A few months ago, I posted two blogs about the rewriting of the Navigable Waters Protection Act. This is a very serious issue that affects all paddlers across Canada. Transport Canada would like to eliminate developers' obligation to consider impacts on navigation when building dams, bridges, causeways and other invasive structures.
The new law will ignore all whitewater rivers, all seasonal waterways and all vessels with less than a one-metre draft. This is a direct assault on Canada's tradition of river travel and the future health of our waterways by the same people who are supposed to protect both. It is a fundamental breach of public trust.
It was time that a voice was given to paddlers across Canada so a new website was born. I speak for Canadian Rivers was developed to shed light on the issue but it also there to demonstrate that paddlers make use of our Canadian rivers and are willing to speak up for them.

The site has information about the issue, as well as different ways you can participate (if you wish) including an online petition, sample letters to send to your MP and a downloadable "I speak for Canadian Rivers" sign. You can take it to your favourite river, take a photo and send it into the website.

I encourage everyone to visit the site and at least learn what our government is doing with our rivers!