Bill C-547 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Fox Lake and other lakes and rivers)

This bill was last introduced in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in August 2015.

Sponsor

Claude Gravelle  NDP

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Nov. 5, 2013
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Navigable Waters Protection Act in order to add Fox Lake and other lakes and rivers to the navigable waters listed in the schedule to that Act, as it will read immediately after the coming into force of section 331 of the Jobs and Growth Act, 2012.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Navigable Waters Protection ActRoutine Proceedings

November 5th, 2013 / 10:05 a.m.


See context

NDP

Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-547, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Fox Lake and other lakes and rivers).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for York South—Weston for seconding my bill.

Today I introduce my bill to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act to re-protect many lakes and rivers of Nickel Belt. After the government stripped protection from 98% of Canada's lakes and rivers, I received an incredible volume of mail from constituents asking that their lakes and rivers be re-protected. I have named some 34 waterways in this legislation, including Lake Wanapitei, which is a source of drinking water for the City of Greater Sudbury. We know that navigation is directly related to environmental conditions, ecosystem protection, water levels and the commercial and recreational use of water. We must protect the interests of cottagers, boaters, recreational fishers, municipalities, first nations and more.

This is not just an issue for environmentalists. If a river or lake is not protected, it means that anyone can build a bridge, set up ferry service or create an obstruction that will affect navigation on the lake or river.

It is not right that all of these groups and individuals assume the onus to take a developer to court if the proposed protection affects a lake or river. My New Democrat colleagues have launched a campaign to return protection to the lakes and rivers Canadians hold dear. I am happy to include Nickel Belt lakes and rivers in that campaign.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)