Transport Canada (TC) is floating the idea of mandatory compliance of personal flotation devices (PFDs) and life jackets, through regional and national meetings of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC).
The CMAC represents member interests in shipping, navigation, and marine pollution concerns and advises the government on issues and opportunities related to marine safety and security.
“Transport Canada regularly reviews its regulations to ensure they remain relevant and achieve their underlying safety objectives,” Senior Communications Advisor Hicham Ayoun said. “Focused work on the issue of mandatory wear began in 2019, given the persistent number of fatalities from the lack or improper use of PFDs/life jackets, which account for almost 90% of recreational boating fatalities in Canada.”
He noted that TC is in the process of consultations regarding options around the mandatory wear of PFDs/life jackets.
TC is presented life jacket and PFD options to the CMAC regarding:
Who must wear them
• Mandatory wearing of a PFD or a life jacket for any person aged 14 years or younger on board a pleasure craft; or
• Mandatory wearing of a PFD or a life jacket for any person aged 18 years or younger on board a pleasure craft.
Vessel size
• Mandatory wearing of a PFD or a life jacket for any person on board any pleasure craft six metres in length and below; or
• Mandatory wearing of a PFD or a life jacket for any person on board any pleasure craft nine metres in length and below.
Type of vessel
• Mandatory wearing of a PFD or a life jacket for any person on board any motorized vessel (i.e. powerboats); or
• Mandatory wearing of a PFD or a life jacket for any person on board any motorized vessel (i.e. powerboats) and human-powered vessels (i.e. canoes, kayaks)
Currently, boaters must have one life jacket on board per person, but they don’t have to be worn.
“After preliminary feedback from safety organizations and enforcement partners is received and analyzed, Transport Canada plans to put these options forward for review and comment from the general public through its Let’s Talk Transportation website: https://letstalktransportation.ca/,” Ayoun added.
Click here for more outdoors news
The post PFD mandate floated appeared first on Ontario OUT of DOORS.
