That's correct, Mr. Chair.
Minister, thank you very much for appearing before the committee.
I have one question. Responsibility for the Navigable Waters Protection Act falls under Transport Canada, but the enforcement overlaps into Fisheries and Oceans as well. Under section 35 of the current Fisheries Act, any project that involves both fish habitat and a navigable waterway may be subject to review by both departments. The Navigable Waters Protection Act doesn't define “navigable” or “navigation”. It's interpreted so broadly that just about any small ditch or canal or something like that can be considered navigable.
Whenever municipalities in my constituency undertake work on a bridge or a culvert that involves a stream or a creek or even a gully, they have to obtain approval from Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, and Alberta Environment.
In 2004, the county of Lacombe wrote a letter that said the Navigable Waters Protection Act hinders projects on small inland drainage waterways that are never used for navigation.