SAFER BOATING STANDARDS SET BY CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT

News Release

No. H 126/07
For release June 27, 2007
OTTAWA — The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced changes to the
Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations, which now set higher standards for boating safety testing.
"Canada's New Government is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians and these amendments will improve
the quality of the boating safety test," said Minister Cannon.
"Education is key to preventing injury and death related to pleasure craft operations."
The new amendments contain stricter requirements for those administering the test and demand greater accountability for
testing services before Pleasure Craft Operator Cards are issued. For example, course providers are now required to submit
a test protocol for approval by Transport Canada. All test protocols must outline the procedures to follow during and after
testing, and demonstrate that all tests will be administered in an appropriate setting. Transport Canada will not hesitate to
take enforcement action – such as the suspension of a course provider – if a test is being administered outside of the approved test protocol.

While Transport Canada administers the regulations, operator competency courses and tests are delivered by private sector organizations.
The Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations establish competency requirements for operators of pleasure
craft fitted with a motor and used for recreational purposes. The regulations were first introduced by the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans in 1999 in an attempt to reduce the number of boating accidents in Canada. They were transferred to
Transport Canada in early 2004.
Amended Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on
October 1, 2005. Following the mandatory 30-day public comment period, Transport Canada acted on suggestions to improve the
accreditation and testing requirements for boating safety providers. The amendments to the regulations are being published
today in the Canada Gazette, Part II.
-30-
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities,
Ottawa
613-991-0700
Kirsten Goodnough
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.
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SAFER BOATING STANDARDS SET BY CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT

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