Clearing up the confusion over changes to PCOC and Pleasure Craft Licences

Last week, there was some confusion concerning changes in how to obtain Pleasure Craft Operator Cards and Pleasure Craft Licences .

Transport Canada is now clearing up the issues.

A Pleasure Craft Operator Card is what you need to get in order to drive a boat. Changes to how you get it will take place in Apr. 2011, where you will have to prove you've reviewed the online manual.

Changes that took place on Nov. 1 had to do with the Pleasure Craft Licenses, which you have to get if you own a boat with a motor over 10 h.p.

Transport Canada says these licenses are basically like getting plates put on your car.

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“Now it just makes it available that you don’t actually have to physically go into the [Service Canada] office.

You can download the forms off the internet, you can mail them in, or you can pick up the forms from a Service Canada office and mail them in,” said Ian Salisbury with Transport Canada.

The confusion came when Prince Albert Parkland Ambulance said applicants getting an operating card would now have to send proof they own a pleasure craft.

Salisbury stresses you do not need to own a boat to get your PCOC, as a PCOC and Pleasure Craft License are two completely separate things.

Lyle Karasiuk with Parkland Ambulance admits there was a mix-up.

“The information we got from Transport Canada actually initially said, ‘Pleasure Craft Operators Card for Nov. 1’. So there was a typo in there in the original release of information,” said Karasiuk.

“And now that we’ve got this all figured out, we’ve been able to clearly define that Nov. 1, the Pleasure Craft License changed for how you license your boat, and your Pleasure Craft Operators Card has not changed, but will change on Apr. 1 of 2011.”

rpilon@panow.com