SARM applauds the Federal Government for the introduction of amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act, which were announced today by the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
The new Navigation Protection Act will clearly list major waterways for which regulatory approval is required for construction projects and allow proponents of construction projects in unlisted waters to proceed without approval. SARM has been advocating for years for these changes and is pleased that the government is taking action that will benefit rural municipalities across Saskatchewan.
In recent years municipalities have been required to install larger culverts and bridges to accommodate the passage of canoes and other water craft when constructing roads around all bodies of water; regardless of whether it was a significant navigation route or not.
“Prior to these updates, the Act added unnecessary costs for Saskatchewan rural municipalities and extended timelines to municipal road construction projects that were routine in nature,” says SARM President David Marit. “SARM thanks the federal government for these amendments as they should allow routine municipal road construction projects to proceed without unnecessary costs and delays in the future.”
For more information contact:
David Marit Dale Harvey
President Executive Director
(306) 476-7754 (306) 535-7343
“SARM, the Voice of Rural Saskatchewan”
