May 12, 2020

On the heels of last Friday’s positive news which allowed for on-water marinas to begin launch and prep work, we have another announcement from the province. With many businesses having customer boats in storage waiting to be picked up or delivered, the message from the Premier provides guidance on the next steps:

“On Monday, May 11 at 12:01 a.m., retail stores with a street entrance can begin offering curbside pickup and delivery, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s Guidance Document for Essential Workplaces and occupational health and safety requirements.”

The full news release from the Office of the Premier can be found here.

This is a positive advancement for our dryland member facilities and allows the recreational boating industry to continue moving forward with preparations for the season. With the reopening of sectors within the industry, Social Distancing protocols must continue to be adhered to. We have released a Best Practices for industry personnel and will soon follow with a boating family guide for members to share with their customers.

Cottage country pressure for the May long weekend is mounting and we remain hopeful that our marinas will soon be open and water access cottagers – those who rely on an open marina so they can get their boat to access their cottage – will be satisfied in the days ahead. As always if you have questions or seek additional clarity please call the Provincial hotline at 1 (888) 444-3659.

Please adhere to the rules within your facility and teams – we are so very close to realizing the days and nights of Ontario’s best boating months!

Boating Ontario will continue to advocate on behalf of our members and the recreational boating industry as the situation develops.