Widespread sabotage of the federal Boating Restriction Regulations by the municipalities!

The first step to follow if you need boating restrictions on a lake is to get the municipality to hold a public consultation.

 However, more and more municipalities are categorically refusing to hold public consultations and the municipality of Saint-Donat (Matawinie) is on top of the list. The lake association of lake la Clef, in the municipality of Saint-Donat, has recently been refused the right to have the municipality hold a public consultation.

But the municipality of Saint-Donat is clever and knew that by categorically refusing it would appear antidemocratic. Consequently, it openly accepted to hold a consultation but on the condition that the association clearly demonstrate that there was a consensus among the cottagers, a consensus amounting to at least 90% of the votes. So, not only did the municipality want the association to hold a consultation before holding its own consultation, but it also requested near unanimity among the cottagers even though, according to the Quebec government, a democratic majority is 50% plus one vote. Let us remind everyone that a person can get elected on the municipal council of Saint-Donat with a simple majority of 50% plus one.  Long live the Republic of Quebec!  

After such a frustrating experience, the lake association looked for answers from the minister of Municipal Affairs who is responsible for the administration of the federal Boating Restriction Regulations in Québec. The minister of Municipal Affairs refused to interfere and set the record straight with the municipality of Saint-Donat. Apparently, Quebec municipalities can tell their citizens to get lost.

CONCLUSION

If you intend to get boating restrictions on your lake, remember that the voting that is part of the consultation must result in a clear majority. Do not waste any time! Write to your municipality ahead of time if you want to avoid the type of situation faced by the association of lake la Clef in the municipality of Saint-Donat. Ask your municipality to tell you what it considers a clear majority to be. If your municipality requires a higher majority than 50% plus one, immediately contact FAPEL.