Why did the government make changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act?
The Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) is one of the oldest Acts in Canadian history. Drafted in the 1880s, the NWPA remained largely unchanged until March 12, 2009, when the amendments came into force. Although the Act itself had not been changed legislatively in over a century, as time past the application of the Act had expanded far beyond its original intent. Passed in response to the urgent worldwide economic climate that arose in 2009, the intent was to accelerate the NWPP approval process by facilitating speedier review of minor projects and allowing government efforts to be concentrated on substantial waters and projects that interfere with navigation. By focusing project reviews more on waterways of navigational value and on “works” that may interfere significantly with navigation, the changes to the Act should ultimately save proponents both money and time.
