Posted by steve (PhD) on January 05, 19100 at 10:59:33:
In Reply to: Bill 13 - Ontario Marine Heritage Act posted by Dave and Annette Soule on December 13, 1999 at 19:22:57:
: This is an important Bill to any Great Lakes diver. Bill 13 is a private members bill by Toby Barrett (MPP for Norfolk-Haldimand-Grant) which, as worded, would prohibit diving any shipwreck in Ontario waters without a license.
: This Bill only needs to pass 3 readings -- and it has already passed the first 2 readings! If you disagree with this Bill, you need to act NOW to preserve your rights to dive shipwrecks.
: Please read as much information as you can on this topic, decide for yourself, and make your opinions known as soon as possible. People, NOBODY attending these meetings is speaking on behalf of the recreational diver! We are being grouped together and bad-mouthed like a bunch of thieves. The popular opinion in the Parliament seems to be that all divers strip wrecks. If you read the detailed discussions included quotes like: "This proposed Ontario Marine Heritage Act will make it illegal for anyone to enter a heritage wreck unless he or she is licensed to do so," and The Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation can exempt specific sites from these rules if the site is deemed to be less historically significant or if the site has been explored repeatedly. (They may or may not allow you to dive a shipwreck and will certainly be in charge of picking and choosing which ones! Many (wrecks) have been stripped clean, unfortunately, and they would be exempted from these regulations. That's why we are giving the minister that ability. The license is for marine archaeology, not merely to dive or explore. (we have free rein to dive stripped hulls only, any other wrecks require a license) Additional quotes include: "My bill requires that anyone who finds a shipwreck notify the Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation of the nature and location of the wreck as soon as possible, and There will be tough penalties under the Ontario Marine Heritage Act. Anyone contravening the act will be subject to a fine of up to $5,000 and a jail term of up to one year. If a corporation is involved, the maximum fine jumps to $250,000 for diving a wreck??? And what is worse is that the people speaking for this issue are of the opinion that: "I'm saying to you that you are on the right track. I'm saying to you, as well, in relation to divers, I don't think divers should be touching the wreck. They shouldn't be there."<\b>
: Never mind the fact that many divers we know, ourselves including, have take archaeological courses to try to assist in the mapping, measuring and sketching of these wrecks! How easy or difficult will it be to get this license? How easy will it be for them to revoke this license? Which sites will we be allowed to dive? Until we get answers to these questions, let's stop the bill and sort things out. We need to group together and do all we can do to eliminate this Bill!
: We need to group together and do all we can do to eliminate this Bill!
: Web sites on this topic include:
: This Web site has test from the Bill itself and info on who to contact
: http://www.execulink.com/~mcl/letskill.htm
: This Web site has a description of the Bill and text from the Bill itself:
: http://www.ontla.on.ca/Documents/StatusofLegOUT/b013_e.htm
: This Web site has detailed conversations in the 37th Parliament regarding this legislation:
: http://www.ontla.on.ca/hansard/37_parl/session1/L018_1.htm
: PLEASE contact to put a stop to this Bill!!!
: Toby Barrett MPP @ barrett@nornet.on.ca
: Voice Phone (519)428-0446
: The following is the Ontario Government websites have your MPP's name and address:
: http://www.ontla.on.ca/members/mpplist.htm