Navigatable Waters Protectio Act

[Greg Loftus ( Cominco)]

Fellow Paddlers we in Canada are facing a serious battle with the government and the NWPA. The Navigatable Waters Protection Act (and few other things) are under attach in the new "Budget Implementation Act." This act is what protects all our rivers ,lakes and streams from the encroachment of Industry. Before you can build anything across, through, under or over a Navigatable waterway in Canada it must first be approved by the board. When you apply for this the Enviromental Assement people are notified and your are requiremet to meet the necessary standards. In order to expedite constrution the Government is trying to have the NWPAs power reduced through the Budget Implementaion Act. They claim the NWPA provides unecessary red tape and slows developement (the point of the NWPA) and they want this eliminated. This was blocked just prior to your last election and so they have slipped it into the middle of the budget reforms. Completed details are vailable from www.waterkeeper.ca and www.ispeakforcanadianrivers.com. The Ontario government is already banning local boaters form lakes around Manitouwadge Ontario so that they can sell package remote wilderness holidays to tourist. Whats the easiest way to make a lake remote that has been accessed and used by locals for years, ban them from the lake. John Allsop has a discussion on Playak about the Lake Ban and you can read more at this site www.theecho.ca, Manitouwadges local paper
We need all concerned paddlers to go to our new facebook page called "Save the NWPA" and sign up. Please head to Facebook and join our group "Save the NWPA" over 3,000 members all ready.Greg

[Greg Loftus ( Cominco)]

On Satirday I e-mailed every senator in Canada about this matter and have received 3 positive responses. Thank to the Senators that have reponded so far.. Greg