WHEREAS the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure provides for lake access points within subdivision plans; AND WHEREAS these access points allow for emergency aquatic egress for communities identified in emergency plans as well as recreation and enjoyment of the Provinces lakeshores and fisheries in an increasingly developed shoreline environment: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure survey and provide signs identifying public access points to the Provinces lakes and rivers to confirm the publics right to access the foreshore for recreation and emergency egress via boat.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure The Ministry recognizes the importance of public access to lakes and rivers. As specified in the Land Title Act, Ministry staff ensure continued access through the review and administration of the rural subdivision process. The location of these access-to-water rights of way are surveyed and dedicated at the time of subdivision and retained and managed for both current and future uses. Access-to-water may be dedicated for a variety of purposes, including public access, drainage and livestock access. All accesses are deemed public highway rights of way and are available for public use to the extent that access is safe and practical based on terrain. It is important to note that many of these rights of ways are unconstructed and not maintained and, in some cases, they may not be suitable for safe public access. The Ministry can confirm that all accesses to water are surveyed at the time of dedication through the subdivision process as per the Land Title Act. Where these rights of way provide suitable access, ministry staff are happy to work with local governments to ensure that they are adequately signed to confirm public access.