Ontario boat charters issue warning over deceptive operators [Video]

As the weather starts to heat up across the province, one Ontario boating company is urging the public to be cautious when booking charters for the summer.

The Great Lakes Boaters Association (GLBA), which says it represents more than 300 boaters and 40 companies, put out a petition earlier this month asking Toronto to loosen its safety regulations and increase access to docking infrastructure across the city.

However, some licensed boating companies are concerned about the safety of passengers, alleging the association supports unlicensed yacht charters that put the public at risk.

Mani Saba, founder of Toronto Yachts and the Safety Awareness Boating Alliance, told Global News many members of the GLBA are operating without required certifications. Furthermore, they’re crowding out fully compliant operators who follow Transport Canada’s commercial safety standards, he said.

Saba said his company has documented dozens of operators accused of skirting the Canada Shipping Act and Transport …