Tip of the hat to Oreo!
Just to state - the three different LDS I've used here in Quebec all asked for my OW certs - only one, where David now works for, asked for FQAS and when I didn't have it, organized right then & there an FQAS course & test.
We missed the 11am boat and took the 2pm one - no big deal.
The "Other LDS" my son worked for (and has lost all good employees except for one) never bothered with FQAS. I honestly don't think many of those divers doing dives at the Kanasake Quarry have FQAS, I only learned of it last summer. So it seems loosely applied, depending on the LDS.
From the FQAS website, it's a federation, a liability insurance, a non-profit and a standardized minimum safety screening.
In 1997, the Quebec Coroner after investigations into scuba related deaths, recommended a standardized testing of various recognized organisations (ACUC, AMCQ, CSAC, NAUI, PADI, & PDIC). The FQAS was born and enforced.
Quebec LDS have their air-filling stations periodically inspected & tested for air quality, also the inspection of the air tanks.
I haven't found any stats on their website. It looks like it was designed in 1999 and hasn't changed much.
Only death reports, the last ones, one in 2006 and one in 2007. From the descriptions, most deaths were all preventable with a minimum of training. Like one guy drowned in 9 feet of water, wearing 58 lbs of weights. Or divers surfacing too quickly.
What is not clear - if FQAS certification is required for non-Quebec citizens. That would be a bummer for a family from New York going to Quebec to dive. I'm sure they'd turn around and go to Lake Champlain in Vermont instead.