JUNE 17, 2008

End of right to navigate waterways?

The right of navigation stands in the way of a dam between Lake Temagami and Cross Lake. No one is proposing such a dam, but that right would be an vital shield if it was.

The right of navigation, whether by motorboat, jet ski or canoe, exists on every waterway in Canada and is enshrined in the federal Navigable Waters Protection Act. Now a parliamentary committee proposes to take it away. It released a report calling for an end to the ancient right on minor waterways.

During committee discussion, minor waterways were said to be any river or stream that was only used by recreational watercraft, or could only support boats with less than a metre draft — these are large boats. Canoeists, hunters, anglers, whitewater rafters, kayakers, cottagers, motorboaters, and houseboat vacationers navigate minor waterways.

The act requires strict attention to navigation for any construction over, under or through a waterway. In Temagami, it has kept logging roads from blocking our rivers.

Canada was explored, settled, and developed by river travel and before that it supported aboriginals for thousands of years. With roots in Roman law, navigation grew into Canadian common law.

As modern industrial use encroached on waterways it became necessary to guarantee the protection and sort out conflict. It was enacted in legislation as the NWPA in 1882.

The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the House of Commons wants to change the act to reduce the approvals that municipalities and industries must obtain in building, or simply maintaining, structures across rivers.

Skeggs agrees some procedural changes to the old act's requirements are good, but he is angry at the attempt to revoke navigation rights and the effort to undermine opposition to it.

The recreational community was kept in the dark over the hearings held by the committee between February and May. Only two recreation groups received invitations to participate, and only as the hearings were winding up.

Skeggs saves his strongest criticism for one man.

"The national manager for the Navigable Waters Protection Program [David Osbaldeston] is responsible for protecting my navigation rights as a Canadian citizen, my right to pick up a canoe and put it onto any stream, river, or creek. That is his job one."

"What is that guy doing going before a Parliamentary committee and arguing that we need to take my right to navigate away. That is a breach of public trust of the highest order."

Users are organizing a coalition to fight the changes. Skeggs is calling on the public to write their MPP, Minister of Transport, opposition leaders, and the Prime Minister.

 EXTERNAL LINKS:  Rivers coalition

                             Committee report

                             Navigable Waters Protection Program

JUNE 13, 2008

Gary's back

Obabika Lake access & maps

BACKGROUND:

Alex Mathias

Spirit Rock

The eighth annual Nishnabai ceremony to celebrate the changing of the seasons will be held September 12 to 14 on Obabika Lake.

The Changing of the Seasons ceremony has been growing in popularity since begun by Nishnabai elder Alex Mathias. He is the last Temagami First Nation

member still living on his family's traditional territory.

The unique, non-commercial, remote event is held on a campground on Obabika in the spiritual shadow of Spirit Rock. It is open to aboriginals and non-aboriginals of all ages.

There will be traditional ceremonies, Ojibway stories, potluck feast, sweat lodge, and hiking in the old-growth forest. The ceremonies emphasize the traditional importance of the forest.

Previous participants recalled the inclusiveness of the ceremonies and the closeness that developed among participants.

Participants camp for the weekend at campsites at the north end of Obabika Lake with most arriving in canoes by early Saturday morning. Contributions are sought for Saturday's potluck.

Contact Kim Cowan at kim.cowan@rogers.com