Re-opening and Amending Item 2025.MM32.16 - Addressing Unlicensed Jet Ski Rentals and Safety on Toronto’s Waterfront - by Mayor Olivia Chow, seconded by Councillor Amber Morley

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The decision

2025-10-08 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on October 8 and 9, 2025, adopted the following: 1. As part of the implementation and report back on City Council directives included in item 2025.MM32.16, City Council request the City Manager to: a. review the City's permitting requirements for motorized watercraft, including jet skis, and make recommendations on how to strengthen enforcement in summer 2026 to ensure only licensed operators are able to rent out motorized watercraft, including jet skis; b.

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establish a multi-party working group to develop an overall integrated strategy to address dangerous motorized watercraft use along all of Toronto's waterfront and urban rivers in advance of the 2026 season, with group membership extended but not limited to Ports Toronto, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Toronto Police Service Marine Safety Unit, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and Parks and Recreation; and c. broaden the scope of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee identified in item 2025.MM32.16 to consider all of the Toronto's supervised swimming beaches, as well as the waterfront and urban rivers, while ensuring that geographically-specific stakeholder consultations are undertaken to inform the design of specific Motorized Watercraft Exclusion Zones at the request of the local Councillor, including at Bluffer's Park and Woodbine Beach.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

Lake Ontario and Toronto's urban rivers offer recreational opportunities of all kinds, from swimming to kayaking and canoeing, boating, paddleboarding and more. Unfortunately, illicit and unlicensed jet ski rental operators are compromising the safety of people enjoying the waterfront with unsafe practices. These bad faith operators are taking advantage of the trust of their customers, who believe they are renting from legitimate businesses with proper safety protocols in place.

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It is essential that before the 2026 summer season, the City review all enforcement options to stop illegal and reckless jet ski rental operators from endangering their own customers as well as everyone enjoying our waterfront. Requires Re-opening: Item 2025.MM32.16 (July 23 and 24, 2025, City Council meeting).

Staff recommended

Mayor Olivia Chow, seconded by Councillor Amber Morley, recommends that: 1. As part of the implementation and report back on City Council directives included in MM32.16, City Council requests that the City Manager: a. review the roles and responsibilities for motorized watercraft and jet skis, including licensing requirements for those operating motorized watercraft, and make recommendations on how to strengthen enforcement in summer 2026; b.

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establish a multi-party working group to develop an overall integrated strategy to address dangerous motorized watercraft use along all of Toronto's waterfront and urban rivers in advance of the 2026 season, with group membership extended but not limited to Ports Toronto, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Toronto Police Service Marine Safety Unit, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and Parks and Recreation; and c. broaden the scope of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee identified in 2025.MM32.16 to consider all of the Toronto's supervised swimming beaches, as well as the waterfront and urban rivers.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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