Compulsory Insurance for Ships Carrying Passengers?

Boat owner-operators should know---.
(please see link below for the attached discussion paper)
From Larri Woodrow <larrikat [at] telus [dot] net>

Subject: Discussion Paper on the Proposed Regulations Respecting Compulsory Insurance for Ships Carrying Passengers

The proposed “Regulations Respecting Compulsory Insurance for Ships Carrying Passengers” has important implications for some private boaters. A requirement for third party insurance coverage is being applied to the following three categories, amongst others.
 
3) A fishing vessel free of charge to users, carrying clients to/from fishing camps; or

4) A vessel normally used for private pleasure purposes free of charge to users, carrying prospective clients viewing real estate properties from the water-side; or

5) A vessel normally used for private pleasure purposes or a fishing vessel free of charge to users, that would carry workers to a construction site;
 
While item 3 obviously applies to recreational sector service providers, 4 and 5 have much wider implications for those like me who live on a small island, or to people with vacation properties reachable only by water. After reading this document I checked with my boat insurance provider and discovered, somewhat to my surprise, that my current policy did not cover people coming to my property to perform a service—ie appliance repair, renovation etc. I am now waiting to hear what such coverage will cost, especially since the “Discussion Paper” proposes that it will have to cover a minimum of $250,000 for each person my boat is capable of carrying !
 
----- Original Message -----
From:HAABC

Please distribute the attached paper to anyone you know who may be affected by these proposed regulation changes ie. Water taxi operators, fishermen, tug boat operators, crew boat operators, etc.
 
Transport Canada is proposing amandatoryliability insurance regime for all vessels used for commercial purposes which carry "passengers". A passenger is NOT a crew member. But if a fish boat
is carrying a neighbour, or perhaps, a fisheries observer, it will be required to have liability insurance - $250,000 per person carried if these changes go into effect.
 
Leslie Taylor, Administrator
Harbour Authority Association of BC
121 Port Augusta Street
Comox BC V9M 3N8
250-339-3970
Fax: 250-339-6057
121 Port Augusta Street
Comox BC V9M 3N8
contact [at] haa [dot] bc [dot] ca
www.haa.bc.ca