To Whom Does This Apply?

Anyone performing any works, such as construction or repair, on or near navigable waters.

Summary

The Navigable Waters Protection Act ensures the protection of navigable waters in Canada by forbidding works on, in, over, under, through or across navigable waters (which include a canal and any other body of water created or altered as a result of the construction of any work) unless those works have been approved by the Department of Transport.

The term "work" includes:

• any bridge, boom, dam, wharf, dock, pier, tunnel or pipe and the approaches or other works necessary;
• any dumping of fill or excavation of materials from the bed of a navigable water;
• any telegraph or power cable or wire; or
• any structure, device or thing that may interfere with navigation.

The Navigable Waters Works Regulations specify the requirements for works in and around navigable waters, and include:

• duration of approval;
• buoys and marks;
• equipment and debris;
• dams;
• lights; 
• sound signals; and
• fees.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Regional Manager
Navigable Waters Protection Program
Transport Canada
45 Alderney Drive
Queen's Square, 11th floor
P.O. Box 1013
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia  B2Y 4K2
Telephone: 902-426-2726
Fax: 902-426-7585
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-888-675-6863
E-mail: nwpdan@tc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/oep/nwpp/framework.htm

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National Contact(s):
National Manager
Navigable Waters Protection Program
Marine Safety
Transport Canada
Tower C, Place de Ville
330 Sparks Street, 10th floor
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N8
Telephone: 613-990-5929
Fax: 613-998-0637
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-888-675-6863
E-mail: oep@tc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/menu.htm