The Government of Canada rolls out regulations for river rafting
May 9, 2008
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, announced the coming into force of the Special-purpose Vessels Regulations and the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations.The new Special-purpose Vessels Regulations incorporate industry best practices by outlining the requirements for all river rafting companies to have vessel and safety equipment standards such as helmets, lifejackets and their equivalents, and the circumstances in which they must be worn; operational standards such as first aid training, familiarization trips and safety briefings; and the maintenance of detailed records of each excursion. "Our government is committed to the safety and security of all commercial and recreational users of Canadian waterways while protecting the environment," said Minister Cannon. "To address the increase in traffic on our waterways, the regulations provide new national river rafting safety standards, and updated mechanisms to restrict the use of any type of vessel, including personal watercraft, on designated waters."
