What is a pleasure craft licence?

The owner of a small vessel has the choice to register or not his pleasure craft. If the owner chooses not to register his pleasure craft, and if this small vessel is permanently or temporarily equipped with a 7.5 kW engine (9.9 horsepower), he will have to obtain a pleasure craft licence. Watercrafts and pleasure crafts equipped with a less powerful engine are subjected to the same rules. No requirement of citizenship or residence in Canada is applicable in this case, however, the small vessel must be used and kept in Canada. There are no fees to obtain a pleasure craft licence and the licence is valid for a period of ten years.