The Chair of the Mariner's Coalition Group strongly supports a private member's bill to amend portions of the Customs Act.
They want to allow private boaters to transit Canadian waters without reporting to customs.
Local marina operator Dave Brown says the archaic law hurts boating tourism in Canada.
"If a boater crosses the magic line, they have to call into Canadian customs," says Brown. "But, if a boater crosses the US line they don't have to call US customs. So, we're trying to equalize and standardize the rules and regulations that have never made sense."
Leeds-Grenville MP Gord Brown says his office has received several complaints from recreational boaters who have been stopped, fined and even had their vessels seized after they crossed the imaginary border while navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway in pleasure crafts.
