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A handful of volunteer canoeists have been making their way down the Ottawa River to cast light on a possible threat to the public’s right to travel any Canadian river they choose.
The Paddle to Parliament was launched on May 31 and its participants have been making their way from the Kipawa River in Northern Quebec, down the 500 km Quebec-Ontario boundary on the Ottawa River, through the Ottawa Valley to Parliament Hill.
They are trying to draw attention to proposed changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA), which outdoor enthusiasts and businesses fear may impede navigation rights on Canadian rivers.
On Thursday evening, the group stopped at Esprit Rafting, which, along with Les Amis de la Rivière Kipawa, a non-profit group whose mission it is to protect the Kipawa River, helped organize the event.
Jim Coffey, owner/operator of Esprit, welcomed the paddlers as they arrived, after encouraging his guests at the resort to cheer them on. He said the volunteer group is taking part in this event because it is passionate about protecting the rights of all Canadians and visitors to be able to freely navigate the waterways.
“This is a way to raise our voices and speak for Canadian rivers,” he said.
“This is really important for the Pontiac, as a lot of our rivers will lose their protection under these changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act.”
The possibility this act, which has been in place since 1882, may be amended came as a surprise to Doug Skeggs, director of river protection for Les Amis de la Rivière Kipawa.
He said his group only became aware in late May a parliamentary commission had been looking into proposed changes to the NWPA. It is only through using a Freedom of Information application that he was able to obtain the minutes of these commission meetings.
Among the changes being suggested, the one which particularly worries him and other users of the river is how the definition of “navigable” would be changed. Once an automatic right, it would instead be restricted to waterways which can handle vessels that draw a draft of one metre or more.
“That is a pretty damn big boat,”Mr. Skeggs said, noting if this goes ahead, it would effectively eliminate all forms of people-powered craft such as canoes, kayaks, rafts, and many small motor boats on any but the largest rivers.
He said he is worried the parliamentary committee looking into making the changes only heard from one side – groups and individuals who want to develop along Canada’s rivers.
Mr. Skeggs said it is important to maintain the public right of navigation, which has been around before Confederation, and fears the proposed changes to the NWPA will eliminate it.
“It’s an important part of our heritage and an important part of being Canadian to have the right of navigation of our rivers and waterways,” he said.
“To have that threatened and to potentially be taken away is a big concern for us.”
He said this would turn on its head the idea the right of navigability is an automatic one, and instead becomes one where the onus is on interested parties to prove it.
Mr. Skeggs said these proposed changes to the NWPA would remove consideration for the environmental impact of loss of navigation for any projects involving minor waters, minor works, dams, bridges, causeways and booms.
It would allow developers to alter certain water courses without the need for an environmental assessment. As well, it would remove the public right to be consulted on development projects that have a direct environmental impact on navigation.
“This will affect a whole section of Canadian society and anyone who uses the river, and potentially threatens every river in Canada,” he said.
It is the hope of the organizers of Paddle to Parliament that enough publicity will be generated to persuade the government to extend hearings on the matter. This way, other points of view will have a chance to be heard.
The proposed changes may be before Parliament by the fall.
The expedition is to wrap up with a Vigil for Rivers on Parliament Hill, Sunday, June 8, 2008 from 7 p. m. to 9 p. m. in time to celebrate National Rivers Day in Canada.
Article ID# 1062053