Preservation of the Rideau Canal.

 House of Commons Ottawa November 27, 1964 Mr. Ralph Cowan, Liberal: "Many years ago the federal government built the Rideau Canal. I was born on the banks of the Rideau and I was raised on the banks of the Trent in Peterborough. These two canals were built at government expense. A commission recommends that they should be sold, or turned over to the province of Ontario as tourist attractions because they are of no future value to the federal government..."

House of Commons Ottawa February 9, 1966 Mr. Hopkins: "What steps have been taken by the government to preserve the unoccupied lands adjacent to the Rideau system and to prevent pollution of the waters and despoliation of the area by indiscriminate land speculation?"

Mr. J.A. Byrne (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport): "For several years the Department of Transport has withheld action on disposal of any substantial parcels of federal lands owned by that department adjacent to the Rideau system which might be suitable for general public recreational development...The problem of pollution referred to would appear to be a matter within the jurisdiction of the provincial government."

House of Commons Ottawa June 1, 1950 Mr. George Taylor Fulford (Leeds) Liberal: "...The great chain of Rideau lakes form an integral part of the Rideau Canal system. As we all know, the Rideau Canal is of particular historic importance. It was built after the War of 1812 by British army engineers. There was a rather quaint treaty signed between Great Britain and Canada when the canal system was handed over to Canada. One of the clauses of the treaty said that Canada would maintain the canal system as long as the grass was green and the skies were blue above. In that respect the canal is being well maintained."

 Provincial Public Works and Property to be the Property of Canada, page 36/37: The Rideau Canal cannot be sold by virtue of the B.N.A. Act of 1867: "The Government of Canada will own Canals, with Lands and Water connected therewith."

. The waterway is also protected by the following designations:

• Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada
• Department of Transport Act of 1985.

Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital, Ground lease agreement 2018, page 10/70: "Surrounding Space" means the lands abutting or lying beside and around the Lands (which includes without limitation HMCS Carleton, Carling Avenue, Preston Street, Prince of Wales and the AAFC or Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Lands.)