No. H189/05For release October 3, 2005
OTTAWA - Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre today announced proposed changes
to the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations to further enhance
boating safety. The changes introduce more stringent requirements for
organizations that administer boating safety tests and issue Pleasure Craft
Operator Cards to Canadians.
"Since they were introduced a few years ago, the operator competency
regulations have steadily gained support in the boating community," said Mr.
Lapierre. "Today we are taking steps to ensure the regulations continue to save
lives by effectively promoting safe boating practices across Canada."
The Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations are designed to use
education and training to reduce the number of boating incidents and deaths.
Under the regulations, all boaters are either already required to have proof of
competency or will be required to carry it by 2009. Boaters can prove competency
by obtaining a Pleasure Craft Operator Card; demonstrating they have
successfully completed a boating safety course in Canada prior to April 1, 1999;
or by completing a rental-boat safety checklist.
To obtain a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, boaters must pass an accredited
boating safety test. Tests are accredited by Transport Canada and administered
by private organizations, called course providers. The card is valid for life.
Transport Canada is proposing changes to these regulations to introduce more
stringent requirements for all types of operator competency testing. Course
providers will be required to submit a test protocol for the Minister's
approval. All protocols will need to outline the procedures to follow during and
after testing and demonstrate that all tests will be administered in an
appropriate setting. For example, Internet testing will have to take place in a
public environment supervised by the course provider. Testing from a candidate's
private residence will no longer be allowed.
The Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations were introduced by
the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in 1999 and transferred to Transport
Canada in early 2004. Transport Canada has since continued to monitor the
program to find ways to further enhance its effectiveness.
These proposed changes to the regulations were published in the Canada
Gazette, Part I on Saturday, October 1, 2005. Interested parties have 30 days to
forward their comments to Transport Canada. After careful consideration of all
comments received, Transport Canada will finalize the regulations and publish
them in the Canada Gazette, Part II at which time they will come into effect.
Transport Canada strongly recommends that all boaters take a safe boating
course before completing the test. To find a course provider near you, call the
Boating Safety Infoline at
1-800-267-6687 or visit
www.boatingsafety.gc.ca.
A backgrounder with additional information on pleasure craft operator
competency is attached.
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Contacts:
Irène Marcheterre
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Marie-Josée Dubois
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date
on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with
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BACKGROUNDER
PLEASURE CRAFT OPERATOR COMPETENCY
In 1999, the Government of Canada introduced new requirements
under the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations to help reduce
the number of boating-related incidents and fatalities and to implement changes
requested by Canadians. These regulations are designed to help boaters safely
operate their boats and respond to emergencies.
Under the regulations, anyone born after April 1, 1983, who
operates a recreational vessel fitted with a motor and all operators of vessels
fitted with a motor and less than four meters (13.12 feet) in length, are
required to have proof of competency on board at all times. All other persons
who operate pleasure craft fitted with a motor of any size will have to carry
proof of competency as of September 15, 2009.
Proof of competency can take one of three forms:
possession of a Pleasure Craft Operator Card issued following the successful
completion of an accredited test or;
proof of having successfully completed a boating safety course in Canada
prior to April 1, 1999 or;
a completed rental-boat safety checklist (for power-driven rental boats,
valid for the rental period).
Boaters can obtain a Pleasure Craft Operator Card by taking an accredited
boating safety test and achieving a mark of at least 75 per cent. The tests are
administered by private organizations, called course providers, and cover basic
boating safety rules and regulations and instructions on how to respond to
emergencies. They also contain questions that require either a boating safety
course or broad knowledge of boating practices to successfully answer.
For a list of course providers or for more information, contact the Boating
Safety Infoline at
1-800-267-6687 or visit www.boatingsafety.gc.ca
October 2005
