fishing is banned in toronto harbour...$2000 fine

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march28
toronto police marine unit responds to days of continuous calls and messages
they have been in discussion with land owners etc across harbourfront
they notified me as to where we are currently allowed to fishas per the police of toronto

ok to fish area list
ontario place north shore city side
toronto islands...(areas that are not restricted)
leslie spit/ tommy thompson park (areas that are not Restricted)

areas that are off limits
the entire inner harbour shoreline except of of toronto islands
entire harbourfront along inner harbour

the off limit areas are still being debated and negotiated.....
the toronto police marine unit expressed that progress was being made with hfc
but they were not at liberty to discuss hfc 's plans for fishing accesss at this time.
we have been asked to be patient and comply with their current policies of no fishing.
the police marine unit will keep us updated with any changes as they happen.
a big thanks to the mgmt at the toronto police marine unit for their efforts and time.
it is very much appreciated by all who fish toronto.​
 
There statement that the entire inner Toronto shoreline is off limits is not correct. Areas of the harbourfront not under the control of the anti-fishing HBC are those that are city of Toronto parks.

Harbour square parkland

HTO park

MUSIC GARDEN park. (you would probably need an 18ft roach pole to reach the water fom the edge of the City park, so probably discount this one....for now).
All of these city parks are listed on the Toronto City Council website, so if these parks don't have the city "no fishing" bylaw sign posted, they are ok for fishing. We'll see how the HBC talks go, but I'm not sitting on my arse just waiting for them to say "no fishing". If these parks are to be no fishing areas it will take city bylaw signs from the council, not just incorrect statements from the marine police unit. 
 
mikeh said:
There statement that the entire inner Toronto shoreline is off limits is not correct. Areas of the harbourfront not under the control of the anti-fishing HBC are those that are city of Toronto parks.

Harbour square parkland

HTO park

MUSIC GARDEN park.

I find the last one particularly interesting. All of these parks are listed on the City Council website, so if these parks don't have the city bylaw sign posted, they are ok for fishing. We'll see how their talks go, but I'm not sitting on my arse just waiting for them to say "no fishing". If these parks are to be no fishing areas it will take city bylaw signs from the council, not just incorrect statements from the marine police unit.
Click to expand...


mike riehl from tpa explained that as far as he understood from city park signage we were able to fish from the parks.....hto park was mentioned / coronation park was mentioned / waterfall/globe park at york
harbour square park i think he believed was covered from signage at harbourfront centre...if i am wrong mike...quote the section in a post and correct me please....music garden is a city park but the hfc owns the slips at spadina, the marina in front of music garden and the slip at the foot of portland...even though the slip at the foot of portland has absolutely no signage posted identifying it as hfc property...
mike i am frustrated about the slow speed we are getting from hfc....because they are private property the police must respect their need for time to form and adapt their own policy....
that i got from the police as well ...yes i did pressure about municipal property and also about hfc 's lack of communication to everyone else....
 
march 28
i was called last minute to do an interview with cbc news on tv.
i had to leave work and meet with them at portland quay...
cbc was great to give us their support and exposure
the interview lasted 2 minutes and covered 7 questions...
unfortunately the part of the interview that aired included the two weakest questions
how did i feel being told it was illegal to fish?
have i fished the harbourfront since?
but all in all cbc made up for it by their own take on the situation which did give some air time to the topic....
i am grateful that they aired it at 5pm wed and 6pm wed.....
we recieved some much needed tv exposure ....so this was a step forward
thanks again to Natale at CBC News.....​
 
we really need to thank Mark McQueen chairman of the board of directors of TPA .
i called mike riehl to thank him for the news release and tpa initiative....

he expressed to me that it was mark mcqueen's decision, his project, his news release and proposed fishing derby.

so thanks needs to be directed to him in forms of letters through email

if you would like to email him ....send me your letters through pm and i will forward them to him...
or post them here...

thanks...dave
 
I am going to have to find the link for this air time you, and we got from cbc. If you have it that would be better! :)
 
tangledline said:
mike riehl from tpa explained that as far as he understood from city park signage we were able to fish from the parks.....hto park was mentioned / coronation park was mentioned / waterfall/globe park at york
harbour square park i think he believed was covered from signage at harbourfront centre...if i am wrong mike...quote the section in a post and correct me please....music garden is a city park but the hfc owns the slips at spadina, the marina in front of music garden and the slip at the foot of portland...even though the slip at the foot of portland has absolutely no signage posted identifying it as hfc property...
mike i am frustrated about the slow speed we are getting from hfc....because they are private property the police must respect their need for time to form and adapt their own policy....
that i got from the police as well ...yes i did pressure about municipal property and also about hfc 's lack of communication to everyone else....
Click to expand...

The area at the stone globe and waterfall, including that little wooden deck is not inside Harbour square park and I believe its not HFC property either. My understanding is that it is privately owned by the Condo building directly behind it. However, It does border onto the east side of York st slip which is owned by HFC, so I guess technically they could call in a SWAT team or JTF2 if you fish from that side of it. Harbour Square park is the area to the east of the other side of the little stretch of boardwalk, the patch of green next to the harbourcastle hotel. It is a city park and covered by the city bylaw. I have not yet seen any city bylaw signs there prohibiting fishing. I am concerned that the issue is being expanded again. The initial problem was the wrongful enforcement of the TPA rule and that has been resolved by the TPA (Thanks!).
The ONLY remaining issue is that of HFC enforcing a fishing ban on their property, (assuming that they do actually own it and its not leased). As far as I know there is not, and never has been any issue with the city parks, which are covered by the city bylaw and required to post no fishing signs where applicable. I was hoping that Ann Tindal park was also a city park, but it does not appear to be the case.

I have more research to do yet on who actually owns what.
 
tangledline said:
march 28
i was called last minute to do an interview with cbc news on tv.
i had to leave work and meet with them at portland quay...
cbc was great to give us their support and exposure
the interview lasted 2 minutes and covered 7 questions...
unfortunately the part of the interview that aired included the two weakest questions
how did i feel being told it was illegal to fish?
have i fished the harbourfront since?
but all in all cbc made up for it by their own take on the situation which did give some air time to the topic....
i am grateful that they aired it at 5pm wed and 6pm wed.....
we recieved some much needed tv exposure ....so this was a step forward
thanks again to Natale at CBC News.....​
Click to expand...

Shame it was last minute, I would have recommended a couple of 9yr olds bawling their eyes out with unopened Canadian Tire fishing combos in hand, and the HFC sign looming large over them in the background as a good opening shot.
 
hahaha...I think JTF2 would be a bit extreme measure, but by the sounds of it HFC would try for it. It would just taken em a while to get there and do anything about it haha.
 
mike do not give hfc any ideas...i have two buddies on etf that would love an excuse to put a cap in my ass.....
i have another buddy who worked marine unit for 10 years...but not anymore...he is the same way..love to give me a hard time...
wierd thing is i have fished on his boat in toronto harbour b4.....i still can not believe the situation were in ...it angers me to no end if i let it.
 
thegrid002.jpg
 
we made the grid...weekly newspaper....
we were sandwiched in-between articles about madonna and donald trump....go figure...

thegrid001.jpg
 
HAHAHAHA. Well what matters is that we made it, and maybe eventually we will be the cover page as well at some point :)
 
upate april 1st
for those who have wondered what has been going on the last couple days with this project....
i have been busy sending letters of thanks and other letters pleading for help......
i believe from speaking to all those involved.... we are at a point of discussion and negitiations on the topic....
added publicity may or may not hinder the negotiations...you have my ear ...what do you want to do?

i also went fishing "to test the waters "

march 31 8am city park (harbour square parkland) beside the ferry docks
i encountered visits from three different police vehicles
first was a marine unit vessel that came right beside me to access the situation....
they eventually waved and proceeded on....
10 minutes later another marine unit vessel approached ...
basically the same thing....
5 minutes later a police cuiser car pulled up behind the nearby condo
he sat and watched me fish for the next hour...
when i left on my bicycle .....he left shortly thereafter.
i appreciated all the police support.....
i had 6 pike follows and three police follows
not a bad outing....
went home had lunch went out againthis time to ontario place
no police... no pike...
so i seem to do best fishing when in the company of police.
police.jpg
 
Thanks very much, Dave. The Toronto Port Authority was pleased to step in to clear this situation up as soon as it arose.

I've spoken with the CEO of Harbourfront Toronto, and his organization is aware of our press release and standing on the matter.

Our Harbourmaster is reaching out to the key organizations to ensure there's no further misunderstanding about where the TPA stands on fishing in the harbour area. However, we still need the various waterfront landowers and stakeholders to designate safe fishing spots, in places that don't interfere with the commercial and ferry activity, for example.

It would be helpful if you and your colleagues suggested a couple of derby dates that would be good for 2002; i.e., when the fish might be biting.

Hopefully those will work at our end and we'll take care of the rest. I can't promise a huge bunch of prizes, but I'd love to bring our kids along to join you for the fun.

I know our Mayor loves to fish, too. Hopefully we'll be able to get he and his family out if his schedule can accomodate.

Cheers

Mark McQueen
 
So it turns out that the area at the stone globe next to the boardwalk before harbourfront park is also part of the park, complete with city park sign that says so.....

harbour square park west.jpg

So fishing under the willow next to the waterfall is ok.
 
Dave,

According to this Waterfront Toronto ownership plan, apparently HBC don't actually own much at all.


waterfront ownership.jpg

The location where you were accosted at Portland slip appears to be outside their area.

I will contact Waterfront Toronto to see if this ownership plan is still current. Looks like the city council owns the boardwalk between the harbour park west and Harbour square park too. 
 

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