1 of 10

A police perspective on the growing popularity of watercraft activities in Quebec in a pandemic context

Canadian Safe Boating Council 2021 Annual Symposium

Presented by: Sergeant Nicolas Voyer

October 1, 2021

2 of 10

Province of Québec bodies of water

3 of 10

Marine Unit – Sûreté du Québec

  • 200 Marine Unit officers
  • 75 diversified watercrafts

​

4 of 10

March 2020 – Public health emergency is declared

  • March 15 – Closure of various recreationnal activities

  • Will there be a 2020 boating season?

​

​

Crédit photo: SEPAQ Pointe-Taillon

5 of 10

Delayed boating season

June 2020

  • Marinas partly opened.

​

​

  • Borders were closed, the summer vacation period was starting and the hot weather all contributed to the increased presence of people on the water.

Crédit photo: SEPAQ Fjord du Saguenay

6 of 10

Observations

  • Increasing popularity for personnal watercrafts (PWC)
  • Increasing interest for paddle board and kayak
  • Increase of watercraft rentals
  • Increase in popularity of organized boat partys in bays or areas primarily accessible by boat
  • Cohabitation between different users is difficult

7 of 10

Interventions

Offenses issued by type and year – safety related

 

2020

2019

2018

Careless operation

12

6

8

Safety obligation

13

10

1

Speeding set by restrictions

44

12

7

No competency to operate a pleasure craft

77

53

40

 

Human powered pleasure craft not carrying enough PFD or Lifejacket

28

15

14

Pleasure craft not carrying enough PFD or Lifejacket

57

37

48

 

Total

231

133

118

Offenses issued by type and year - licensing

 

2020

2019

2018

Licence number not indicated (204 CSA)

86

19

48

Owner operates or lets operate without licence (202 CSA)

55

31

20

 

Total

141

50

68

Source: PARL Sûreté du Québec

Source: Tableau de bord Sûreté du Québec

Source: tableau de bord Sûreté du Québec

8 of 10

Causes

  • Neglectful security check by boat rental compagnies

​

  • Does the lack of experience and skills by new boat operators have an impact on what we see ?

​

  • Many boaters are not familiar with the risks associated with watercraft activities and do not adopt safe behavior

*** Total 19

9 of 10

The Marine Unit in action

  • Project AMARRE
  • Safe Boating Awareness Week
  • Teaming up with drug recognition experts (DRE)

​

10 of 10

Merci! Thank you!