The past two weeks have been busy and interesting for the icefishing community of southern Ontario. Cold temperatures have aided ice conditions on many of the popular destinations such as Simcoe and the Kawartha Lakes. The fishing has been reportedly good. However, plenty of anglers are grumbling over some recent decisions made by municipalities and townships that border some of these popular locations. These decisions are slowly shaping the way we look at risk in the outdoors, and specifically the personal decision to take to the ice during the winter.
As reported by numerous media outlets on January 30th 2013, an Oshawa man was rescued while icefishing on Lake Scugog during a foggy evening on January 13. Scugog is a large shallow lake, north of the GTA, which has been ever popular with winter anglers. Ice conditions during the rescue were reported to be good by numerous anglers on the lake that day with thickness ranging from 5 to 8 inches of ice. The fog disoriented the man who would eventually require rescue services during his walk back to shore. The angler found himself slightly off course from his destination at a public access point and broke through a thin layer of ice near a swampy shoreline. Neil Robbescheuten, who was a former Durham region school principal found himself stuck in watery mud along the shoreline, which prevented him from crawling the mere meters to safety. After struggling for some time, Robbescheuten realized he was completely stuck from the waist down and called 911 for assistance. Scugog firefighters arrived on the scene and Robbescheuten was pulled into a zodiac, which was used to reach the man along the swampy shore.
To his surprise days later, Robbescheuten was billed for the rescue costs associated with his ordeal that night on Scugog. The Scugog Fire Department invoiced the total cost of $5,392.78 to the angler. Scugog Fire Chief Richard Miller stated, “when you’re on the lake and you call 911 and we come and rescue you, you should expect a bill for fees and services as council has directed the fire department to do so”.
The invoice reflects the cost of multiple Scugog Fire trucks, coldwater rescue personnel, the zodiac and numerous staff who appeared on the scene. Robbescheuten refuses to pay the costs of the rescue asking, “What happens to a young person, or poor person who hesitates to call or they don’t call because they are worried they will have to pay?”.
Now, I fully understand the risk that goes into this type of rescue on ice, or along a swampy shoreline in this instance. I am fully aware that those who preform the rescue are putting their lives at risk while doing so. I also understand that those who venture out on the ice to fish are taking a risk. But to charge a man in excess of five thousand dollars for a nearshore rescue, while plenty of other anglers deemed the ice safe enough to fish on is flabbergasting. Where does one draw the line? Not to be outdone by Scugog, Barrie Deputy Fire Chief Rick Monkman issued a statement last week that sings a similar tune.
Lake Simcoe is no stranger to accidents on the ice and rescue operations that require plenty of manpower and equipment. Simcoe is easily the most popular icefishing destination in southern Ontario. There is a good chance that Simcoe is likely the most popular icefishing destination in all of Canada. Thousands of individuals depend on the icefishing season on Simcoe to the pay the bills, from minnow vendors and ice hut operators to motel and restaurant owners. Anglers from all over North America travel to Simcoe in the winter to sample this incredible hardwater fishery. Simply put, icefishing is big business on Simcoe.
In March of 2012, Oro-Medonte and Barrie Fire were required to perform a massive rescue operation to save numerous anglers who did not heed warnings of unsafe ice conditions along the north shore of Kempenfelt Bay on Lake Simcoe. Barrie officials said soon after the rescue that they were going to attempt to recover the costs of the rescue from those anglers who needed help. The operation took more than three hours and cost Oro-Medonte $4,225 for 13 township firefighters at $100 per hour and $650 for the municipality’s airboat. The attempt to recover the costs from the rescued anglers never materialized due to by-laws issues between Barrie and Oro-Medonte at the time.
As of January 30th 2013, Barrie Fire and Emergency announced in a press release “no ice is safe ice” and that “the City of Barrie can now charge for ice rescues”. Deputy Chief Monkman stated “it is our intention to bill those people requiring rescue”. Obviously the by-law issues that prevented Barrie from charging last year’s rescued anglers has been resolved and the city appears to be moving forward with new protocol.
Ignorance for safety is exactly that, ignorant and dangerous. I fully understand that having to rescue a foolish icefisherman who did not heed warnings is dangerous for all involved. I am also an icefishing enthusiast like many who call Ontario home. I have a very good idea concerning what kind of ice conditions I believe are safe. I also understand that there is a risk involved in many of the activities I undertake. Let’s see, I drive a vehicle on Grey/Bruce roads during a normal winter. Should I assume all rescue costs associated if I happen to end up in a serious accident due to road conditions?
The point is that one must assume accidents happen. When tens of thousands of anglers take to Lake Simcoe this winter, should they check their bank accounts first to see if they can afford the rescue costs in the event of an accident? If a Barrie Fire department states that ice is never safe does that mean that they hold the final word as the authority on ice conditions? Who checks the ice for the department, and do they log as many hours a year on ice as those who are ardent ice anglers? When exactly is it safe to fish on Kempenfelt Bay off the shores of Barrie on Lake Simcoe? When the fire department says so? I highly doubt that Barrie Fire and Emergency will go on record stating that conditions are safe, no way, never. Finally, if I happen to be out on the ice (which I deemed safe for myself) and a large floe breaks off, can the rescue operation please state how much I will be billed before I agree to be rescued?
Obviously I am going a little overboard in my examination of how this affects anglers in a dire situation. But the fact remains, where do we draw the line? Will ski, snowmobile, vehicle and skateboard accidents require those needing help to be billed? I will continue to wear my floatation suit while I icefish, I will also fish with a friend and tell someone where I am going, same as always. But I will not be supporting the City of Barrie, nor will you find me on Scugog anytime soon. Fortunately, in a call I made to Owen Sound’s own fire chief, Mr. Nowak assured me he has no intentions to institute the same policy here in Owen Sound. At least anglers in our region can rest assured that calling emergency services during a emergency wont result in a judgment laden slap on the wrist from our city. I can guarantee you I am not the only one who feels this way.