Canadian thrill-seekers often sign waivers without realizing that if they have an accident while pursuing an outdoor adventure, they will not be able to sue for damages. A special investigation by the public broadcaster, CBC, indicates many Canadians don’t read the fine print and that companies offering adventure sports are not regulated.
More than half of all Canadians have tried activities such as white water rafting, zip-lining and bungee jumping, according to a survey commissioned by the CBC program, Marketplace. While 58 per cent of respondents said they had tried such an activity, 54 per cent said they did not realize that by signing a waiver they gave up the right to sue the company offering the sport even if it failed to take basic safety precautions.
Reporters discovered that in the western province of British Columbia between 2006 and 2010 an average of 58 people died each year while doing adventure activities including snowmobiling and scuba diving. There is no national collection of data on injuries and deaths related to adventure activities.
They also found the majority of the outdoor adventure industry in Canada is self-regulated. Some activities such as canoeing and kayaking have voluntary standards for training.
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