A bill has passed through the House of Commons and it’s making MP Gord Brown a happy man.
On Monday Bill S233, also known as the Boating Bill, finished its Third Reading and was passed through the house on a voice vote. The bill allows foreign pleasure crafts to travel through Canadian waters without speaking to Canadian Customs, as long as the craft doesn’t anchor, tie on to another vessel or land. This would differ from the current system which forces boaters to check in with the Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA) as soon as they cross the border.
One of the intentions of the change is to ease the minds of boaters who may drift across the border during their travels without realizing it. Under the new bill boaters must report to the CBSA once they come ashore but the CBSA retain the right to stop any vessel it wants.
Senator Bob Runciman first introduced the bill at the senate level, while MP Brown introduced a similar bill to the House. Runciman’s bill was passed by the Senate first so Brown sponsored it in the House and pushed for it to be passed swiftly.