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A tighter process for getting a pleasure craft operating card

Oct 29, 2010 | 6:14 AM

paNOW Staff

Next year’s boating season may look a little different.

It is about to get tougher for people to obtain a Pleasure Craft Operating Card.

Lyle Karasiuk, director of public affairs for Parkland Ambulance, a group that operates boating exams, said by Nov. 1, new changes will be in effect.
“You’re now going to have to take an online course and that online course is going to take you between four and five hours to complete,” said Karasiuk.

“There’s going to be new exam questions. We’ve been told the exam questions are getting a little bit tougher.”

Karasiuk added that once an applicant gets an operating card they would have to send proof to Transport Canada that they do in fact own a pleasure craft.

Currently, you can take the test even if you do not own a boat.

People who have been putting off getting an operating card have until Oct. 29 before they will have to apply under the new system.

The exam costs $25.

People interested in receiving more information can stop by the Parkland Ambulance Offices on 24 th Street West.

One thing that won’t change under the new system is the number of times an applicant can take the test after failing.

The operating cards do not expire.

sfroese@rawlco.com