July 8, 2025

The boating community has a big problem and I’m not referring to Trump’s impending tariff announcements. I’m talking about the number of expired distress flares that are probably stored aboard boats, in basements, garages and other out of the way locations where no one is watching to check their condition. The problem is that old distress flares can start to “weep” nitroglycerine, a highly toxic and dangerous substance that is also an environmental problem all in one…the trifecta of “nasty”.

In this edition of Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest, we have a good news / bad news story from John Gullick at CanBoat / Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons. He is sending the good news that the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons Foundation has funded thirty Flare Disposal Days across Canada this year and they have already collected roughly 40,000 expired flares. In fact, the final disposal date is next week in Sudbury then the program ends for 2025. The bad news is that there is no more funding for the collection program and yet there may be 100,000 or more old flares still out there.

In years past, Transport Canada has recognized that boating safety regulations require some boaters to carry these flares but they are dangerous to handle and have to be disposed of properly – not set off unless there is a genuine emergency, never thrown into household trash and especially, never thrown into the water.

So, they had provided funding for public collection of expired flares and only CanBoat / CPS had the trained volunteers spread across Canada who were willing to supply the manpower to staff and hold the flare disposal days. But Transport Canada used their budget on other projects this year and so, on a one-time only basis, the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons Foundation stepped up and paid for the 2025 program.

In the coming months CanBoat / Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons will again be applying to Transport Canada for funding to reinstate the flare collection.

We will update you on when this is happening and Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest will provide you with a form letter that you can complete and send to your MP asking her/him to support the reinstatement of the program. I hope we can count on you to put your support behind this important disposal program for the sake of all boaters.

This week we expect to learn about the Trump Tariffs that will be applied to many countries including Canada. Something is going to happen. We hope that the tariffs are not too severe and that Canada can carry on without too much damage.

With hot summer weather in many areas, lakes and rivers warming up and expectations for a record-breaking year for tourism across Canada, we in the boating industry are looking forward to a great year in 2025.

Cross your fingers!

Keep Calm & Boat On!

Andy Adams – Editor