Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) and Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) have had the opportunity to provide some initial feedback to Transport Canada for the CNWA Legislative Review process which is currently underway (and expected to close in May 2024, details below).
RCA and CKC would like to engage our Members in ensuring they have reviewed the Discussion Paper which can be accessed directly here: Canadian Navigable Waters Act legislative review.
Whether you have had direct experience with the CNWA or have been aware of the process impacting your club or PTSO activities, we encourage you to take part in the feedback process.
We have heard that there are two parts to the feedback process. The first is the discussion paper that is mentioned above by which feedback can be provided by sending an email to the email address indicated on the website. This first process is only open for feedback until May 5, 2024. The second is through a questionnaire that will be launched sometime in April and will be open into May (further details to come from Transport Canada). We will forward this to the membership when we receive notification.
Please if you can take the time to provide feedback on your experiences with any of the following:
- Accessibility and enjoyment of water-based recreational activities in your area
- Challenges or barriers encountered in accessing or utilizing navigable waters since the implementation of the Act in 2019
- Any provisions within the Act that you feel could be revised or improved to better support and promote water-based recreational activities
- Gaps or inconsistencies in the Act’s enforcement mechanisms that you believe need to be addressed to better protect the interest or recreational users
- Other items (obstructions encountered while on a navigable water, online registry usage experiences, etc)
RCA would like to know if you do provide feedback on the discussion paper or through the questionnaire if you are open to including us in your response so we can ensure to capture all feedback for future reference in discussions with Transport Canada.
Action items and dates are summarized below. Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.
Feedback on the Discussion Paper for the CNWA Legislative Review
- Deadline: May 5, 2024
- Website is here: LINK
- Email your feedback to the email provided on the link above and please copy RCA on your responses (optional but encouraged).
CNWA Questionnaire
- Deadline: May 2024 (TBC)
- Transport Canada will launch a questionnaire in April. RCA will forward details when received, but the same link as above (and here) will likely be used to share the questionnaire when launched.