WHEREAS the municipal boundaries end at the high water mark of a water body; and 

WHEREAS there is no authority to restrict access to the area between the high water mark and the real level of the water in the water body; and 

WHEREAS the access is being taken advantage of by individuals on quads, bikes and ATVs where lease land or privately held land adjacent to these water bodies exist; and 

WHEREAS the fences separate the land holdings adjacent to these water bodies, the authorities and municipalities have no way of restricting these uninvited individuals; and 

WHEREAS there is a significant liability problem in these areas for farmers and ranchers; and 

WHEREAS resort villages along water bodies have this same problem; 

BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government attach this no-man’s-land between the high water mark and the water’s edge to the area within the municipal boundaries; and 

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the land owned/leased be extended from the high water mark to the edge of the water.

Response from Honourable Bill Hutchinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs:

In all cases, a boundary divides two adjoining municipalities, and one or the other has jurisdiction over the area between the bank and shore (including jurisdiction over development and vehicles).