The Minister of Transport announces navigation ban and speed limits due to flooding on portions of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers

May 9, 2023               Ottawa                Transport Canada

The safety of Canadians and the transportation system is a priority for the Government of Canada, and in collaboration with its partners, it is closely monitoring the flooding in the affected provinces.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced an Interim Order temporarily prohibiting navigation in specific areas of the Ottawa River due to flood conditions. The Interim Order is intended to ensure the safety of boaters and shoreline residents, to protect temporary infrastructure in place, to avoid damage to property, and to allow emergency responders to do their jobs. Navigation warnings were also issued on May 5, 2023.

Vessels are temporarily prohibited on the Ottawa River:

• From the MacDonald-Cartier Bridge to Rockland
• From Carillon Dam to Pointe-Calumet

A speed limit of 10 km/h (5.4 knots) is also in effect for all recreational vessels in the following areas on the St. Lawrence River:

• Lac des Deux-Montagnes, east of Pointe-Calumet
• Lac Saint-Louis, in its entirety
• Rivière des Prairies, in its entirety

These restrictions do not apply to emergency and support vessels.

The Interim Order empowers law enforcement officers, including Royal Canadian Mounted Police and all provincial and municipal police officers, to order any vessel to stop or leave the area. Violators are subject to fines.

The Interim Order will remain in effect until it is either amended or repealed.