Mr. Speaker, I will read into the record a couple of samples from “Your Safety Comes First”. These are some of the requirements for vessels up to six metres in length. This would include canoes: a buoyant heaving line of at least 15 metres or an approved throwable floating device; distress signals; a watertight flashlight and a heliograph or six Canadian approved flares, of which at least three must be of either type A, B or C and at least two of type D; navigation equipment; a sound signalling device and, if the vessel is operated between sunset and sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility, navigation lights that comply with the collision regulations. If the vessel is not power driven, navigation lights could be replaced by a watertight flashlight.
Gee, thanks. And of course all canoes must now be equipped with tow lines. The people who wrote this little guide did have some compassion, though. They said that if a boat does not have a motor it does not require fire extinguishers. It amazes me that they realize that.
I understand this little bureaucratic effort was partially prompted by concerns over the proliferation of jet skis and of overpowered nuisance craft in recreational areas. These are genuine concerns but these problems could be easily addressed by rigorously enforced local ordinances prohibiting their use in certain venues. Do not let them run the Sea Doos through the swimmers. This is why we have local law enforcement. The dead hand of federal authority is hardly necessary.
These are merely cautionary remarks since they deal with something that is possible within existing legislative constraints. We can only be vigilant and ready to respond to the wave of complaints that will inundate us when the decision is made to put licence plates on all canoes, if big nanny does everything she would like to do.
As far as the new registration and regulation regime for commercial vessels is concerned, the Reform Party has no objections and we will support the legislation.