Making helmets mandatory for skiing and snowboarding

Quebec is looking at making helmets compulsory for several winter sports in the 2009-2010 season.

Sports Minister Michelle Courchesne is echoing arguments by an association of provincial emergency medical specialists that helmets are needed to prevent head injuries in some winter activities.

Skiing and snowboarding are among the sports that could be affected if Courchesne manages to make the helmets mandatory.

Courchesne said today the Quebec ski-hill association has some concerns about the safety regulation because it believes some of its adult clients might not be happy with the plan.

The minister says the industry would be consulted on how to implement the proposed new rules.

The emergency medicine specialists say the number of head injuries could be reduced by 60 per cent with the use of a helmet.