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 Director,
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,
recently met with BC government representatives to discuss BC distracted
driving regulations and their application to Amateur Radio. They have had
three meetings to date and recently completed two excellent working
sessions. The BC Amateurs are pleased with the significant progress made
through these sessions and will continue to follow the process while the BC
government engages other stakeholders and solicits their input. Bill
anticipates that there will be more news and clarifying material available
before Christmas and we will post the information on the RAC website when
it is available.

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 letters of support from
Ontario Amateurs and are looking for additional letters of support from
organizations such as Amateur Radio clubs and ARES groups. They have also
been in touch with the Minister of Transportation and 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 at:
http://wp.rac.ca/board-of-directors/

*Bill Gipps, VE7ISV/VE7XS*
Director British Columbia/Yukon
Radio Amateurs of Canada
9362 – 206A Street
Langley, BC V1M 2W6


*Allan Boyd, VE3AJB*
Director Ontario North/East
Radio Amateurs of Canada
27 Red Mill Road, Box 208
Little Current, ON P0P1K0


*Phil McBride, VA3QR*
Director Ontario South
Radio Amateurs of Canada
134 Longfield Road
Acton, ON L7J 2K4


*Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA*
*President*
*Radio Amateurs of Canada *


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*Alan GriffinRAC MarCom Director*

*wp.rac.ca* http://www.rac.ca/
720 Belfast Road, #217
Ottawa, ON K1G 0Z5
613-244-4367, 1- 877-273-8304