Federal regulationCanada Gazette, Part IComment Period Closed

GI-2026-12-reg3: Regulations Amending the Wildlife Area Regulations and the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations

Sponsoring body: Environment, Dept. of theIntroduced March 21, 2026Checked September 20, 2026

Read the official text on gazette.gc.caOfficial version — Canada Gazette, Part I

Latest development

Enacted as SOR/2026-200.

Now enacted as SOR/2026-200. This proposal has become law — the page below reflects the version published for comment.

What this regulation does

This regulation designates 56.3 hectares of six Nova Scotia islands (Big Fish Island, Green Island, Guyon Island, Hog Island, Three Top Island, and Whitehead Island) as the Atlantic Archipelago National Wildlife Area, prohibiting entry and a broad range of activities without a permit to protect migratory birds, species at risk, and their habitats.

Plain-language summary by Legisail — not legal advice.

Business impact

Compliance

The government explicitly confirms there are no known economic activities currently taking place within the boundaries of the proposed NWA, and no small businesses are expected to operate there. As a result, the regulation imposes no compliance costs, administrative burden, or operational changes on any Canadian business. Researchers who previously needed a DFO licence agreement to access the islands will now need an NWA permit instead, but the government considers this an equivalent process with no incremental cost. The one-for-one rule does not apply because there is no business impact whatsoever.

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Where this regulation is

Proposed

Comment period closed

Final publicationPending

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At a glance

Gazette reference: GI-2026-12-reg3
Comment deadline: April 20, 2026
Jurisdiction: Federal

Official record