Help Fight Changes to Canadian Navigation Rights
Realize most here are south of the border, but just wanted to cross post something that concerns all water users in Canada. Federal Government is looking to make some serious changes to our Navigable Waters Protection Act. The 2 main changes being:
A) what is considered navigable, which in the new legislation basically cuts out any waterway not navigable year round, without obstruction over 3km, by a vessel with a 1m draft.
B) what is considered a man made obstruction required to go through the Environmental Assessment Process. Can't figure out by who's logic things like Dams, Bridges, Culverts and Weirs are NOT obstructions.
The purpose of these changes are to eliminate the need for the Environmental Impact evaluation process to allow industry to have their way with any Canadian river that stands in their way.
The short time-line, and secretive nature of these changes has meant that no one in the recreational river users community were consulted, even though a long list of industry representatives got to speak their case. A rally was hastily held last night at Parliament Hill where the small crowd heard from several of the people representing us in this fight to save our rights and rivers. A letter writing campaign as seen in the below thread is also encouraged to show our outrage in this matter.
http://www.boatwerks.net/boaterboard...pic.php?t=6699
