FederalBill S-216In committee — Senate

Bill S-216: Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System Act

Sponsor: Sen. Jim QuinnIntroduced May 28, 2025Last checked August 30, 2026

Read the official text on parl.caOfficial version — LEGISinfo, Parliament of Canada

What this bill does

This bill declares the Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System (a dyke, aboiteau, and breakwater network spanning parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) to be a work for the general advantage of Canada, bringing it under federal jurisdiction and enabling federal involvement in its design, construction, and operation to protect a critical interprovincial trade corridor from climate change impacts.

Plain-language summary by Legisail.

Business impact

Compliance

This bill most directly affects businesses operating along the Chignecto Isthmus corridor between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick — including trucking and freight companies, rail operators, agricultural producers farming marshland protected by the dyke system, and construction and engineering firms that may be contracted for the dyke system's design and construction. Businesses of all sizes that rely on the Trans-Canada Highway or rail links through this corridor for interprovincial shipping could be affected by construction activities or benefit from long-term flood protection. Construction contractors and engineering firms may see significant procurement opportunities through federal agreements. The emergency exemption provisions could accelerate construction timelines, affecting how environmental and permitting consultants engage with projects in the area.

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Where this bill is

First ReadingMay 28, 2025