2023-Nov-24
Transport Canada Wants Your Thoughts on Proposed Changes to the VORRs Process
Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORRs) allow any level of government to ask Transport Canada (TC) to restrict the use of either pleasure craft or commercial vessels on bodies of water in Canada to promote safety, protect the environment or look out for the public interest. Such restrictions may include:
- prohibiting boats
- limiting engine power or type of propulsion
- imposing speed limits
- restricting towing on any sporting or recreational equipment including wake surfing
- prohibiting a sporting, recreational or public event or activity
The current application process is slow and the restrictions do not cover all of the issues on local waterways. TC knows the process needs to be simplified and the time it takes to implement restrictions needs to be shorter. They have opened a Let’s Talk consultation called The Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations: Providing provinces and municipalities with a greater role in managing their waterways and are asking for comments on proposed changes to make VORRs process more efficient. The changes they are proposing would allow the Minister of Transport to:
- Use “Incorporation by Reference” to modify the VORR schedules more quickly. Incorporation by reference is a term used to describe a mechanism, which allows a document or list that is not in the text of the regulations to be made a part of the regulations.
- Issue Ministerial Orders for implementing restrictions on pleasure craft activities not currently listed in the VORR, before going through the full regulatory process.
These new amendments would make the process more efficient, but would also skip the wider consultation period that usually happens after the proposed restrictions are published in draft form in the Canada Gazette, Part I. TC would only add a new restriction to the VORR after receiving a municipal restriction request, which must include a resolution from the town or municipality after they have consulted with local members of the public and Indigenous communities.
GBA supports the idea of modernizing the VORRs process and what TC is proposing would enable faster implementation of regulations with adequate local consultation. GBA has submitted a letter to Transport Canada in favour of making the VORRs process more efficient. You can read GBA’s letter here.
Comments can be submitted until December 11, 2023. You can add your comments to the Let’s Talk consultation here or by sending an email with your thoughts to: MSSRegulations-ReglementsSSM@tc.gc.ca.