After a question period highlighted by sparring over why changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act have appeared in the government’s latest budget implementation bill, Environment Minister Peter Kent emerged from the House of Commons to make a statement to the media.

“Hi, folks,” he began. “There’s been an awful lot of interest over the past summer and fall regarding the operation of our historic canals,” he continued.

This was indeed news to everyone.

He went on.

“The Trent Severn and the Rideau here in Ontario, but our other historic canals in Quebec as well, and I’m delighted to be able to announce today that the 2013 boating season will be a full season as usual from Victoria Day weekend until Thanksgiving.”

Silence. Kent forged ahead.

“I’d just like to thank our Conservative MPs along both the Rideau and the Trent system who have worked so hard this summer with mayors, councillors, residents and businesses along both canals to address some of the operational challenges, some of the financial challenges to enable us to have another full season with all of the recreational and economic benefits that will result.”

He was interrupted here by a reporter.

“As minister of environment, how do you feel that – “

It was Kent’s turn to interrupt.

“Sorry, I’m talking about the canals right now.”

The reporter continued.

“Yeah, but you’re Environment Minister,” the reporter went on. “Thousands of lakes will no longer be protected by Navigable Waters so how do you react as environment minister …”

Kent moved to address that last point.

“Well, that’s not true and I’d like to finish my announcement first about the canals. I’ll talk to you about the navigable waters legislation in a minute” he promised, before turning back to the cameras.

“As I say, I’d like to thank our Conservative MPs for helping us get through this. We’ve spent the last few months managing budgets. There will be some detailed announcements in the coming weeks about some changed hours on the shoulder seasons in the spring and the fall and there will be some long, long-delayed and long-needed adjustments to some of the lockage and moorage fees which haven’t been changed for decades,” Kent finished.

Then he thanked the cameras and turned back to the reporter.

The question came again: “How do you react as environment minister that thousands of lakes are no longer protected by [the] Navigable Waters law?”

Kent disagreed with the premise of the question.

“Well, first of all, I would advise you to look at the legislation,” he said.

“I have, sir,” the reporter replied. “There’s 30,000 lakes in Canada and only 97 of them are listed. So how do you react to that?”

“Well,” Kent said, “your assumption is absolutely false and I’d ask you to – “

The reporter stopped him there.

“What assumption?” she asked. “It’s a list, sir.”

Kent took a more forceful approach.

“I don’t want to speak to my colleague’s file but that’s absolutely false that those … waterways are being put at risk,” he said. “Simply not true.”

So, then, the reporter asked, “what is protecting all those rivers and all these lakes that aren’t in the list? What is protecting them federally now?”

“Follow the debate,” Kent said.

It is unclear as to what he meant by this.

“Follow the debate?” another reporter asked.

Kent was on his way out, though, and wasn’t about to stop to quibble with the details of what he’d just said.

“There’s an awful lot – well, the list is long and detailed – it’s a long conversation but your assumptions are absolutely without foundation,” he continued.

The reporter offered to engage in whatever debate or conversation Kent might have been talking about.

“I’m sure I have the time,” she said.

But he was gone.