This spring (2023) Rhode Island, USA, enacted a mandatory lifejacket law for all recreational paddlecraft users. This is only the second state, after New Mexico, to enact such a law. Drowning statistics in both the USA and Canada show a large number of water craft fatalities happen to those not wearing pfd's, and according to the US Coast Guard, 20 some percent of drownings are in paddle craft such as canoes and kayaks. Interestingly, several additional states have mandatory pfd laws, but only apply to cold weather months.
Ontario, meanwhile, has before the provincial legislature a mandatory youth lifejacket law for all watercraft (for kids 12 and under). There are no mandatory lifejacket laws in Canada at present, so this would be the first. The law states that all recreational water and paddle craft have pfd's available, but do not have to be worn. Interestingly, the City of Calgary has a city bylaw that all paddlecraft users in the city must wear a lifejacket - the only such bylaw in Canada.
Additionally, all guided excursion via paddle craft have mandatory pfd use in Canada (via Transport Canada regulations) - think whitewater rafting, guided sea kayak trips, and guided fishing. A quick look at fly fishing drift boat provider's websites shows this law is rarely followed (and, I have found, rarely known to exist!).
This is all good news. It won't surprise readers to know I fully support mandatory lifejacket use; I have been outspoken on this for some time, using my platform in Paddling and Rapid Magazines to push this idea. The simple fact is it is very difficult to drown while wearing a lifejacket. With the changing face of recreational paddling and the 'typical' recreational try-it-for-the-first-time paddler, lifejackets negate the need to be a good swimmer to try paddling.