CPAWS Calls on Finance Minister to Remove Non-Budget Items from the Budget Implementation Act

Ottawa – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is issuing a last call for government to remove controversial changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act from the Budget Implementation bill.  The Bill has passed second reading in the Senate and has now been referred to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance.  

Jay Morrison, a spokesman for CPAWS said, “The best way to pass the bill quickly is to remove the parts that don’t have anything to do with the stimulus package.  There’s been too little consultation with the public or with First Nations for the Senate to approve these amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act without further study, and that will take time.”  

The people of Canada have explored the country\'s wilderness by canoe and kayak since before the country was born.  And for over a century, The Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) has protected rivers, streams and creeks from development projects that impact the environment and obstruct navigation. 
 
The proposed changes to the Act would erode the protection of unobstructed navigation on rivers, creeks and streams. In addition, we believe the changes threaten the protection of Canada\'s waterways from the environmental impacts of proposed developments.

CPAWS believes in the right to paddle and the importance of protecting all waterways in Canada from industrial impacts.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is Canada\'s pre-eminent, national community-based voice for public wilderness protection.

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Available for Comment
Jay Morrison is available for comment and can be reached through 
Jill Sturdy, CPAWS
613 569 7226, ext. 232
613 276 7226 (cell)
jsturdy@cpaws.org