Without prejudice,
Thank you for visiting our website.

 

If you have seen (on Transport Canada's website), or heard that S.C.O.T.T.S. BOAT SAFE is suspended, that is the case.

This is not due to any wrong doing on our part or on the part of any of our instructors or test agents.

Transport Canada has revamped the Pleasure Craft Operator card program and therefore requires that all course providers must re accredit. This means that we must rewrite our training materials to include new material required under the new training format. We are suspended until that process is completed to the satisfaction of Transport Canada and the Office of Boating Safety.

Boating Safety has not changed. I have been teaching boating safety to boaters for nearly 40 years (the last 12 years under the Pleasure Craft program). Believe me, boating safety has not changed.

Transport Canada has developed their new program to include all of the regulatory aspects of boating on any and all Canadian waterways. Apparently, in their view, this will improve boating safety. I do not agree, and in many cases I see that regulatory training will only confuse the issues of safety on the water. It will certainly dilute the safety awareness of boaters as they try to understand all of the additional regulatory material. In some cases the safety aspects of the regulatory information are simply missing altogether. Simply put, safety on the water and regulatory information are two separate aspects of boating on any waterway.

Thanks you for allowing me to rant a little here. I believe it is an honourable fight, but one I am also sure to lose. Transport Canada and the Office of Boating Safety are well aware of my views on this. We will reaccredit under Transport Canada requirements. We will be back to teach boaters. And we will continue to teach safety. And we will prepare boaters to pass the new 50 question test that Transport requires in order to issue a Pleasure Craft Card.

As for now, we are waiting for TC to complete their review of the materials we have submitted to them under these requirements.

During the period of suspension, we do not have access to the new test. We cannot test, and therefore, S.C.O.T.T.S. BOAT SAFE cannot issue Pleasure Craft Operator cards.

If you are in urgent need to acquire your card, we will set up a referral program to have your test done by an accredited provider.

If you require replacement cards, we can verify your card holder status and we will arrange for these as well. Please continue on to our website and click the button to replace your card.

We have issued all cards for individuals who did pass the test under the previous requirements. If you have any questions or comments regarding this program, please feel free to contact us through our website.