Canada
Needed a Lighthouse Protection
Act
History of Canadian Lighthouse Legislation
Heritage lighthouse legislation has been almost ten years in the
making. The Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society (NSLPS)
established a Lighthouse Protection Act Committee in the year 2000. A
Private Member’s bill that originated in the Senate to protect heritage
lighthouses was first introduced in April of 2000 as Bill S-21, and
subsequently as Bill S-43 (May 2002), Bill S-7 (October 2002), Bill S-5
(February 2004), Bill S-14 (October 2004), Bill S-220 (October
2006), and finally Bill S-215 (October 2007).
This legislation originated in 2000 with Senator Michael Forrestall of
Nova Scotia. Senator Pat Carney of British Columbia worked with Senator
Forestall to have this legislation enacted, until his death in June of
2006 and reintroduced the Bill as S-220 in October 2006. On May 7,
2008, Bill S-215 received 3rd reading in the Senate and passed on for
Royal Assent.
The
Campaign for the Act, 2006 - 2008
Bill S-220 (October
2006)
In
December, 2006, the "Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, Bill S-220",
was given third and final reading in the Senate of Canada. This was
once again accomplished under the leadership of Senator Pat Carney. The
Bill was then introduced in the House of Commons by South Shore/ St.
Margarets MP, Gerald Keddy. In March, 2007, the Bill was given second
reading and referred to Committee, where amendments were proposed.
These amendments were under study when Parliament rose for summer
break.
Bill S215
introduced in the Senate, October, 2007.
In
February, 2007, NSLPS President Barry MacDonald attended a conference
in Victoria, BC, sponsored by the Heritage Canada Foundation. Along
with Senator Pat Carney, Barry gave a presentation titled "Canada's
Lighthouses, Rich History - Uncertain Future" which pointed out the
need for legislation to protect our lighthouses. This was followed by
similar talks in Vancouver and St. John's, NL.This effort by Barry,
which lead to national interest in teh egislation was animportant
factor in tis passage in 2008.
March 12, 2008: Mr. Larry
Miller, Member of Parliament for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound moves referral
of the Act to Committee
The
Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act has been debated in the Parliament
of Canada since the year 2000, in both the Senate and the House of
Commons. Most recently it has been, introduced in the House of Commons
as Bill S-215. It passed Second Reading the evening of March 11, 2008.
Mr. Larry Miller, Member of Parliament for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, moved
that “Bill
S-215, An Act to protect heritage lighthouses, be read the second time
and referred to a committee.”
This
is
the seventh time that the bill has been debated. Barry MacDonald,
President of NSLPS, reports that there is now a real movement toward
getting it passed as soon as possible It will be discussed in the
Standing Committee for Fisheries and Oceans in April, and after that
will go back to the Commons for Third and Final Reading.
Here is
some of what Mr. Miller said about the Bill S-215:
Mr.
Speaker, it is a great pleasure to rise in the House today to speak to
Bill S-215, An Act to protect heritage lighthouses.
As we
know, this initiative has been before us several times previously and
has always received broad support. In fact, this is the seventh edition
of this bill since 2000. I am proud to sponsor this bill in the House .
. .
This bill
would provide for the designation of heritage lighthouses to require
that they be reasonably maintained to prevent unauthorized alteration
or disposal and to facilitate the sale or transfer of heritage
lighthouses. We can all appreciate the role that lighthouses have
played in shaping Canada's history since the 18th century on Canada's
coasts, along the St. Lawrence River and on the Great Lakes.
Lighthouses
have long shaped the history and economic development of this country.
These majestic structures have helped to open key transportation
corridors into the heartland of central Canada and the markets of our
neighbours to the south.
What
makes lighthouses so special and memorable? Perhaps it is because they
represent where we have come from as a people and a nation. They stand
as unwavering proud and unique symbols of our maritime history.
If we
look closely, it is hard not to imagine lighthouse keepers in their
lonely outposts, protecting our mariners as they strove to steer their
vessels safely through rough waters in fog and darkness. For those
mariners, the glowing, steady beam of the lighthouse shining from the
shore must have instilled a sense of relief, a sense that they had made
it, and that their lives and their cargo were safe.
The
full text of the debate may be downloaded in PDF Format by clicking
here.
APRIL 28, 2008:
The Act to
Protect Heritage Lighthouses, Bill S215, has been discussed in the
Standing Committee for Fisheries and Oceans, and referred back to the
House of Commons for third and final reading. Final
reading of the bill will take place on May 1. Presuming it
passes this reading, it then goes back to the Senate for final reading
there. Upon successful passage it can be signed into law.
May
1st, 2008
The Heritage
Lighthouse Protection Act has passed final reading in the Canadian
Commons and is headed for the Canadian Senate.
May 9, 2008
Bill S-215, an
Act to Protect Heritage Lighthouses, passed third and final reading in
the Canadian Senate on May 7, 2008. It now remains for the Governor
general to sign this act into law.
May 29, 2008
Bill S-215 signed into law.
Last
modified July 14, 2007, after passage of the Act, by the Nova
Scotia Lighthouse
Preservation
Society
Feel free to reproduce this as long
as credit is given to the society.
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