New legislation protects Canadians’ right to navigate on their waters: The Canadian Navigable Waters Act takes effect today

Today, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, announced that the Canadian Navigable Waters Act and the Major Works Order come into effect. The new legislation restores lost protections on all navigable waters in Canada so that Canadians can continue to enjoy the right to navigate their boats (whether they are motorized boats, canoes or kayaks) through the extensive network of waterways across the country.

• a new requirement for approvals of major works, such as large dams, that significantly impact navigation on all navigable waters;
• a process to notify the public, which also provides an opportunity for Canadians to engage early before construction begins on any navigable water;
• a mechanism where the Minister of Transport can address obstructions on any navigable water;
• directives to take into consideration the cumulative impact on navigation of multiple projects on a waterway; and
• a resolution process for reviewing navigation concerns and works, such as a bridge, when concerns remain unresolved in navigable waters not listed in the schedule (the official annex of the legislation).
  

Quotes

“Our Government had a clear goal when it introduced the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, which is to restore lost protections on waterways. Today, we fulfill our commitment. Through this legislation, we address interferences to navigation while protecting Canadians’ right to navigate on Canada’s vast network of navigable waterways . ”

– The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport

Quick facts

• The Navigation Protection Act was amended and renamed the Canadian Navigable Waters Act. The Act restores lost protections of waterways.
  
• The Act includes extra protections for those waterways most important to Canadians and Indigenous peoples.
  
• The Act can apply to industry, all levels of government and members of the public who are:
  • owners of work(s), like a bridge or a causeway, on navigable waters;
  • dealing with interferences to navigation in navigable waters;
  • planning something that will affect navigation in navigable waters.
    

  Associated links

  • Canadian Navigable Waters Act
  • Common Project Search

  Contacts

  Delphine Denis
  Media Relations Manager
  Office of the Honourable Marc Garneau
  Minister of Transport, Ottawa
  Delphine.Denis@tc.gc.ca
  613-991-0700

  Media Relations
  Transport Canada, Ottawa
  Media@tc.gc.ca
  613-993-0055