Cheers All,
Been an interesting read on this subject. A few comments if I may:
The SFI institute is offering and supporting the
TAG program. It is not manadatory and those with previous Transport Canada qualifications (i.e., Med2/3, ROC-M, SVOP, Marine Standard First Aid) that are currently necessary for conducting passenger traffic - which is what TC calls anything where the guests pay - will suffice to Guide in BC. Full Stop. Of course guides are still required to have TC complience with any vessel that they opperate irrespective of where they obtain their individual certifications.
The benefit of this course is that if one is new to this industry (Guiding) they can obtain all their qualifications in one spot over one short period and go right into being 'TC Complient'. It is interesting the amount of info in this course extraneous to fishing and conducted towards being a BC Host and marketing the Province of BC . Ultimately the person - once successful through this course or any other - can guide in BC as we currently do not have a license requirement for salt water.
The short answer is you do not "NEED" this course to guide in BC. My issue is that if the SFI begins aggressive marketing of this program - especially in combination with different governmental departments and the resulting "Professional" stature that ONLY TAG Guides can provide, it will place any other guide - TC Complient or not - at a serious disadvantage. Once consumers begin looking for that 'TAG' designation it will require one to have it to be on the cutting edge of marketing. Those without may suffer negative effects. I am going to wait to see how this program is developed and the marketing being done, or that which may be done, before I determine my course of action. If SFI and the BC Government begin aggressive marketing of the "Professional Tag Guides of BC" one would certainly have to consider challenging the course. Not that one would necessarily 'gain' any knowledge from the course but simply to be able to compete in a market share.
Certainly I could make the arguement that any fee to challenge this "TAG" standing is a money grab - especially for the many guides who have thousands of successful hours on the water. It speaks volumes that they are still here despite years of governmental mis-management of a common resource or the many years of exposure to the multiple risks upon the waters. However, ultimately, if one looks past the nature of the request and understands what it truely is - the beginnings of an introduction into Guide Licensing - one might take pause to reconsider objections.
I have no problem being evaluated by an
independent authority who will objectively determine my complience to safely guide guests in a professional fashion within the saltwater confines of BC. However, I would then ask - in return for that assessment and the time and financial investment for that assessment - that those who do not pass such assessments (either through failure of the assessment or failure to be assessed) be specifially barred from operating within BC at the risk of significant fines and loss of boats and equipment and, further, that any insurance they have be in possession of be deemed 'null, void and without force or effect'. I would also request that there be a significant and prolongued advertising of the attributes of TAG Guides along with their web sites or contact info. If and when this were to occur I would respectfully suggest that the benefits would far outweigh the inconvenience and worth the cost of $120.00 or similiar (fully tax deductable) costs.
Fishing Guide
www.invictuscharters.com
BC Outdoors Pro Staff
www.fishingvancouverisland.org
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