El Capitan
Member
There are a couple of details about the CTAG program that should probably be clarified in light of the comments in this forum. There have been claims and comments made that are patently false. The first is that the program is a cash grab – how could this be? The program was designed and built over 4 years based on input from a broad cross section of stakeholders (guides, independent and lodge guides, lodge owners, independent anglers, the SFI, TC and DFO). The program has been formalized and supported by the Industry Training Authority (the agency responsible for trades training apprenticeships in BC – Red Seal Chefs as example). In fact, the TAG designation recognizes the occupation as a trade and provides reimbursement for a portion of all of the training that a guide has been required to acquire in the course of becoming legal to operate commercially. So, the certification process costs 495.00 and everyone who gets certification will receive 1000.00 in refundable tax credits. That means if you are one of the few who don’t pay taxes you would receive a check in the mail for 1000.00 at tax time. Others will simply pay 1000.00 less in taxes the year you get certified. Difficult to see the cash grab aspect of that. Let’s look at the SFI – is the cash grab found at the non-profit organization which seeks to represent the interests of all of BC’s tidal anglers? If you are a charter guide wishing to be a member of the SFI (membership and support is an objective for the SFI – they are a non-profit but have been participating in costly legal action alongside the BCWF and in a variety of activities which are intended to help promote sustainable activities for the sector generally) the annual dues are 250.00. However, if you acquire your TAG you become eligible to be a CTAG member of the SFI at a rate of only 50.00 annually. And, your first year is paid for when you take your assessment. For those modest dues you are kept appraised of relevant news, are notified of when your MBFA is set to expire and are provided identification that is useful to distinguish a legal guide from the weekend warrior and help protect the honest and upstanding of the community from those who may be less scrupulous or have an accident. It is far better to have our sector and industry identify itself as being progressive and interested in safety and legality than to sit back and wait until the government (either one) devises a cash grab to licence guides. It’s happened in freshwater and there are all sorts of precedence that shows that if you go unregulated long enough some desk in Victoria will figure a way to extract a business tax or some sort of licence fee (and count on getting absolutely nothing useful from that).
The benefits of CTAG are well beyond the immediate economic benefits; the training credit of 1000.00 and the discounts available from insurers. As an industry led program, the Province is forced to acknowledge that the industry is organized enough to have done this for themselves and those in Tourism for the Province see the designation as a very useful and simple way to promote the industry. It’s a very tidy way to promote the saltwater guide community; encourage the public to look for the CTAG decal and describe that BC’s certified guides are operating to standards set by the industry and to a level that is unrivalled in North America. Again, it helps to allow the professional guides who are doing things according to the law to separate themselves from the rogues or those who will one way or the other negatively impact the sector.
It is just plain wrong to say that this is a cash grab. And, while there is a lot of sympathy for the ever moving goal posts that are TC and DFO regulations, CTAG is not a part of that. In fact, CTAG is a reaction to the changes, with an interest in providing stability and a way to acknowledge the profession and trade. Keep in mind that this is not a course but a confirmation of TC tickets and your experience and will take between 3 and 4 hours of your time to complete. You’re being paid 125.00/hr. and the opportunity to save 30% a year on your vessel liability insurance would seem reason alone to acquire this. Add professional trade designation, promotional opportunities for your business and the sector generally and insulating the legal and reputable guides from all others make it something to understand a little better rather than just lob turds over the fence at something you don’t fully understand.
The benefits of CTAG are well beyond the immediate economic benefits; the training credit of 1000.00 and the discounts available from insurers. As an industry led program, the Province is forced to acknowledge that the industry is organized enough to have done this for themselves and those in Tourism for the Province see the designation as a very useful and simple way to promote the industry. It’s a very tidy way to promote the saltwater guide community; encourage the public to look for the CTAG decal and describe that BC’s certified guides are operating to standards set by the industry and to a level that is unrivalled in North America. Again, it helps to allow the professional guides who are doing things according to the law to separate themselves from the rogues or those who will one way or the other negatively impact the sector.
It is just plain wrong to say that this is a cash grab. And, while there is a lot of sympathy for the ever moving goal posts that are TC and DFO regulations, CTAG is not a part of that. In fact, CTAG is a reaction to the changes, with an interest in providing stability and a way to acknowledge the profession and trade. Keep in mind that this is not a course but a confirmation of TC tickets and your experience and will take between 3 and 4 hours of your time to complete. You’re being paid 125.00/hr. and the opportunity to save 30% a year on your vessel liability insurance would seem reason alone to acquire this. Add professional trade designation, promotional opportunities for your business and the sector generally and insulating the legal and reputable guides from all others make it something to understand a little better rather than just lob turds over the fence at something you don’t fully understand.
