"Threats to the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site."

1.) An attempt to sell the Rideau Canal in 1964.

2.) "Parks Canada to look at divesting highways, bridges and dams. Cash-strapped agency examines whether to sell or divest non-heritage assets worth $8.3 Billion dollars." by Dean Beeby, CBC News, August 26, 2017. The highways, roads, bridges, dams, culverts and railway tracks are located in Canada's National Parks.

Parks Canada believes that the Rideau, Chambly, Lachine and Trent Severn canals do not have any heritage value. The United Nations would disagree with that assessment---the Rideau Canal was honoured by a UN agency called UNESCO. Parks Canada was willing to sell all the infrastructure on the waterway, including bridges, dams, locks, etc.

3.) Redevelopment on land that is adjacent to the site.

4.) The designation UNESCO World Heritage Site will be removed from the waterway if the following projects go ahead:

• The new Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus.
• The Chateau Laurier proposed expansion. (Ottawa)
• The Rideau Marina redevelopment. (Kingston)  
• Highway 417 bridge rehabilitation (Ottawa)
• Rideau Canal Crossing pedestrian bridge (Ottawa)
• Third Bridge Crossing (Kingston) (Note: it proceeded.)
• Former Davis Tannery Brownfield Site Redevelopment (Kingston)
• Various Federal Infrastructure Investment Program projects along the length of the Rideau Canal World Heritage property. (Google: "State of Conservation Report, Rideau Canal, May 2018.)

5.) Parks Canada told UNESCO that the department does not have the staff and money to prevent inappropriate use on or near the Rideau Canal:

• Given the number of planning and development applications and limited staff and resources, Parks Canada has a limited capacity to participate in the review and comment on municipal plans and development activities.
• There are insufficient resources to educate or consult with landowners, developers and municipalities on their role in protecting the heritage values of the Canal and the use of guidelines for waterfront development. (The letter from Parks Canada is much longer, Google: SAVE OUR RIDEAU. Parks Canada reply to UNESCO Letter of Concern - 2019-11-04.)

House of Commons Ottawa February 19, 2007 Mr. Gord Brown (Leeds-Grenville) CPC: "Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that I am speaking about the Rideau Canal on Heritage Day...It encompasses many communities, all with unique heritage: Seeley's Bay, Newboro, Westport, Portland, Perth, Rideau Ferry, Smiths Falls, Merrickville. Kemptville and Manotick. It is a heritage river, a national historic site and hopefully, will soon be a World Heritage Site."

House of Commons Ottawa June 1, 1994 Mr. Jim Jordan (Leeds-Grenville): "...The Canal offers 202 kilometers of clear, pristine waters through a total of 47 locks."