A public meeting will be held in LaSalle to deal with the contentious issue of hunters discharging firearms on and near waterways.
Police are recommending restrictions be put in place after receiving dozens of calls from concerned residents over the past five years.
On Tuesday, LaSalle council only received a report from police on the issue.
Deputy Chief Kevin Beaudoin says, as of now, there are no restrictions which allows individuals to discharge a firearm for the purpose of hunting on and near waterways.
He says LaSalle police would like to see the town put restrictions in place similar to what's in place in nearby municipalities.
"The Town of LaSalle has a discharge firearms bylaw that restricts discharging firearms on lands but because it's a federal waterway, there's no restrictions," says Beaudoin. "The only restrictions that can be done are through the provincial or federal government and that's the recommendation that we're putting forth to council as a possible solution."
Packed house for @TownofLaSalle council meeting. Council discussing “discharge of firearms on/near waterways.” Council expected to receive report tonight and hold a public meeting at a later date. #cklw @AM800News pic.twitter.com/XqjuMi4Qrh
— Rob Hindi (@rhindi800) February 27, 2019
Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, the towns of Tecumseh and Lakeshore do have regulations prohibiting possession of a firearm unless it is unloaded and encased.
Beaudoin says, In LaSalle, there's nothing restricting them from discharging their firearms for the purposes of hunting.
"So under the Migratory Bird Convention Act and some of the other provincial legislation, there's nothing to prevent them because they're in federal waterway," he says.
Between 2013 and 2018, LaSalle police received 44 calls from concerned residents.
In 2013, a woman in the Front Road area was also struck by a errant pellet that was discharged by hunters in the water.
Given the town is looking to develop its waterfront, Councillor Jeff Renaud says safety is paramount.
"We are looking at developing some of our waterfront and we are also looking at a few complaints that we have had," he says. "There have been a handful noise complaints and nuisance complaints in the past few years about gunshots."
A date and time for the meeting will be scheduled for a later date.