Transportation Minister Lisa Raitt launched North American Safe Boating Awareness Week in Wiarton Friday by announcing funding for boating safety projects.
Transport Canada’s Boating Safety Contribution Program funds initiatives that highlight safe recreation boating, and safety on small commercial fishing vessels.
This year, five organizations are receiving over $1-million to help reduce the loss of life, injuries and property damage due to boating accidents.
“The one we’re talking about a lot now is a lot of the boats out there now that people are using for recreation are actually older and they have to have a place to go in the end,” Raitt tells CKNX News.
The program is also open for applications for recreation safe boating initiatives for the 2016 boating season.
This comes after the OPP announced that 20 people died on OPP-patroled waterways last year, which is the lowest total in ten years.
Raitt was joined by Bruce Grey Owen Sound MP Larry Miller, who says local waterways are a popular local attraction, and he encourages everyone to be safe and responsible while boating.
**With Files from Marty Thompson**
