Following conversations about the infamous zoning bylaw called “extensive water-related activities” that forced the ‘Navigo’ shared boat project to vacate the premises following an “in-house” formal notice from the municipality of North Hatley.
Interestingly, during a meeting with North Hatley municipal management, Navigo representatives questioned the fact that the current zoning does not allow any extensive water-related activities for all these businesses:
- Pilsen: Boats parked for restaurant meals.
- Florent Hébert, fishing guide: B&B customers who bring their boats to the dock.
- Manoir Hovey: 4 lakes pontoon rental.
- Solstice Sauna: cold-water bathing.
- Club North Hatley: membership and boat marina or multi-slip dock.
- North Hatley Marina: dock rental (yes, zoning doesn’t allow it)
During the meeting with two Navigo representatives, the municipality’s management clarified that all these businesses were “grandfathered” to carry out extensive water-related activities. In fact, the only permitted area other than the public beach and the federal wharf is located in a non-waterfront zone of the municipality. It’s hard to do extensive water-related activities if you’re not on the water.
It’s important to know that you can’t just claim an acquired right – you have to prove it!
Here’s an example of an access to information request made in the Township of Stanstead concerning proof of an acquired right. The municipality was able to provide the document very quickly.
In North Hatley, it’s much more complicated to obtain such a document certifying the acquired rights of businesses specified by the municipality’s own management.
On July 15, 2024, I made my first request for access to information in due form:
As of May 16, 2025, the Municipality of North Hatley has never provided proof of vested rights for any North Hatley merchant. In fact, I had to file a request with the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec.
The most impressive part of the story is that the mayor herself, when questioned by the commission, never responded to the e-mails from the president’s office. The Chair’s office has contacted the mayor three times without response. Yet this is a simple access-to-information request that can be answered quickly.
Now I have to go to a mediator with the mayor to obtain a simple document demonstrating the right claimed by the management of the municipality itself! Nearly a year later, I still haven’t had an answer to my request. Am I the only one not to get an answer from the Municipality of North Hatley regarding my right to access information?
On that note, you can expect to wait almost a year for information from the Municipality of North Hatley, and hours of paperwork to assert your simple right!
