Here's the rub ... If Hastings is a municipal road, then the county owns 30 feet each side of the center line, which makes it public property. The Navigable Waterways Act says the the federal Ministry of Transport owns 30 feet inland from the traditional high water mark, which makes that public property. My guess would be that many lots on Hastings actually only own, and control access to, about 6 feet of land, and many others technically don't own anything at all. Even though people think they bought and own all the property between the road edge and the waterline, they actually have not, and do not. They simply get to use it at the government's leisure and pleasure. It takes a special act of parliament to cede ownership of part or all of a navigable waterway to an individual. There are very, very few such cessions in all of Canada, and most of those are in the maritimes, and all them were given to nobles in the early 1800's. To get one today would be impossible.
Would I test this in court? ... Absolutely. I, with one very savvy conservation officer backing my claim, have already beaten one irrate, anti-hunting, citizen, and one over zealous police officer with it 🙂
Is it worth the aggravation of having your tires slashed and going through the expense of road service calls, and replacing them ... It wouldn't be for me, but others might think so.