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March 17, 2017:

Distracted driving regulations continue to be an area of interest for many Canadian Radio Amateurs. These regulations are made and enforced by Provincial governments and can vary considerably from province to province and over time. Radio Amateurs of Canada has prepared a list of links to current regulations in all provinces that have established them. They can be found at: http://wp.rac.ca/distracted-driving-regulations-update/

Radio Amateurs of Canada representatives in our regions often work to clarify regulations where Amateurs may be caught up in them or when the regulations are being created or modified. A Subcommittee has been formed to monitor the legislation and work with government officials on a province by province basis to look after the interests of Canadian Amateurs. This committee is under the direction of RAC British Columbia/Yukon Lead, Bill Gipps, VE7XS. Two provinces are the focus of current activity: British Columbia and Ontario.

In British Columbia, Bill Gipps, VE7XS, together with two local Amateurs (Chris Scholefield, VE7QCS and Dave Miller, VE7HR), has met several times with representatives of the BC Government to discuss BC distracted driving regulations and their application to Amateur Radio. The BC Amateurs were pleased with the significant progress made through these sessions and continued to follow the process while the BC Government engaged other stakeholders and solicited their input. The process was recently completed and a new, clarifying document was published by the Government on its website at: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/driving/publications/electronic-devices-while-driving.pdf. This document, while not perfect, does address the use of hand microphones that had been the major issue earlier. It should be printed and kept in your vehicle along with a copy of your Amateur Radio Operator’s certificate. 

In Ontario, a temporary exemption for Amateurs in Ontario is due to expire on January 1, 2018. RAC Ontario South Director Phil McBride, VA3QR and RAC North/East Director, Al Boyd, VE3AJB, have obtained some letters of support, but more are needed. They are looking for additional letters of support from organizations that support Amateur Radio communications. We need to show our Provincial governments the importance of Amateur Radio and why we require the ability to communicate from our vehicles for public service events like parades, walk-a-thons, bike rallies and, most importantly, for emergency communications and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) activities that support first responders like Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). We have been in touch with the Minister of Transportation's policy advisors and a meeting has been scheduled for this spring to explain our position and these letters are needed to provide additional support. We would appreciate it if you would please forward them to your Regional Director listed below. We have received word that the Ontario Government is considering the Amateur Radio exemption issue.

RAC will continue to provide additional information about distracted driving regulations on the RAC website as it unfolds. If you have any questions or concerns or you would like to send a letter of support, please feel free to contact your Director at any time at the address shown on page 4 of The Canadian Amateur magazine and on the website at http://wp.rac.ca/board-of-directors/. 

Allan Munnik, VA7MP/VE7RMP

Director British Columbia/Yukon

Radio Amateurs of Canada

22444 72nd Avenue

Langley, BC V2Y 2K4

allan.munnik@gmail.com

Allan Boyd, VE3AJB

Director Ontario North/East

Radio Amateurs of Canada

27 Red Mill Road, Box 208

Little Current, ON P0P1K0

ve3ajb@vianet.ca

Phil McBride, VA3QR

Director Ontario South

Radio Amateurs of Canada

134 Longfield Road

Acton, ON L7J 2K4

va3qr@rac.ca

Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA

President

Radio Amateurs of Canada

Alan Griffin
RAC MarCom Director

wp.rac.ca

720 Belfast Road, #217
Ottawa, ON K1G 0Z5

613-244-4367, 1- 877-273-8304

raccomms@gmail.com

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