Dec 5, 2023

Last week I attended the Boating Ontario Conference and Trade Show and it was a great event with most of the important and influential marine industry professionals from Ontario and Eastern Canada attending. I understand the Boating BC event the previous week was similarly successful. It’s really encouraging to see so many people attending these valuable sessions.

One of the very important topics was to encourage the industry to engage with the Transport Canada website to ensure that we weigh in on critically important new legislation that is now in the works.

Transport Canada wants to modernize the VORR (Vessel Operating Restriction Regulations) and one sub-set of the new regulations is how to manage Long-term Anchoring.

Mandatory PFD wear is also on the agenda and so are several other topics, that can potentially have a powerful impact on our businesses.

We published this summary of the topics three weeks ago. (Here is a link to our story on the CMAC meetings and the key topics for your reference

I believe that there is no more important subject for my Editor’s Message this week than to remind everyone that you only have until December 11 to make your opinions heard.

At the Conference, the new Canadian Marine Retailers Association was officially announced.

This new organization is national in its structure and constitution because the primary regulations that affect boating, are national. The Federal Government seems to step away from a provincial organization even when that organization is being impacted by national regulation.

So…we have a new National organization to match-up and to represent us. Boating Industry Canada applauds this major development and we encourage you to also pledge your support.

Remember, these Transport Canada consultations are only available until December 11, 2023. After that, the input will be considered and potential new regulation will be drafted to appear in the Canada Gazette Part 1 in 2024. From there, and assuming no significant opposition, the final draft of the new legislation will go into the Canada Gazette Part 2 the next year, after which it will be passed into law.

These may be turbulent times. Speak up now.

Andy Adams – Editor