NMMA PARTICIPATES IN TRANSPORT CANADA RECREATIONAL BOATING ADVISORY MEETING
The bi-annual Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC) meeting hosted in late April by Transport Canada provided the industry with a number of important updates. Transport Canada is planning on amending the regulations for the pleasure craft operator competency program, a process that could take a couple of years to come into effect. The changes being considered would require rental boat providers, course providers and their affiliates follow an accreditation program. In addition, a standard instructor's manual would be implemented for course providers providing training to boaters which they would have to keep updated as per the regulations.
Transport Canada will also be making changes to the rental boat safety checklist which is required to be provided to boat renters. A pilot project is beginning this year to assess the success of this new checklist.
Transport Canada advised the industry that beginning this spring, consumers would be able to license/register their vessels through an online system that is currently only available for dealers across Canada.
The program is being delayed a year to 2015. Dealers across Canada are still able to process licensing online for their customers. Transport Canada is also looking for input from the industry on amending the small vessel regulations to include making the licensing of a boat valid for five years instead of ten.
NMMA Canada will have the opportunity to provide input to Transport Canada on these changes, and will work together with the government to maintain a positive climate for the recreational boating industry.
For more information, please contact Sara Anghel, Executive Director/Vice-President Government Relations NMMA Canada at sanghel@nmma.org.
