Part IIFinal RegulationPublished: March 17, 2021

Assessable Activities: Navigation and Wrecks Update

Regulations Amending the Assessable Activities, Exceptions and Executive Committee Projects Regulations (Miscellaneous Program): SOR/2021-27

These final regulations update items 5–7 of Part 9 of Schedule 1 to the Assessable Activities, Exceptions and Executive Committee Projects Regulations under the Yukon Environmental and Socio‑Economic Assessment Act to refer to current federal navigation and wreck laws. The amendments were registered and came into force on 2021-02-26 and are described as an administrative clarification that does not create new costs for businesses.

Published
March 17, 2021
Department
Unavailable
Section
YUKON ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT ACT
Comment deadline
Unavailable
Effective date
February 26, 2021
Publication part
Part II

Summary

Summary#

These are final regulations that update wording in the Assessable Activities, Exceptions and Executive Committee Projects Regulations under the Yukon Environmental and Socio‑Economic Assessment Act. They replace the descriptions for items 5 to 7 in Schedule 1 so the regulation refers to newer federal navigation and wreck laws. The regulations were registered on February 26, 2021 and came into force that day.

What it does#

  • Replaces the text for items 5 to 7 of Part 9 of Schedule 1 so those assessable activities refer to current federal laws.
  • Specifically the changes reference the Canadian Navigable Waters Act for:
    • construction, installation, operation, modification, decommissioning or abandonment of a work (other than a bridge) in navigable water;
    • repair, removal or similar work on obstructions or wrecks identified under that Act.
  • And they reference the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act for:
    • repair, removal, disposal or taking possession of vessels, wrecks or dilapidated vessels and their contents under that Act.

Who's affected#

  • People and companies planning or carrying out works in or over navigable waters in Yukon (for example, construction or removal activities).
  • Salvage, removal or vessel‑maintenance operators who deal with wrecks or abandoned vessels.
  • People who prepare or review Yukon environmental and socio‑economic assessment filings (they will see the updated legal references).
  • The change is mainly a clarification. The source says it does not create new costs for businesses or small businesses.

Why it matters#

  • The update replaces outdated references with the current federal navigation and wreck laws so the regulations match the laws that are actually in force.
  • That reduces confusion about which federal rules apply when deciding if a Yukon assessment is required for work on navigable waters or wrecked vessels.
  • According to the government, this is an administrative clarification rather than a change in which projects are assessable.

Key topics

Yukon Environmental and Socio‑Economic Assessment ActAssessable Activities, Exceptions and Executive Committee Projects RegulationsCanadian Navigable Waters ActWrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Actnavigable watersvessel salvageenvironmental assessmentassessable activitiesCrown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs CanadaStanding Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of RegulationsNatural Resources and Environment Branchregulatory update

Source: Canada Gazette

Official source