MORE POLITICAL B.S. if it passes say good bye to r

[wolf]

Subject: For immediate release: BC Wildlife Federation on the Navigable Waters Act.





BC Wildlife Federation Concerned With Amendments To Navigable Waters Protection Act

The BC Wildlife Federation adamantly opposes amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) as included in the Budget Implementation Act, Bill C-10.

Canada’s Navigable Waters Protection Act was originally passed in 1882 with the intent of recognizing the common right of access to and free passage on public waterways. Bill C-10 makes unacceptable changes to that legislation.

The proposed changes will:

1. Eliminate environmental assessments, with few exceptions, for development projects on Canadian waterways.

2. Allow Canada’s rivers to be separated into those that are worth protecting and those that can be exploited.

3. Those classifications can be determined secretly within cabinet with no public consultation, no basis in science and no opportunity for any appeal.

4. Ensure that these decisions will most certainly be made based on political expediency rather than on scientific or long-term social and environmental considerations.

Enabling the government to declare previously protected waterways as non-navigable also has other ramifications for the resource.

If a waterway is designated as navigable the bed of the waterway is considered to be crown property. Designating the waterway as non-navigable will enable the bed to pass to private ownership. From this flows the further concern that private ownership of the waterways bed implies private ownership of the fishery.

If the federal government honestly believes that the NWPA needs updating, the BCWF urges Prime Minister Harper to remove the amendments from Bill C-10 and hold transparent and meaningful public discussions on the legislation across Canada.

Regardless, the government must:

1. Restore the existing environmental assessment requirements,

2. Remove the Minister’s discretion on major construction projects as listed in the legislation, specifically dams, causeways, bridges and booms.

3. Remove the power of government to arbitrarily divide Canada’s rivers into those considered ‘worthwhile’ and those that are somehow less valuable.

The public right to free passage on public waterways goes directly back to the signing in 1215 of the Magna Carta and it has been the federal government’s mandate to protect that right.

With their intent to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act, the federal government appears to be putting Canadians on notice that they are now willing to abrogate that responsibility. The Federation cannot believe this government is prepared to destroy the birthright of all Canadians under the pretext of a stimulus package.

The amendments to the Navigable Water Protection Act, as included in Bill C-10, ensures the loss of adequate environmental protection and public access to navigable waterways that is a part of our Canadian heritage.

The BCWF urges all Canadians to contact their MPs and Senators and demand they remove the Navigable Waters Protection amendments from Bill C-10.

For further information contact Patti MacAhonic, Executive Director of the BCWF at 604-291-9990 extension 230 or mailtoatti@bcwf.bc.ca

The BCWF is a province-wide voluntary conservation organization representing over 30,000 British Columbian members whose aims are to protect, enhance and promote the wise use of the environment for the benefit of present and future generations.

The B.C. Wildlife Federation was incorporated under the B.C. Societies Act in 1951 and it became a registered charity in 1969. The Federation is British Columbia’s largest and oldest conservation organization.


-30-



Marlene Kuyt

Admin Assistant

101-3060 Norland Ave

Burnaby, BC V5B 3A6

www.bcwf.bc.ca

officeinfo@bcwf.bc.ca

PH: 604-291-9990 ext 221

Toll Free: 1-888-881-BCWF (2293)



Blue Wolf Charters
www.bluewolfcharters.com

 

[The Fish Assassin]

http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11572&SearchTerms=,Navigable,Waters,Act

Take only what you need.

 

[Little Hawk]

Indeed, this is more Campbell (Liberal) treachery to help pave the way for his Private Power assault on HUNDREDS of BC's fish-bearing rivers & streams.

See: http://www.saveourrivers.ca/ and even the most skeptical should be able to put the pieces together.

Gordon Campbell could care less about our precious WILD FISH and for those of you folks who vote for him in May, you too, will then echo those same sentiments.

Under Campbell's leadership, Pacific Salmon don't stand a chance.

 

[IronNoggin]

Dear River Advocates;

Below is a story from today's Vancouver Sun,
on an important piece of legislation now before
the Senate in Ottawa that could seriously harm
public access to -- and protection of -- rivers.

Mark Angelo, chair of the newly-created Rivers Institute
at BCIT, is interviewed in this article by Larry Pynn.

There will also be a feature story on CBC TV news
tonight and we will distribute a link to that once it runs.

The legislation appears before the Finance Committee
of the Senate this week, so urgent action is needed.
Please take the time to contact your senator to express
your opinion on the proposed changes to the
Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA).


Coalition to wage campaign for waterways;
Budget legislation would amend act that protects rivers

The Vancouver Sun
Mon 09 Mar 2009
Page: A4
Section: Westcoast News
Byline: Larry Pynn
Source: Vancouver Sun

A coalition of groups worried that new federal budget legislation will endanger rivers by scaling back environmental assessments for developments on waterways is launching a campaign to battle the plan.

Now that the budget has been passed and goes before the Senate finance committee this week, the groups are urging senators to withdraw the relevant section -- Part 7 of the Budget Implementation Act.

It would amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act, which dates back to 1882 and protects public access to navigable rivers.

The changes are "very significant" and represent a "radical transformation" in the protection of thousands of rivers and streams in Canada, says Mark Angelo, chair of the Rivers Institute, which has joined forces with the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C., Mountain Equipment Co-op and the Canadian Rivers Network.

Angelo, an Order of Canada recipient and head of BCIT's fish, wildlife, and recreation department, says the chair of the Senate finance committee, Senator Joseph Day, and several other senators have "publicly expressed their concern about the proposed changes to the NWPA, which is encouraging.

"Consequently, we're now starting a major campaign to encourage the Senate to withdraw section 7 of the budget, which includes the NWPA amendments.

"It's also important to note that the withdrawal of this one section would not delay or jeopardize the implementation of the rest of the budget in any way."

Angelo said staff in Senator Larry Campbell's office "told me they have been receiving hundreds of calls, e-mails and faxes a day from Canadians expressing their concern about proposed changes to the NWPA."

Angelo argued the changes would create a tiered system of waterways, granting government the discretionary authority to identify those waterways deemed worthy of federal protection. They also threaten to limit navigation rights, while reducing the number of environmental assessments and the assurance of an open and accountable public approval process.

Major infrastructure projects in B.C. that cross streams and rivers could be affected by the change, as well as run-of-river hydro developments affecting fish-bearing streams.

"The protection of navigation rights has historically also served to protect environmental values," Angelo said in an interview. "The protection of one helps the other."

The bill was tabled Jan. 27 and received first reading Feb. 6, although the full ramifications of the changes were not immediately appreciated. It passed the House of Commons last week.

Transport Minister John Baird argues the changes are intended to remove an antiquated regulatory burden from developers and governments for "shovel-ready" projects to stimulate the economy.

The B.C. government has asked that the existing act be repealed and replaced by legislation that reduces regulatory barriers to fast-tracking infrastructure projects.

"If the act needs updating, let's come together and do it through public consultation in an open and transparent manner," Angelo said in response.

The proposed changes would allow, in part, the minister to "establish classes of works or navigable waters" and "impose any terms and conditions with respect to the placement, construction, maintenance, operation, safety, use and removal of those classes of works or works that are built or placed in, on, over, under, through or across those classes of navigable waters."

The minister would have to review the changes and issue a report within five years.

Vancouver-based Mountain Equipment Co-op, boasting more than one million members, said Canada's "waterways are under threat" from the proposed amendments, which would "limit Canadians' right to navigate and access our waterways and subject many of them to development without review or public consultation."

The Canadian Rivers Network expressed "very serious concerns about the complete lack of public consultation" on the amendments. "We understand that it is important to initiate infrastructure projects to stimulate the economy. But we should not use that as an opportunity to deconstruct safeguards put in place to protect Canada's environment."

Angelo said the groups opposing the changes include outdoor recreationists, conservation organizations, community groups, first nations, the commercial recreation sector, river advocates, paddlers and fishermen.

 

[The Fish Assassin]

quote:...if it passes say good bye to r

Damb I always liked "r".. this will make it ha d to spell ce tain wo ds.

Take only what you need.

 

[fishingbc]

quote:Originally posted by wolf

Subject: For immediate release: BC Wildlife Federation on the Navigable Waters Act.





BC Wildlife Federation Concerned With Amendments To Navigable Waters Protection Act

The BC Wildlife Federation adamantly opposes amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) as included in the Budget Implementation Act, Bill C-10.

Canada’s Navigable Waters Protection Act was originally passed in 1882 with the intent of recognizing the common right of access to and free passage on public waterways. Bill C-10 makes unacceptable changes to that legislation.

The proposed changes will:

1. Eliminate environmental assessments, with few exceptions, for development projects on Canadian waterways.

2. Allow Canada’s rivers to be separated into those that are worth protecting and those that can be exploited.

3. Those classifications can be determined secretly within cabinet with no public consultation, no basis in science and no opportunity for any appeal.

4. Ensure that these decisions will most certainly be made based on political expediency rather than on scientific or long-term social and environmental considerations.

Enabling the government to declare previously protected waterways as non-navigable also has other ramifications for the resource.

If a waterway is designated as navigable the bed of the waterway is considered to be crown property. Designating the waterway as non-navigable will enable the bed to pass to private ownership. From this flows the further concern that private ownership of the waterways bed implies private ownership of the fishery.

If the federal government honestly believes that the NWPA needs updating, the BCWF urges Prime Minister Harper to remove the amendments from Bill C-10 and hold transparent and meaningful public discussions on the legislation across Canada.

Regardless, the government must:

1. Restore the existing environmental assessment requirements,

2. Remove the Minister’s discretion on major construction projects as listed in the legislation, specifically dams, causeways, bridges and booms.

3. Remove the power of government to arbitrarily divide Canada’s rivers into those considered ‘worthwhile’ and those that are somehow less valuable.

The public right to free passage on public waterways goes directly back to the signing in 1215 of the Magna Carta and it has been the federal government’s mandate to protect that right.

With their intent to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act, the federal government appears to be putting Canadians on notice that they are now willing to abrogate that responsibility. The Federation cannot believe this government is prepared to destroy the birthright of all Canadians under the pretext of a stimulus package.

The amendments to the Navigable Water Protection Act, as included in Bill C-10, ensures the loss of adequate environmental protection and public access to navigable waterways that is a part of our Canadian heritage.

The BCWF urges all Canadians to contact their MPs and Senators and demand they remove the Navigable Waters Protection amendments from Bill C-10.

For further information contact Patti MacAhonic, Executive Director of the BCWF at 604-291-9990 extension 230 or mailtoatti@bcwf.bc.ca

The BCWF is a province-wide voluntary conservation organization representing over 30,000 British Columbian members whose aims are to protect, enhance and promote the wise use of the environment for the benefit of present and future generations.

The B.C. Wildlife Federation was incorporated under the B.C. Societies Act in 1951 and it became a registered charity in 1969. The Federation is British Columbia’s largest and oldest conservation organization.


-30-



Marlene Kuyt

Admin Assistant

101-3060 Norland Ave

Burnaby, BC V5B 3A6

www.bcwf.bc.ca

officeinfo@bcwf.bc.ca

PH: 604-291-9990 ext 221

Toll Free: 1-888-881-BCWF (2293)



Blue Wolf Charters
www.bluewolfcharters.com

All you have to do is look at the ^&%$#*&^ scallop farm sitting off the Qualicum Bay/Bowser shoreline to see what these bozo's have up there sleeves....many groups (15-20) including BCWF fought this piece of Sh*&^%t for four years requesting an environmental review while Island Scallops stock piled the miles of line, anchors, purchased two large boats etc etc knowing full well that this back room deal was going forward regardless of who spoke out against it....this move is just to shore up any loose up ends that came to light during this fight and the run of the river battle now going on.....