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New regulations requiring operators of all power driven recreational
boats in Canada to obtain an "Operator Card" (an operator licence)
were adopted by the government during the week of January 11,
1999.
Operators of power driven boats will have to obtain "Operator Cards"
according to the following schedule:
September 15, 1999 - All operators born after April 1, 1983.
September 15, 2002 - All operators of craft under 4 m (a little
over 13 feet) in length, including personal watercraft.
September 15, 2009 - All other operators (including people
over the age of 55).
These requirements apply to sailboats equipped with an engine.
Generally speaking, most people have up to ten years to acquire a
recreational boat "Operator Card" (operator licence). See below for
more details.
The proposed regulations that were tabled in Parliament last June
indicated that people 55 years old and over would be exempt from
having to take the boating safety course or pass the test. However,
there is no such exemption in the regulations that are now coming
into force.
Background.
Four or five years ago the federal government embarked on a major initiative to completely
revamp recreational boating regulations in Canada.
At the time, Ottawa was pursuing an administrative partnership with provinces that would
have
led to the introduction of an onerous operator licencing system for all types of boats
(not just
power driven boats) and a new comprehensive and, possibly very expensive, vessel licencing
scheme. Under such systems, boaters would have had to renew both the operator and vessel
licences every so often (probably every 2 or 3 years). This was all happening at the
height of
Ottawa's efforts to bring the deficit under control, and needless to say, the government
was
already eyeing the revenues which could have been generated by licence fees and renewals.
For a variety of reasons (many having to do with boater opposition), the federal
government
abandoned it plans to introduce either of these licencing schemes. Instead, it focused its
efforts on
increasing boating safety through mandatory safety training. As a result, in June of 1998,
proposed regulations were tabled in Parliament which would require, with some exceptions,
that
the operators of powerboats (including sailboats equipped with an engine) follow a course
and
pass a test on basic boating safety. While these courses and tests would be accredited by
Coast
Guard, they would be given by boating organizations, clubs, schools, etc. Fees for these
services
would be charged by the organizations and schools giving the courses or tests.
According to the proposed regulations, people would also have to carry an "Operator
Card" to
prove they have successfully completed a boating safety course and/or passed the required
test.
These cards would be good for life. For all practical purposes, the "Operator
Card" would be the
same as an operator licence, except that it would not have the administrative overhead or
renewal
fees that were envisged in the government's plans of 4 or 5 years ago.
The Regulations in a Nutshell.
As stated earlier, the gist of the proposed regulations is that operators of power driven
boats in
Canada will have to successfully complete a basic boating course and/or test. There are 3
ways
boaters will be able to obtain an "Operator Card":
( 1 ) Operators of boats over 4 metres in length (a little over 13 feet) will have until
September 15, 2009, (10 years) to obtain their "Operator Card".
( 2 ) People who have already successfully completed a recognized boating safety
course in Canada before April 1, 1999, will be able to obtain an "Operator
Card" without having to take an accredited safety course or pass the related test.
( 3 ) People who feel they have enough experience and knowledge about boating
safety will have the option of obtaining their "Operator Card" without having to
complete the accredited safety course by taking a "Challenge Test".
Note that children between 12 and 16 years old will have to take the necessary courses and
pass
the test by September 15, 1999, in order to operate a powerboat when unaccompanied and
unsupervised by a qualified person. Moreover, people operating a powerboat that is less
than 4
metres in length will only have until September 15, 2002, to obtain their "Operator
Card". This
last provision appears to be aimed at operators of personal watercraft / jetski boats.