Yup .... I guess they should have frozen aviation development and pilot training methods and standards somewhere around 1960, maybe 1965 at the latest so you guys could be happy and feel like that period was (and remains) the pinnacle of aviation.
The issue in this whole matter is that in the absence of any other info other than the video and typical CBC drivel, the guy in the video apparently was using a section of the river which wasn't a licensed aerodrome within the built up area of the city ...... small picky matter under the regs.
So, as long as "there is no danger to the public" (in your perception,) then anybody should be able to do anything they feel like at any moment with an airplane? Want to land on the main street because its close to the office? Yup, sure .... why not ... as long as you don't run over granny on her way across the street to buy a loaf of bread .... what's the big deal?