Kingsville Council Cuts Boat Rescue Service, Sparks Safety Alarm

UPDATE: The Kingsville Council has just voted to eliminate its boat rescue service, igniting urgent concerns among water safety advocates. This decision, made on November 3, 2023, comes amid rising water-related emergencies and fatalities across Ontario.

The council decided to discontinue boat-based rescue operations, leaving the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Canadian Coast Guard as the sole agencies responsible for marine rescue on Lake Erie. Fire Chief Scott Moore cited staffing issues and the need to prioritize training as reasons for this drastic change. He stated, “Given current staffing levels and competing training demands, the ongoing discipline cannot be reliably maintained to the standard expected for marine operations.”

The fire department’s inflatable vessel, which has been deployed only three times since 2020, will be taken out of service. Moore indicated that maintaining a reliable marine response would require an investment of approximately $250,000 in a larger vessel and ongoing training for a 12-member team. He deemed this expense unjustifiable under current circumstances.

This shift has triggered alarm from the Safe Action Boaters Association (SABA), which warns that the decision merely shifts risk rather than eliminating it. “There is undoubtedly a budget imperative driving this decision, but this must be weighed against the potential harm,” SABA stated. They emphasized that the OPP and Coast Guard are already stretched thin and adding more responsibilities could lead to slower response times, especially as winter approaches.

SABA highlighted the need for prompt action during the winter months when incidents involving ice rescues and cold-water exposure rise significantly. They argue that local teams bring essential experience and knowledge that can be crucial in emergencies. “A dedicated rescue organization is always desirable,” the group said.

Despite the changes, the fire department will continue to provide shore-based ice and water rescue services, scene management, and patient care. Moore reassured residents that emergency calls will still be routed to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, which dispatches OPP and Coast Guard marine units. However, advocates fear that relying solely on provincial and federal agencies may create critical gaps as demand for rescue services escalates.

The OPP Marine Unit has reported a staggering 51% increase in rescue calls, collisions, and near-drownings over the past two summers, driven by a surge in inexperienced boaters and personal watercraft rentals. Alarmingly, 10 people drowned in eastern Ontario during the same period, with none wearing life jackets.

SABA urges municipalities to collaborate and share marine rescue responsibilities rather than reduce them. “No one entity can shoulder the burden or make decisions in a vacuum,” they stated.

Moore maintains that public safety is the town’s top priority and encourages residents to practice safe boating, wear life jackets, and call 911 immediately in any water emergency. The council will amend its Establish and Regulate bylaw to officially remove boat rescue operations from the fire department’s mandate.

As this situation unfolds, the implications for water safety in Kingsville and surrounding areas remain critical. Residents and safety advocates alike are left wondering how this decision will affect response times and ultimately, lives.