I don't like that it doesn't specify using the top tether as well when you use the seatbelt to install from 40-65lbs.
It's irrelevant that most kids won't get much past 40lbs... it still needs to specify that the top tether be used.
I hope this isn't a case of the latest buzz about being cautious with upper latch limits (which includes top anchors, apparently) colliding with the reality that top tethering is mandatory here.
All forward facing seats with a 5 point harness must be top tethered at all times, regardless of it being installed with latch (referred to as uas in Canada) or the seatbelt.
Agreed - but I can tell you that if the manual is vague on that point they'll have TC on their butt - TC had to get on Britax about the vague wording of their manual a number of years ago - in the actual ff'ing instructions the manual said to attach the top tether, but in the versa-tether instruction it only said "Britax recommends the use of the tether at all times" There was a parent locally who created a big stink when he got a ticket for not having his seat top tethered because of the manual saying "recommends" - he lost and had to pay his ticket, and Britax had to revise their manual to be clearer.
So - I'm sure that if there is anything vague about it, there'll be something done.
IMO - issues in the US that are "I don't want to get sued" based should not affect Canadian recommendations or the fact that we've never had a manufacturer's installed tether anchor fail. Never. Even back before LATCH and before standards required higher forces. The only history of failures are improperly installed aftermarket ones. And seats didn't have high weight limits at the time it was common to have those in use. So compound the fact that top tether anchor standards are higher now than what they were 15 yrs ago,
I don't even know why they're making it such an issue. All I know is that it shouldn't be a Canadian issue and car manufacturers should get off their scaredy cat butts and realize that it's just a cascade reaction of fear and hypotheticals and make the policy to officially allow a properly used seat to be top tethered to the maximum weight the car seat manufacturer allows. We're never going to see seats higher than 65lbs with the exception of special needs seats, so we don't have the same need to put a conservative limit as they do in the US where manufacturers keep pushing weight limits higher and higher. Or cap the weight at 65lbs if they feel the need for unison on both sides of the border. (And there's my rather blunt opinion on this beautiful Saturday, lol)