 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) efforts to promote safe boating have to date focused on both non-regulatory and regulatory initiatives.
On the non-regulatory side, CCG has established a network of six Offices of Boating Safety across the country to contribute to an improved focus on recreational boating in a manner that takes account of regional needs. CCG is also connecting with boaters in new ways. These include:
CCG has also responded to requests from the boating community by issuing improved standards for personal flotation devices. With its US counterparts, CCG is undertaking a variety of joint projects, including plans for a North America-wide Boating Safety Campaign.
CCG is also breaking new ground in program-delivery across Canada through such initiatives as mobile Responsible Boating Teams in interior British Columbia, community-based safety programs in the North, networking partnerships in the Prairies, industry partnerships in Quebec, joint patrols in Ontario and the Maritimes and partnering with ground Search & Rescue teams in Newfoundland.
In terms of regulatory initiatives, CCG has worked hard to improve the responsiveness of existing regulations to local needs. For example, the CCG-sponsored Local Authorities Guide to the Boating Restriction Regulations, complemented by the efforts of Coast Guard regional boating safety officers, makes it easier for municipalities to identify and evaluate the most effective means of addressing local boating safety concerns. A similar tool for the Pleasure Craft Sewage Pollution Regulations is also under development.
To make enforcement more effective, CCG has designated most boating safety offences included in its various regulations as "ticketable" under the terms of the 1996 Contraventions Act. This allows local enforcement agencies to issue tickets for boating offences, rather than rely on more cumbersome and expensive summary convictions processes. CCG is working with Justice Canada officials to support the nation-wide implementation of the Act. CCG recently piloted a Joint Patrol program that allows Coast Guard officers to accompany OPP or RCMP officers on routine boat patrols.
Boating Safety Regulations: The Current Process
The process leading to the new Boating Safety regulations began with calls from the public, boating associations and manufacturers, cottagers, coroners, enforcement agencies and others for improved regulations for recreational boating. The regulations themselves evolved from almost four years of consultation with these groups and other stakeholders. Between 1994 and 1998, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) consulted extensively on ways to improve boating safety for recreational pleasure craft in Canadian waters. The consultations proceeded along two separate, but complementary, tracks.
Track 1: Operator Competency and Age and Horsepower Restrictions
The first track of consultations began in 1994 and involved broad stakeholder consultations focussing on such important safety issues as:
Track 2: Amending the Small Vessel Regulations
At the same time, CCG undertook wide-ranging consultations on modernizing the existing Small Vessel Regulations. The focus in this second effort was on improved minimum safety equipment provisions, safety precautions and enforcement tools.
These consultations, which began in January, 1997 and concluded in the spring of 1998, built upon almost a decade of work by a working group of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council, representing recreational boating interests across the country. CCG Recreational Boating Advisory Councils, which bring together boating stakeholders on both a national and regional basis, and several hundred boating organizations, were also involved in the consultations. An estimated 250,000 boaters received information or participated in the process via publications distributed at boating venues, through the CCG web site and via a 1-800 Boating Safety Infoline.
These inputs eventually formed the basis for another series of proposed regulations, published in the Canada Gazette (Part I) in November 1997. Again, prior to the regulations being finalized, public comments on the proposed measures were taken into account.
On the non-regulatory side, CCG has established a network of six Offices of Boating Safety across the country to contribute to an improved focus on recreational boating in a manner that takes account of regional needs. CCG is also connecting with boaters in new ways. These include:
» establishing and supporting Recreational Boating Advisory Councils, which bring together boating stakeholders who share a vision for improving boating safety;
» partnerships with industry and not-for-profit organizations for major boating safety campaigns;
» the CCG internet site; and
» a 1-800 Boating Safety Infoline that in 1998 logged over 17,000 calls.
» partnerships with industry and not-for-profit organizations for major boating safety campaigns;
» the CCG internet site; and
» a 1-800 Boating Safety Infoline that in 1998 logged over 17,000 calls.
CCG has also responded to requests from the boating community by issuing improved standards for personal flotation devices. With its US counterparts, CCG is undertaking a variety of joint projects, including plans for a North America-wide Boating Safety Campaign.
CCG is also breaking new ground in program-delivery across Canada through such initiatives as mobile Responsible Boating Teams in interior British Columbia, community-based safety programs in the North, networking partnerships in the Prairies, industry partnerships in Quebec, joint patrols in Ontario and the Maritimes and partnering with ground Search & Rescue teams in Newfoundland.
In terms of regulatory initiatives, CCG has worked hard to improve the responsiveness of existing regulations to local needs. For example, the CCG-sponsored Local Authorities Guide to the Boating Restriction Regulations, complemented by the efforts of Coast Guard regional boating safety officers, makes it easier for municipalities to identify and evaluate the most effective means of addressing local boating safety concerns. A similar tool for the Pleasure Craft Sewage Pollution Regulations is also under development.
To make enforcement more effective, CCG has designated most boating safety offences included in its various regulations as "ticketable" under the terms of the 1996 Contraventions Act. This allows local enforcement agencies to issue tickets for boating offences, rather than rely on more cumbersome and expensive summary convictions processes. CCG is working with Justice Canada officials to support the nation-wide implementation of the Act. CCG recently piloted a Joint Patrol program that allows Coast Guard officers to accompany OPP or RCMP officers on routine boat patrols.
Boating Safety Regulations: The Current Process
The process leading to the new Boating Safety regulations began with calls from the public, boating associations and manufacturers, cottagers, coroners, enforcement agencies and others for improved regulations for recreational boating. The regulations themselves evolved from almost four years of consultation with these groups and other stakeholders. Between 1994 and 1998, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) consulted extensively on ways to improve boating safety for recreational pleasure craft in Canadian waters. The consultations proceeded along two separate, but complementary, tracks.
Track 1: Operator Competency and Age and Horsepower Restrictions
The first track of consultations began in 1994 and involved broad stakeholder consultations focussing on such important safety issues as:
» establishing minimum vessel operator competency standards;
» imposing reasonable operator limits based on operator age and vessel type and power; and
» mechanisms for enforcing existing regulations
Some 3,500 Canadians in 75 communities across the country took part in this round of consultations. In addition, tourism and boat rental industries were consulted separately on core issues. CCG worked closely with stakeholders to frame solutions to the issues identified through these consultations. The results of these efforts formed the basis for a series of proposed regulations published in the Canada Gazette (Part I) in June 1998. After a period to allow for, and take account of, public comment on the proposed regulations, the regulations were finalized. » imposing reasonable operator limits based on operator age and vessel type and power; and
» mechanisms for enforcing existing regulations
Track 2: Amending the Small Vessel Regulations
At the same time, CCG undertook wide-ranging consultations on modernizing the existing Small Vessel Regulations. The focus in this second effort was on improved minimum safety equipment provisions, safety precautions and enforcement tools.
These consultations, which began in January, 1997 and concluded in the spring of 1998, built upon almost a decade of work by a working group of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council, representing recreational boating interests across the country. CCG Recreational Boating Advisory Councils, which bring together boating stakeholders on both a national and regional basis, and several hundred boating organizations, were also involved in the consultations. An estimated 250,000 boaters received information or participated in the process via publications distributed at boating venues, through the CCG web site and via a 1-800 Boating Safety Infoline.
These inputs eventually formed the basis for another series of proposed regulations, published in the Canada Gazette (Part I) in November 1997. Again, prior to the regulations being finalized, public comments on the proposed measures were taken into account.