Saving Lives Through Life jacket and Saving Lives Through Life jacket and Personal Flotation Device Legislation (Motion #25-22)

Moved by Lapierre – Myre

Approved by Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts, September 15, 2022

WHEREAS over the 10-year period 2012 – 2021, 2147 Ontarians had emergency visits that resulted from a drowning or submersion injury related to watercraft and 208 Ontarians died because of a drowning or submersion injury related to watercraft over the last 10 years of complete data (2006-2015); locally during the same periods 65 Sudbury & districts residents had emergency visits that resulted from a drowning or submersion injury related to watercraft and 8 died because of a drowning or submersion injury related to watercraft; and

WHEREAS the Ontario Public Health Standards require boards of health to be aware of and use data to influence and inform the development of local healthy public policy for preventing injuries; and

WHEREAS although there is federal legislation requiring that life jackets or personal flotation devices (PFD) be on board vessels, there is no legislation requiring that individuals wear a life jacket or PFD while on a pleasure boat; and

WHEREAS legislation requiring the wearing of life jackets and PFDs has been demonstrated in other jurisdictions to save lives;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts strongly advocate for legislation requiring all individuals to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) or life jacket while on a pleasure boat that is underway, or while being towed behind a pleasure boat using recreational water equipment;

AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this motion be submitted to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Health, Minister of Transportation, local members of Provincial Parliament, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), and all Ontario Boards of Health.

YEAS: (6) Gignac, Kirwan, Myre, Noland, Tessier, Lapierre

NAYS: (2) Thain, Wenborne

CARRIED (6 to 2)

This item was last modified on March 7, 2024