Fees will be introduced to cover a portion of the costs of services Coast Guard provides to the recreational boating community. It will also cover the administration costs of the improved vessel licensing system. Revenues will be reinvested in recreational boating services in consultation with clients. The objective is to reduce the number of boating deaths and personal injuries. Public input is necessary to ensure that the needs of our clients are properly reflected in the new system.
Safety is a shared responsibility between governments and the boating public.
Only through public involvement can our services be improved in a manner that is responsive to client needs. Fifteen public meetings, scheduled in British Columbia, opened in Vancouver on April 20 and will close on May 8 in Prince Rupert. The remaining regions, which include the Maritimes, Newfoundland, the Prairies and Quebec, will finalize their schedules in the very near future. The public will be notified of scheduled meetings through various media including print, radio and community networks. Similar discussions were held in Ontario in 1995.