personal flotation device

Transport Canada, which oversees both recreational and commercial vessel safety, is asking members of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC) to weigh in on whether all boaters, including those in human-powered vessels, such as canoes and kayaks, should be legally required to wear a lifejacket while out on the water.

The CMAC is comprised of parties with interests in shipping, navigation, and marine pollution, and it advises the federal government on marine safety and security issues. During the council’s fall 2022 meeting, Transport Canada asked members to provide comments on a list of regulations the agency had developed around lifejackets.

The proposed regulations included the following:

Age requirements:

Require the mandatory wearing of a PFD or a lifejacket for any person aged 14 years or younger on board a pleasure craft; or
Require the mandatory wearing of a PFD or a lifejacket for any person aged 18 years or younger on board a pleasure craft.

Vessel size requirements:

Require the mandatory wearing of a PFD or a lifejacket for any person on board any pleasure craft six metres in length and below; or
Require the mandatory wearing of a PFD or a lifejacket for any person on board any pleasure craft nine metres in length and below

Vessel-type requirements:

Require the mandatory wearing of a PFD or a lifejacket for any person on board any motorized vessel (i.e. powerboats); or
Require the mandatory wearing of a PFD or a lifejacket for any person on board any motorized vessel (i.e. powerboats) and human-powered vessel (i.e. canoes, kayaks)

Transport Canada asked members to submit answers about which regulations they supported, any they disagreed with, or any proposed variations to the regulations by February 20.

Transport Canada started floating the idea of making lifejackets mandatory on recreational boats in 2018 when it hired a behavioural scientist to conduct an online survey assessing the perception recreational boaters had of lifejackets. The agency also sent out boating safety officers to public locations to record the number of people wearing lifejackets.

Using the data collected, Transport Canada crafted its proposed lifejacket regulations, and is now gathering feedback from safety organizations and industry partners.

Currently, boaters are required to have a lifejacket on board for each person, but the lifejackets don’t have to be worn. Although, in 2022, MPP Norm Miller brought forward the Lifejackets for Life Act in the Canadian Parliament, which would require children 12 or younger to wear a lifejacket while on a recreational boat. Not complying with the Act could land you a fine of $200.

According to Transport Canada, wearing a lifejacket can be the difference between life and death, especially in cold water. “This is true despite the boater’s experience, closeness to shore, and even swimming ability. A sudden fall into cold water can seriously affect breathing, nerves, and muscle strength. A lifejacket gives you thermal protection as well as keeping you buoyant. Most recreational boaters who die on the water each year in Canada are not wearing flotation devices or are not wearing them properly,” the agency said on its website.

Last year, the Ontario Provincial Police reported 29 boating-related fatalities. Of those 29 people who died, 26 weren’t wearing a lifejacket.

After February 20, when Transport Canada has received feedback from CMAC members, the agency will open the proposed lifejacket regulations to public review and comment through its Let’s Talk Transportation website.

“Input received on these options, and the issue of mandatory wear in general, will inform potential regulatory amendments, including the approach taken towards potential non-compliance with any future regulations,” the agency said in an email.

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Who doesn’t love spending a weekend on the water? Before jumping on your boat this season, it’s important to prepare with the right boating safety procedures and supplies. OPP Sergeant Dave Moffatt, the provincial marine coordinator of the Highway Safety Division, shares five preventative boating safety tips before stepping on board.

Put on your life jacket

Wear a life jacket or PFD on a motorized- or human-powered boat (including a standup paddleboard or any other craft used for navigation). “Life jackets keep your head above water, while a personal floatation device keeps you afloat, but doesn’t always keep your head above water,” says Sergeant Moffatt. If you become unconscious, a PFD might not stop you from drowning.

Tip: Sergeant Moffatt recommends an automatic inflatable PFD. “Our entire force wears them. It’s a cheap investment for your safety and comfort,” he says.

Be prepared

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Check local weather forecasts or head to Transport Canada for a map showing marine forecasts and warnings. “If there are heavy winds or thunderstorms, skip boating because bad weather can travel fast,” says Sergeant Moffatt.

2. Know the area you are boating in—especially when using a human-powered boat in rapid-ridden and high-level waterways. Only experienced boaters should attempt to navigate rapids. Check water levels through the Surface Water Monitor Centre.

3. Sergeant Moffatt recommends taking a preparation course to improve knowledge of boating safety—“Boating is difficult, and you can never learn enough about it,” he says.

Zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs

Never consume alcohol or drugs while operating a boat (including human-powered ones). Alcohol affects your judgment and response time by intensifying your body’s reaction to sun exposure, wind, and fatigue. In fact, one drink on the water can be equivalent to three on land, according to Transport Canada.

Deck out your boat

Time to accessorize—there’s a lot more equipment you need on board than you might think, and you have to know where it all is. “During inspections, you wouldn’t believe how long it can take for some people to find their safety equipment,” says Sergeant Moffatt.

According to Transport Canada, mandatory boating safety equipment includes a PFD or lifejacket for each person on board, a buoyant heaving line, a manual propelling device or anchor (at least 15 metres in length), a bailer or hand pump, a sound-signalling device, navigation lights, a 5BC fire extinguisher (a fixed fuel tank or a fuel-burning unit is sufficient, too), a waterproof flashlight, and a boating licence (with any motor of 10 hp or more).

Inspect your boat

Sergeant Moffatt recommends fastening your plugs, ensuring both the lights and motors are working properly, and assessing your craft for damage each time you ride. “It is important to have a regular maintenance schedule and have your engine looked at before the season starts,” he says. Consider scheduling free Pleasure Craft Courtesy Checks with Transport Canada volunteers, who will identify any potential problems or safety concerns.

Tip: Don’t forget about your trailer while looking after your boat. Examine the axles, bearings, brakes, and lights for proper operation.

For more information about boating safety, read Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide.

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