Fisheries Act

Marginal note:Minister may require plans and specifications

• 37 (1) If a person carries on or proposes to carry on any work, undertaking or activity that results or is likely to result in serious harm to fish that are part of a commercial, recreational or Indigenous fishery, or to fish that support such a fishery, or in the deposit of a deleterious substance in water frequented by fish or in any place under any conditions where that deleterious substance or any other deleterious substance that results from the deposit of that deleterious substance may enter any such waters, the person shall, on the request of the Minister — or without request in the manner and circumstances prescribed by regulations made under paragraph (3)(a) — provide the Minister with any plans, specifications, studies, procedures, schedules, analyses, samples, evaluations and other information relating to the work, undertaking or activity, or to the water, place or fish habitat that is or is likely to be affected by the work, undertaking or activity, that will enable the Minister to determine

  • (a) whether the work, undertaking or activity results or is likely to result in any serious harm to fish that are part of a commercial, recreational or Indigenous fishery, or to fish that support such a fishery, that constitutes or would constitute an offence under subsection 40(1) and what measures, if any, would prevent that result or mitigate its effects; or

  • (b) whether there is or is likely to be a deposit of a deleterious substance by reason of the work, undertaking or activity that constitutes or would constitute an offence under subsection 40(2) and what measures, if any, would prevent that deposit or mitigate its effects.

• Marginal note:Ecologically significant areas

  (1.1) If a person proposes to carry on any work, undertaking or activity in any ecologically significant area, the person shall, on the request of the minister — or without request in the manner and circumstances prescribed by regulations made under paragraph (3)(a) — provide the Minister with any prescribed material and other information relating to the work, undertaking or activity, or to the water, place or fish habitat that is or is likely to be affected by the work, undertaking or activity.

• Marginal note:Powers of Minister

  (2) If, after reviewing any material or information provided under subsection (1) or (1.1) and affording the persons who provided it a reasonable opportunity to make representations, the Minister or a person designated by the Minister is of the opinion that an offence under subsection 40(1) or (2) is being or is likely to be committed, or that the work, undertaking or activity results or is likely to result in harm to fish in an ecologically significant area, the Minister or the designated person may, by order, subject to regulations made under paragraph (3)(b),

  • (a) require any modifications or additions to the work, undertaking or activity or any modifications to any plans, specifications, procedures or schedules relating to it that the Minister or the designated person considers necessary in the circumstances, or

  • (b) restrict the carrying on of the work, undertaking or activity.

  The Minister or the designated person may also direct the closing of the work or undertaking or the ending of the activity for any period that the Minister or the designated person considers necessary in the circumstances.

• Marginal note:Regulations

  (3) The Governor in Council may make regulations

  • (a) prescribing the manner and circumstances in which any information or material shall be provided to the Minister without request under subsection (1) or (1.1);

  • (b) prescribing the manner and circumstances in which the Minister or a person designated by the Minister may make orders under subsection (2) and the terms of the orders; and

  • (c) defining ecologically significant area for the purposes of subsection (1.1).

• Marginal note:Consultation with provinces

  (4) Where the Minister or a person designated by the Minister proposes to make an order pursuant to subsection (2), he shall offer to consult with the governments of any provinces that he considers to be interested in the proposed order and with any departments or agencies of the Government of Canada that he considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (5) Nothing in subsection (4) prevents the Minister or a person designated by the Minister from making an interim order pursuant to subsection (2) without the offer of consultation referred to in subsection (4) where he considers that immediate action is necessary.