Many thanks to Jeff McColl for all his hard work. His input on behalf of the WCA was acknowledged in the Study of the Navigation Protection Act (attached). Hopefully this input along with the input of other stakeholders will improve the NPA and return protection of all waterways.
Groups representing recreational users expressed concerns about the NPA’s narrow scope, for example, Mr. Greg Farrant, spokesperson for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) told the Committee that the hunting, fishing, trapping and outfitting industries in Canada provide $15.2 billion annually to the national economy, but that much of this money depends on ensuring access to Canada’s lakes, rivers and streams, most of which is on unscheduled waters.The Wilderness Canoe Association, in a submission, suggested that even minor waters deserve protection under the Act because even minor waters can provide significant recreational value and once obstructed, there is little chance that they will again be navigable.