The new updates to SUP regulation equipment carriage requirements came into effect May, 2018. Read the Small Vessel Regulations – Exemptions for SUP on Transport Canada’s website
Otherwise it basically states if a paddleboarder is wearing an approved lifejacket / PFD and has a pea-less whistle with them, they are no longer required to carry a throwbag (15 meters of floating rope) on board. It is important to note that if the paddler is not wearing the lifejacket, then they need the lifejacket, whistle and throwbag to be on the board with them.
Note: a waterproof flashlight is required if navigating after dusk and at night.
If you are not navigating, parked close to waterfront shoreline for a SUP yoga session (often anchored to a buoy line) or park and playing at the beach, surfing etc. then Transport Canada does not consider this navigation (traveling from point A to point B), no equipment needs to be carried or worn.
More explanation and background and consultation on this can be found here
This update was done during consulting period with many national boating stakeholders in conjunction with Transport Canada’s National Recreational Boating Advisory Committee in 2013 and 2014 and just brought into regulations May 2018. Some of these stakeholders included:
Atlantic Marine Trade Association
National Marine Manufacturing Association
Paddle Canada
Sail Canada
Power Sail Squadron
Canadian Safe Boating Council
Office of Boating Safety Transport Canada
Boating Ontario
BoatSmart
Boating BC
