Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Comité permanent des transports, de l'infrastructure et des collectivités

For immediate release

Ottawa, March 23, 2017 -

Today, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities tabled its report entitled: A Study of the Navigation Protection Act. During the study, the Committee examined the current iteration of the Navigation Protection Act and how the changes to the Act over the past five years have affected stakeholders.

The Committee heard testimony from 17 witnesses during six meetings. The witnesses represented a range of stakeholders including Indigenous, environmental and recreational groups, the construction industry and municipalities. The Committee also received 256 written submissions from an equally wide and representative cross-section of the Canadian public.

In its report, the Committee makes 11 recommendations to the Government of Canada that treat a broad range of issues. Among other things, the recommendations seek to:

• formally recognise Indigenous peoples’ relationship to navigation,

• increase transparency in government decision-making and public consultation on navigation issues,

• promote an alternative dispute resolution process for navigation disputes, and

• provide clear and concise guidance on how to request additions to the list of waters that is included as a schedule to the Navigation Protection Act.

To learn more about the work of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, or to read the report and transcripts from previous meetings, please visit the Committee’s website.