Barge Spa Update: HAVN Transport Canada application open for comments until Nov 7 , 2026 1:00am PDT
Hello Petition Supporters;
FYI Transport Canada is currently reviewing an application for the "alteration of the Heritage Harbour Marina to facilitate moorage of a HAVN sauna barge". The application can be found at the Common Project Search under file number 2000-500995 or registry number 15419, and comments can be submitted here: https://common-project-search.canada.ca/search-recherche
As per Transport Canada: "Please note that our review is limited to matters within the scope of the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (CNWA). Specifically, our role is to assess whether the proposed work may interfere with navigation and to determine any impacts to the public right of navigation associated with the placement of the work."
Scroll down to the document section of the application where you will find plan drawings of the pilings and some vague details under "unclassified application". The application makes NO MENTION OF DREDGING and does not provide any proof that dredging will not be required, as HAVN still maintains.
https://nwar-rlen.tc.canada.ca/files-dossiers/2000-500995?GoCTemplateCulture=en
"Brief project description: Pile Driving of 8 dolphins and new gangway
Method of construction: In water works
Anticipated impacts: Short Term no interference to navigation
Expected Construction Start Date: 2026-11-18
Expected Construction End Date: m2026-12-09"
Note these above dates - HAVN Sauna expects to begin construction on Nov 18, 12 days after the close of comments. HOWEVER, as of Oct 23 they had not yet received their conditional development permit from the City. How can they possibly begin construction prior to receiving this permit and fulfilling all the conditions?
I emailed the City Planning Dept about this on Oct 23 and asked:
"Surely it should be a condition of their development permit to prove to all parties including Transport Canada and Ocean and Fisheries that dredging will not be required and to make adjustments to their applications if dredging is required and indicate whether there will be any environmental and other impacts, such as to Teetotaler Beach by any required dredging. Also, if they have not yet received their development permit with conditions, how is that they can already have submitted their application to Transport Canada and have specified a start and end date to the piling work? And even if and when they receive permit approval with conditions, surely all the conditions of the permit should be satisfied and final development approval is given before any start date? Are they not jumping the gun?"
I received the following reply from the Planning Dept that same day, Oct 23, 2026:
"The applicants have not yet received a conditional Development Permit, as City staff are still completing their review of the application.
The proposed pile installation would be subject to approval under the Navigable Waters Protection Program administered by Transport Canada and would be undertaken under the regulatory oversight of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. It remains the owner's responsibility to obtain all required approvals, permits, and authorizations from the relevant agencies, and to ensure that all work is carried out in accordance with those approvals and applicable requirements. As noted above, separate City permits and approvals will be required for subsequent dock construction, utility installation, and other works subject to City jurisdiction.
The Development Permit application (DP-2026-00589) is currently under review through the City's permitting processes. Accordingly, should the applicants choose to proceed with any work before a decision has been made on the application, they would do so at their own risk and responsibility. The City has advised the applicants of this."
I provided this information to Transport Canada in my submission and asked: "How is it possible that Transport Canada can assess and approve the HAVN Sauna application prior to HAVN receiving the conditional development permit from the Planning Dept, and without taking into account and considering the likely possibility of dredging?
Another concern is what happens to the swimming beach in the harbour. Dredging requirements could mean the end of this beach as a swimming beach as the swim area could cross over the revised navigation route of the boats coming and going in the harbour, and conflict with the Canadian Navigable Waters Act. (Consider the Jericho Sailing Club beach where swimming is not allowed as an example of not mixing a navigation route and swimming for safety reasons.) Whether or not this will be an issue should also be addressed in the Transport Canada assessment process."
The Transport Canada comment process requires registering. If you're able to figure this out, then please submit your comments before end of day on Nov 6. Remember that their role is "to assess whether the proposed work may interfere with navigation and to determine any impacts to the public right of navigation associated with the placement of the work" .
FYI this petition is now at 2746 signatures. Keep on sharing. The Battle of the Barge is not yet over.
Thanks again for your support
Elvira Lount
"The commenting period is open until November 7, 2026 at 1:00 AM PDT Transport Canada (TC) will not make your comments on a project available to the public on the online public registry. However, any information related to a work is considered as unclassified public record and could be accessible upon legal request. As such, the information and records provided should not contain confidential or sensitive information."