Flying with an auto-inflate PFD?

[Prairie Chicken]

I recently purchased a Spinlock auto-inflating PFD & need to get it from home to the boat by comm airline. According to my research, IATA allow pax to carry it in checked luggage on commercial flights if reported to the airline before departure. My OH is inclined to just pack it and not tell the airline as we've encountered problems with this sort of thing in the past. He doesn't trust Air Canada. I'm sure lots of you have experience with this. Any advice?

The issue of course is the CO2 cartridge, the same sort of thing every lifejacket under airline seats contains.