New Rules Open Up Drone Use in Canada

The Honorable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, recently announced an update to Transport Canada’s revised Interim Order on drone use.

The new Interim Order replaces an earlier version, which players in the drone space argued put unreasonable restrictions on responsible drone use across Canada—more than 2,000 drone advocates across Canada sent messages urging Transport Canada to improve the Interim Order.

DJI, a company specializing in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, approves of the changes. The updated rules allow drone enthusiasts to fly their drones safely until a new regulatory regime comes into force.

“The revised Interim Order is a step in the right direction,” believes Brendan Schulman, DJI Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs. “The new version delivers some improvements.”

The updated rules include a height limit of 90 meters and to keep the drones a minimum of up to 75 meters away from vessels and the public, depending on the weight of the vehicle, as well as within 500 meters of the operator.

DJI says it will continue to work with the Government of Canada to help shape a regulatory regime that allows for the emergence of a vibrant drone industry in Canada.

“An ideal regulatory regime would adequately mitigate the risk of injury and property damage while allowing innovators the freedom to experiment and to use drones with minimal burdens or barriers to entry,” said Eric Ebenstein, DJI Head of North America Public Policy. “We believe Canada can craft a world-leading regulatory regime that protects safety while encouraging innovation.”