Most paddlers have not heard of this yet, but those of us in the industry have been fuming about it for months now. The whole thing hit the mainstream media on Friday, so we thought a blog was in order. See the CBC story here.

Essentially, there are new regulations for guided canoe and kayak trips/lessons/etc. Most of the regulations involve safety gear, float plans, cold-water safety and other matters that any reasonable group does anyway.  No big deal.

The problem is the requirement that the guide/instructor boat be registered. Well, actually the problem is the definition of guide/instructor – anyone leading a group (whether paid or volunteer) can be defined as a guide. Then, the boat they are in needs to be registered. Registering your boat is a serious pain in the tush (see the instructions below) and it costs $50! And, you might be surprised to know this could apply to you!

Just think about it! A volunteer agrees to lead some other paddlers down their local river. Now he/she needs to register their boat.

Imagine another volunteer agrees to give up their weekend to teach newcomers the basics of paddling. Now they need to register their boat.

The new registration requirement will mean far fewer paddlers will volunteer because of the extra personal burden. The president of a local paddling club is even musing about closing the club! The whole thing is bad for the paddling community, yet there is no gain to Canadian society.

If you are truly paddling with friends and no leader, then registration does not apply. But if you take on any sort of leadership role, even a casual one, then you need to register your boat according to the new regs. There is a great FAQ about it published by Paddle Canada here.

Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transportation, was quoted as saying, “common sense would prevail.” We don’t have confidence that the government and its bureaucrats are the best people to define “common sense.”

It looks like a letter writing campaign is brewing to help the Department of Transportation understand what common sense looks like. And, what Canadians want. We’ll blog again if something arises.

In the meantime, you might want to email Minister Strahl and your local MP. Tell them that you think registering of paddlecraft is stupid and an unreasonable burden on Canadians. These regulations might be appropriate for real commercial vessels, but not paddlecraft.



How to register your paddlecraft in 47 not-so-simple steps:
1. Complete the Application for Registry and submit it along with the other completed documentation to the Registrar at the Vessel Registration Office at the address below.
2. Produce evidence of ownership/title to the Registrar of Vessels. If the original document of title (e.g. Bill of Sale/receipt, Builder's Certificate or other documentation) that proves you own the vessel cannot be produced, you must complete a declaration. You must also complete the Declaration of Ownership form.
3. Complete a Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration to prove your eligibility to be registered as owner of the canoe or kayak.
4. Complete the Authorized Representative form. It lets Transport Canada know who to contact if the canoe/kayak is owned by a business or multiple owners. If you are the sole owner you must still complete this form.
5. Complete the Simplified Method of Tonnage Measurement form. We have provided two sample documents to help figure out the tonnage measurement for canoes and kayaks. Adjust the measurement numbers for your particular boat. Sample document A - Sample Document B .
6. Pay the fee of $50.00 for the issuance or renewal of a registration or a $50.00 flat fee for a “fleet” of vessels. Fees are payable by Visa, Mastercard or AMEX. A Certificate of Registry (Small Vessel Register) is valid for five (5) years from the date of issue.
7. If you are choosing to pay by cheque/money order, it is to be made payable to the RECEIVER GENERAL FOR CANADA.

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