marine Unit that fishing was not allowed at Ontario Place. This was later responded by Const. Tony Vella that the police was not sure which law, if any, that they were enforcing. It was later responded by Ontario Place that they had no law against fishing on the property.

On March 18, 2012, David Clark was escort out of the Harbourfront Center when the Harbourfront security quoted Toronto Port Authority regulation regarding fishing that the security has no authority to enforce. This is complete abuse and impersonation of authority that they do not have in the first place.

According to the Toronto Port Authority Practices and Procedures under the Fishing section:
24. No person shall fish from shoreline unless in an authorized area designated by posted signs.
25. Afloat Recreational/Commercial fishing is not to be undertaken in a navigable channel, or areas designated for other activities swimming, diving, etc
David Clark, and our online fishing community, had since received and posted confirmation from Michael Rielh, the Deputy Harbour Master & Manager of Customer Relations, at the Toronto Port Authority that:

“City Parks and Rec property is "public" property and fishing is allowed unless posted...so areas like HTO park (I have not checked for signs there today but will try to visit this week), along the western beaches (e.g. Marilyn Bell park unless posted signs), central waterfront park (in front of Harbour Square condos which "mostly" is a city park...the condo might own portions by the boardwalk in the northwest corner), north side of the Outer Harbour (but not in the swimming or boating areas)...the portion of the area from the Outer Harbour (Unwin Ave) to the Outer Harbour Marina belongs to Toronto Portlands Corporation and I currently dont know their fishing rules.”

In addition, under Chapter 608 of the Toronto Municipal Code that deals with Parks, Section 38 that addresses Fishing:

§ 608-38. Fishing.

While in a park:
A. No person shall fish in an area posted to prohibit fishing;
B. No person shall store or leave any lures, bait, hooks, lines, poles or other equipment in the park in a location or manner that may injure other persons or wildlife; and
C. All permitted fishing must be carried out in compliance with all Ministry of Natural Resources Rules and Regulations.

Under the Waterfront Toronto’s mandate and PR campaign:

"In all, there will be more than three kilometers of direct, public access to the water's edge in downtown Toronto…"

Please let me specify that the taxpayer of Toronto, including anglers, had support the construction of the waterfront to increase three kilometers of direct, public access to the water’s edge in downtown Toronto!

I had been fishing in Toronto for over 15 years. Only recently had the fishing access been restricted. This restriction was not imposed by “No Fishing” signs until June 5, 2012. If there were any concerns for public usage, it has only been a recent issue. In both recent cases in March 2012, we had continued support by the Toronto Port Authority that fishing remained a legal and permitted activity unless otherwise indicated by signs.

On April 10 and 11, 2012, Councillor Paula Fletcher submitted the Gone Fishing motion, seconded by Councillor Adam Vaughan. Here are the specifics of the motion:

Recommendations

Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Councillor Adam Vaughan, recommends that:

1. City Council request that all public bodies along the lakeshore within City limits refrain from interfering with sport fishing unless the activity compromises public safety.

2. City Council establish as much as possible of the central waterfront as a 'Gone Fishing' zone.

3. City Council request the City Solicitor to review the legality of any newly-enforced restrictions which hinder citizens from enjoying sport fishing in locations where this has been permitted in the past.

Summary

Recently, restrictions on public fishing have been put in place along portions of Toronto's waterfront, with fishing restricted to areas designated by posted signage. This is counter to existing policy permitting urban fishing in the City of Toronto provided there is no signage prohibiting fishing.

Fishing is an activity enjoyed by thousands of Torontonians every year. The right to fish can be reasonably restricted for purposes of safety at particular locations, but a patchwork of new enforcement, apparently unrelated to public safety, poses the risk that the lakeshore will be effectively taken from the public realm, enjoyed by all, to a private preserve. As a lakefront City Toronto needs to protect the right of residents to fish in Lake Ontario from public property.

On May 14, 2012, the motion was “held” by executive committee chair Mayor Rob Ford, and the council was to debate on the issue on June 6, 2012.

However, before the motion was discussed, voted and finalized, on June 5, 2012, the City of Toronto had erected signs along the shores of Lake Ontario in the City of Toronto! The Gone Fishing motion was further deferred to June 12, 2012.

This action by the City of Toronto is undemocratic in nature. Without any public consultation and justification, the City had single-handedly decided on the fate of the access of the shorelines of Lake Ontario without any input from stakeholders and taxpayers. The fact that these signs were already designed, manufactured and erected prior to the date of the motion suggested that this decision was premeditated. This suggests that the City decided to push a “grandfather clause” on the resident of Toronto!

In addition, the action by City of Toronto is deceiving to the resident of Toronto. On the surface, the City of Toronto appeared to support fishing as a wholesome, family-friendly, outdoor activity with the Mayor’s endorsement at the Toronto’s Sportsman Show on March 14, 2012.

It even appeared that City of Toronto support fishing with its Gone Fishing project at Scadding Court Community Centre, where a swimming pool was stocked with rainbow trout to encourage and educate Toronto citizens of all ages on these points:

“…to educate people about the environment, to boost recreational access for inner-city dwellers, and to show people where food comes from while improving food access and food security.”

However, the actions by the City of Toronto contradicts everything that they had appeared to support in terms of the fishing activity in the City of Toronto. According to CP24 news report on June 11, 2012, the areas between Urwin Avenue at the entrance of the Leslie Spit to Etobicoke will be designated as “No Fishing” area. The fact that fishing access is restricted prior to discussion and voting by the City Council indicated that the City of Toronto actually do not care for fishing as an activity that should be promoted and the City place do not place any priority to public access to natural resources or the environment. This severely restricts the access to fishing areas that are already limited to the resident of Toronto!

As a taxpayer of Toronto and a citizen of Canada, I have equal rights to the access of the public waterfront along Lake Ontario, all the Toronto public waterways, as well as the park property of Toronto. The restriction to fishing access without any justification and public consultation is a discrimination to the rights of Canadians and Torontonians. The City is specifically stripping our fishing rights in Toronto!

As a taxpayer of Toronto, a resident of Toronto, and a citizen of Canada, I would strongly urge that you support the continued access to the waterfront for Toronto residents. As a voter, fishing access ranks as a priority issue and my continued support for the members of the City of Toronto council will be reflected by the support that City of Toronto shows me.

I would much appreciate your prompt reply to this issue prior to the vote tomorrow on the Gone Fishing motion, and a serious explanation from City Council if the decision was to restrict fishing access in Toronto public spaces.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Kenneth Tse

[OldTimer]

Look at this latest Sun article - It really has some good news - but not a complete slam dunk for fisherman yet..............:


http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/11/wat...-officials

The meeting starts at 9:30 .............. still a few hours left to call or send emails..............

Edit- add these links:

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1209...waterfront

http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/video/209821

http://www.globaltoronto.com/city+counci...story.html

Things are gettin noticed & more active chatter now....................

Cheers,

OldTimer

[bettercallsaul]

(06-12-2012 06:08 AM)OldTimer Wrote:  Look at this latest Sun article - It really has some good news - but not a complete slam dunk for fisherman yet..............:


http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/11/wat...-officials

The meeting starts at 9:30 .............. still a few hours left to call or send emails..............

Edit- add these links:

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1209...waterfront

http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/video/209821

http://www.globaltoronto.com/city+counci...story.html

Things are gettin noticed & more active chatter now....................

Cheers,

OldTimer

Guy in the torontosun video: safety, safety, safety

More people in our city people have died from cyclists than from fishermen (which from my understanding is nil), but I don't see any sign prohibiting that.

[MuskieBait]

I'll be there tonight! I will be late for my work event, but I will be there!!!

[OldTimer]

Dig this:

http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaIt...12.EX21.33

Cheers,

OldTimer

[MuskieBait]

I was at the release event for "Fishes of Toronto" book event tonight and Councillor Fletcher came and announce the good news on stage. We gave her a cheer and a round of applause. Thanks guys for all your contribution, such that the Executive Committee has now amended this motion, a Fishing Summit would be held and the existing No Fishing signs to be removed for now.

Don't be fooled, we have just won a small battle, but the war is still going on. We need to voice our support for shoreline access at the Fishing Summit. We need a strong showing of Toronto anglers at the Summit so that we can represent our interest!

Let's keep all this momentum going and keep our interest level high with this issue!