Commercial vs. Pleasure Boating Licenses: Clarification for Boat Operators

Question
Good Day : I am a bit confused .. I own a tourist camp and do some guiding with my boats and pontoon boat.  I do have the Pleaseure craft licence. Am I supposed to have a commercial Boating licence??
       Also I work for a Power Company . We use 14 foot boats to restore power on Islands. all of our staff who use the Boats have the Pleasure Craft licence?  We are getting conflicting information on if we need a Commercial Boat licence??    Thanks Frank

Answer
Hi Franklin...Thank you for selecting the undersigned to reply to your question.

Concerning the tourist camp business and guiding, and I'm not absolutely certain but it's my understanding that independent guides who offer their services to lodges/resorts/camps/etc. and who are not their full time employees (on payroll), are required to be licenced. However, owners of lodges/resorts/camps/etc. who guide solely for their patrons, do not require a guide licence.

Although your job with the Power Co. requires the use of a boat to effect repairs to island locations, you do not require a commercial licence.

In the event you are in the business of transporting people in a boat for a fee (fare paying passengers), then you must be commercially licenced to do so, and your boat must comply with Transport Canada requirements that includes a survey of the vessel every 5 yrs., the cost of which you must bear.

In the circumstance, so long as you possess a valid Pleasure Craft Operator Card, your okay.

For absolute clarification, please contact Boating Safety Officer Mike Taber at Transport Canada - 1-877-281-8824 or send an email to taberm@tc.gc.ca

Safe Boating
Ron