Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll share my time with the member for Fort Mac.
Thank you, everyone, for attending. I appreciate all the comments.
I was the chair of the transport committee that proposed the changes to the Navigable Waterways Protection Act. I want to make it clear that there were no dissenting votes on the proposals and changes to the act that were put forward. We did include a sunset clause because we felt that, like all legislation, there are challenges that have to be met at a future date. If we see deficiencies, then we certainly have the ability to make those changes.
I want to start by commenting to Mr. MacLaren that I've had the opportunity to serve provincially and on a municipal council. I would have no qualms in saying I probably have a thousand people like you in my riding in the very same situation, where a man-made ditch that serves no other purpose than to move water for four or five days in the spring is deemed a navigable water and they can do nothing with it. It hinders their ability to develop their own property and it excludes them from any other process that everyone has to go through.
As a committee, we heard from municipal, provincial, and other organizations involved in working with navigable waters. I think it was unanimous, in the reports we received from them, that these were the issues that concerned them the most and that had to be addressed by our committee. Monsieur Carrier was a very active member, and I think we all compromised a little bit to bring something forward that was amenable to most Canadians.
I want to talk to Mr. Osbaldeston. I think Mr. Volpe raised this, and I want to make it as clear as I possibly can. It's a comment we're hearing most around the table and in e-mails from people who are concerned about this issue.
Do the rights surrounding navigable waters change with any of the amendments we're proposing?