Transport Canada has opened a public consultation on the question of mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) wear for recreational boaters.  

Did you know Canada averages 111 recreational boating deaths each year? According to Transport Canada, not using a personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket is a leading cause of death among recreational boaters, accounting for 89% of all fatalities.

For those ‘human powered’ vessels, kayakers are more likely to wear a PFD (78%), while our canoer friends are less likely (41%).

The Drowning Prevention Research Centre Canada produced a report in 2021 that tracked recreational boating-related deaths in Canada from 2008 to 2017.

Key takeaways:

• most people who died due to a recreational boating-related incident weren’t wearing a PFD or lifejacket
• most of the people who died were adults
• most recreational boating-related deaths involved powerboats, followed by canoes
• the most common incident that led to a death was a capsized vessel, followed by a person falling or being thrown overboard

At the Federation of Cottager’s Association (FOCA) 2024 Spring Seminar, Sgt. Dave Moffatt of the Marine Unit of the OPP gave a slide presentation about PFDs and fatality rates. See his slides here (download PDF, 4 MB)

Have your say on the issue of mandatory PFDs  here, and share your comments by November 4, 2024.