Millions of Canadian boaters have yet to obtain an operator card, necessary as of Tuesday.

Canadian boaters driving craft with motors are required to carry a Transport Canada-mandated pleasure craft operator card.

But estimates suggest that only three million of Canada's approximately 10 million boaters met that deadline.

Exact figures regarding the number of boaters in Canada are not available. But Transport Canada reports about three million people had completed testing for the operator card by Aug. 31.

The Westside Stores in Salmon Arm, B.C., has only administered the test to about 30 people over the last several weeks, said Chuck Crown, the sporting goods store's former owner.

Pleasure craft operator cards were first introduced in 1999 when they were required for anyone aged 16 years or under.

Despite the decade of forewarning, a lot of boaters seem to have been scrambling to meet the deadline, said Alain Brière, executive director of Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons.

"We have quite a few calls at the office and it's sort of overwhelming our switchboard," Brière said.

The new requirement applies in areas outside the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Spring scramble expected

Boaters who didn't get certified before the deadline are still able to complete their exam at local test centres or online.

Officials said they expect that boaters may be waiting until spring 2010 to get the card.

The 36-question exam costs $50 and covers navigation rules, right of way regulations, boating terminology, emergency markers, buoys and safety equipment. Boaters must score 75 per cent to pass.

All operators using powered boats, including personal watercraft, small fishing boats, cruisers and motorized sailing craft are required to obtain a pleasure craft operator card. The cards are supposed to ensure there's a minimum level of competency among Canadian boaters.

Transport Canada stresses the operator card is not a licence because it is valid for life and cannot be revoked.

"The focus is on safety. We want to assure that people operating pleasure craft have a basic understanding of the rules of the road and safety regulations," said Transport Canada boating safety officer Timothy McCann.

System's effectiveness criticized

Some in the nautical community have criticized the card's effectiveness, because it exempts renters, is valid for life, allows testing to be done unmonitored online and does not test the bearer's skills on the water.

"Some people may get a pleasure craft competency card and not use a boat for a year but then can still use that card for life," said Eric Sewell at Sewell's Marina in Horseshoe Bay, B.C.

But the card at least forces people to learn the rules of the waterway, said Gary Toews, manager of the Redboine Boating Club in Winnipeg.

"It is going to bring out the serious boaters that actually want to enjoy the waterways and be safe," Toews said.

People driving a motorized craft without the operator's card on board are subject to a $250 fine.

Enforcement agencies across Canada are expected to begin enforcing the federally mandated law on Tuesday.

Const. Steve Holmes said the RCMP will be checking for the card in the Okanagan Valley.

"Within our patrols, part of the mandate is to be dealing with other boaters that are out there, more for education but also for compliance," said Holmes. "Sort of like pulling over a vehicle and asking to see a driver's licence."