The Regulations Amending the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (SOR/2025-158), registered under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, address longstanding concerns about the lengthy and complex process for implementing vessel operation restrictions on local Canadian waterways. Local authorities and stakeholders have consistently highlighted that the current regulatory framework can take up to four years from the identification of a safety, environmental, or public interest issue to the enactment of a restriction. The process requires local authorities to prepare extensive documentation, including problem identification, proposed solutions, environmental assessments, cost-benefit analyses, and stakeholder consultations. Additionally, Transport Canada (TC) previously mandated that alternative measures be tested for one boating season before a formal restriction application could be submitted.

The amendments seek to modernize the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORR) by streamlining procedures, clarifying provisions, and enhancing the role of local authorities in managing waterways. One key change is the repeal of the eight schedules within the VORR that list all current restrictions. These schedules will be transferred into a Transport Publication, Schedules of the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (TP 15587E), which will be incorporated by reference into the regulations. This adjustment allows the Minister of Transport to amend restrictions more efficiently, expediting the approval and implementation of new measures on local waterways without repeated regulatory amendments. Section 16 of the VORR is also repealed, with enforcement powers now relying on subsection 135(1.1) of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, allowing the Minister to designate enforcement officers in response to requests from local authorities.

Subsection 2(3), which previously caused confusion regarding engine power limits for vessels, has been clarified. The amendment ensures that the 7.5 kW electrical propulsion limit applies only to electrically driven vessels and does not permit any power-driven vessels, which remain prohibited. This clarification addresses longstanding misinterpretations among waterway users and enforcement officers and aligns with the original intent of prohibiting power-driven vessels while accommodating low-powered electric propulsion. Additional minor revisions to section 2 enhance clarity and consistency in the language of the VORR, reducing the risk of compliance issues.

Section 4 is also updated to reflect modern practices and remove outdated references to the restriction application process. Previously, the section included references to provincial authorities and steps that no longer align with current administrative procedures. The amendments emphasize that applications must be submitted “in the form and manner specified by the Minister,” as detailed in the Local Authorities’ Guide (the Guide). The Guide, updated concurrently with these amendments, now clarifies application steps, removes the preliminary assessment and mandatory alternative measure requirements, and offers a standardized process to minimize incomplete or inconsistent submissions. This ensures that applications are comprehensive, facilitating thorough reviews by TC officials and reducing delays.

Canada (158/2025) August 13, 2025
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and do not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.