As of the beginning of September, Transport Canada has opened a public consultation period on the question of whether lifejackets should be mandatory for boaters, including individuals in human-powered vessels, such as canoes and kayaks.
The issue isn’t a new one—the proposal first arose in 2023, though the government has been considering the law since 2018, and it has since faced numerous delays. Earlier this year, water safety advocates renewed the call for the federal government to speed up talks.
Canada sees, on average, 111 recreational boating deaths per year. Not wearing a PFD or a lifejacket is the leading cause of death, accounting for 89 per cent of all fatalities, according the the federal government.
Cottage Life Editor Michelle Kelly: Why I wear a lifejacket
Reactions from the cottage community have been mixed since news of the proposal came out, so we asked our Facebook audience: should lifejackets be mandatory? Our readers definitely had thoughts. Here are some of the takeaways*.
“No, they shouldn’t. I wear one most of the time, but when I am in a stable boat on calm water at a slow speed, why should I wear one if I am a strong swimmer? We need to let adults make their own decisions and stop treating everyone like children.”—Matthew Reynolds
“Absolutely. Lifejackets save lives. People sadly have become too complacent. ‘Oh, it won’t happen to me.'”—Sandra Glasgow
“I’m an ocean kayaker and a lake fisherman on a fishing kayak. I always wear my PFD, even on the dock. I’ve pulled dead bodies out of lakes and the ocean and all of them weren’t wearing a PFD. I haven’t found a dead person wearing one yet.”—Steve Saunders
“I don’t believe they should be mandatory for adults. I think there are different levels of risk for different activities. For example, when I’m on multi-day sea kayaking trips, I wear the jacket for travel, around rocks and waves, open water crossings etc., but do I wear it when fishing on calm, warm water close to shore? Not usually, no. Is there still risk for both? Absolutely, but different levels of it. I guess the question is, is any level of risk worth it? Maybe the bigger question is why don’t more adults wear them? Are they embarrassed or something? Is there a stigma? Maybe we need to change the talk about that as well.”—Christopher Springstead
“Why do people think there should be different rules for children vs. adults?”—Barbara Schust-Lawrence
“Just like seatbelts, they save lives so, YES. I don’t like wearing one, but like seatbelts at first, you don’t, but over time, you get used to it and it just becomes natural.”—Ron Biernacki
“I don’t believe it should be mandated for adults. We have a wide variety of boats, some of which are true speed/race boats going well over 100 mph for which we have custom made racing lifejackets, which we wear every time. However, I do think we should have free choice when it comes to family-type boats.”—Susan Irving
“No. I don’t understand why everyone feels the need to have the government tell us how to do things safely. Use common sense, if it’s a higher-risk activity or environment, wear one. If it’s a lower-risk situation, make a personal decision to wear or not. Easy!”—Jeff Stevens
“They should be for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, but not on large boats. We have a 21-ft pontoon boat that is used for gentle cruising. Adults for sure don’t need them in a boat like that.”—Steve McCreary
“I think age limits are appropriate. Under 18 and maybe even over 80. But despite everything I believe, adults should be allowed choice. I govern my choice on the level of risk involved and my personal philosophy about what I am comfortable with.”—Deborah Tennant
“I understand the need for one, especially in an accident where you’re knocked unconscious and taking in water. Also, if the area is busy with boats and PWCs going fast. I usually stay off the water until boat activity has died down or stay close to shore. I think it should be a choice for adults and they understand the risk they’re taking for not wearing one.”—Vero IzaRobi
“Yes, absolutely mandatory. I’m a good swimmer, but if I am injured, what happens? I go out to a friends trailer a few times a year and am on their boat. I’m the only one to wear it full-time, even while swimming.”—Kali Samagalski
“I’m torn on this. On the one hand, there are accidents in which people fall out of boats wearing stuff that prevents them from swimming or they get injured and can’t swim. In cases like this, PFDs would help. But I also think small, recreational boats become part of a larger recreational water experience, like jumping off and swimming, or just floating and napping in the sun. Can we not allow people to make a risk-based decision that works for them?”—Andrew Woodworth
“I agree! No one plans to end up in the water (even if it’s calm and you’re a strong swimmer). Many people end up in the water because an accident has occurred. That lifejacket can only save your life if you wear it!”—Linda King
“Silly me, I thought they were mandatory. Our entire family wears them from dock to boat to dock. Even the dogs. All it takes is a minor head injury, a sudden squall, or a drunken boater. Once, an unexpected storm hit, and we barely made it to shore (on a very small lake). Three others didn’t make it. None wearing lifejackets, and one, a child. I don’t wish those rescues or discoveries on anyone.”—Samantha LA Grant
“Most definitely! Ironically, most drownings are swimmers. They think, Since I can swim, I can make it to shore. Try that in cold water. Most non-swimmers will wear a lifejacket. Thirty-five years in the marine industry, I have a lot of stories.”—Gord Carter
“Not mandatory above 16 years of age!”—Kevin J Parent
“Here’s the thing. Emergency responders cost everyone. Finding dead bodies costs everyone. My husband was a volunteer fireman in a busy lakes area, and he had to deal with more than one person who had been run over by a boat and had no lifejacket. Is it really such an inconvenience to wear a lifejacket? Accidents don’t happen when we want them too, they happen when we least expect it. Wear a lifejacket. As my daughter says, you can’t save anyone if you aren’t wearing one yourself.”—Terri Howell
“On a canoe, or kayak, or smaller boat under a certain length, absolutely. They are easily capsized or unseen by other boaters. But on larger pleasure craft, such as pontoons or yachts, really? If we go with some people’s reasoning, let’s put a permanent lifejacket on people on cruises because they could possibly hit a storm at any given time, another boat, fall overboard, or hit an iceberg! How about stricter penalties for those operating motorized vessels drunk and/or involved in accidents or unlicensed?”—Katie Mae
“We have a boat-access-only cottage. We ride a 16-foot fibreglass boat with a 75 hp motor. The crossing, and the lake in general, is sheltered and most often rather calm. We seldom see waves over one foot. We never wear our lifejackets in these conditions. We can seat six people in the boat, and therefore have six lifejackets stowed in the boat at all times. When we pick up guest, we make the lifejackets available. Most often, adults unfamiliar with boating will choose to wear the jacket. Any time we have young passengers, we require them to wear a lifejacket. Bottom line for us is, the law states that they must be in the boat, so they are. We allow adults to decide if they want to go beyond the legal requirements and put one on. If you’re on a cruise ship, you don’t wear one. If you’re shooting the rapids on the Colorado River, you do. Those are the extremes. Who decides when you should put a lifejacket on in between? Since common sense ain’t so common, maybe the government should set guidelines. For now, I’ll use my common sense. If the waves get to three feet high on my lake, and I have to cross, I’ll put one on.”—John Atkinson
“I’m a reluctant ‘maybe.’ If they could make a comfortable, reliable, compact PFD that didn’t cost lots of money, I’d be a firm, ‘yes.’ Perhaps those strappy ones that are self-inflatable when needed, but they cost a couple of hundred dollars.”—Wendy Harrison
Want to have your say? The public comment period will remain open until November 4th.
*Comments may have been edited for clarity and length.
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