F eds reviewing Navigation Protection Act changes
As outdoor enthusiasts rally to protect Canada’s waterways, the federal government says it is committed to maintaining a safe transportation system that protects the public right to navigation and promotes economic development.
Government is reviewing changes to the law the gives citizens the right to ply Canadian waters – prompting a campaign that has seen the same, or nearly the same, letter to the editor published in newspapers across the country, credited to different authors.
The Navigation Protection Act, as it was renamed when amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act came into force on April 1, 2014, regulates works and obstructions that risk interfering with waterway navigation.
One of Canada’s oldest pieces of legislation, its purpose was to authorize interferences with the public right of navigation, such as the construction of bridges, breakwaters and dams, and to ensure obstructions to navigation were marked or removed for navigation safety.
The amended law still does that, but now focuses on Canada’ s busiest commercial and recreation-related water ways, which are listed in a schedule.
The 97 rivers, 62 lakes and three oceans listed within it include local lakes such as Little, Upper Chemong, Lower Buckhorn, Katchewanooka, Stoney, Rice and Pigeon lakes.
“The primary purpose of the Navigation Protection Act is to ensure the public right to navigate is protected in the context of economic development projects in Canada’ s navigable waters ,” Pierre Manoni of the media relations unit at Transport Canada wrote via email.
The original law, however, applied to all navigable water ways in the country and opponents see that as a loss of protection
“In recent years, 99 per cent of Canada’s waterways lost navigation protection under the act. Unless our waterways have full legal protection we’ll all lose our right to enjoy and play in streams, rivers, lakes and oceans ,” stated Jo Hayward-Haines of Ennismore.
“Even worse, when waterways are blocked by development or land owners, sensitive ecosystems are put at risk. There’s currently no law that makes it mandatory to evaluate environmental impacts on blocking and obstructing waterways, which can seriously harm fish, fish habitat and water.”
Manoni said the review aims to fulfil the government’s commitment to restore lost protections and incorporate modern safeguards into the legislation. The government wants to ensure the law appropriately protects the right to navigate our waters, he said.
“It is the Government of Canada’ s goal that the proposed changes to the Navigation Protection Act improve nation-to-nation relations and involve Indigenous peoples in the regulation of navigable waters within their traditional territories ,” he wrote.
Long-lasting decisions are being made right now about our basic right to explore this country by kayak and canoe, HaywardHa in es, and others, stated .“Fellow outdoor enthusiasts, I hope you’ll join me in writing or calling your MP to tell them to make sure the Navigation Protection Act protects our environment, heritage and way of life.”
Proposed changes to the act will be aligned with the government’s commitment to open, accessible and transparent processes, Manoni wrote.
“The proposed changes will aim to support a more transparent, sustainable, safe and efficient marine system for the benefit of all users; however it is too early at this point to indicate what changes will be made to the act.”