Dominion Water Power Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. W-4).

Dominion water-powers in this Act means any energy of whatever form or nature contained in or capable of being produced or generated from any flowing or falling water in such quantity as to make it of commercial value on public lands, that is the property of Canada and have been or may be placed under the control and management of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The property in, and the right to the use of, all Dominion water-powers are hereby declared to be vested in the Crown, except any rights of were granted by the Crown before 1919. Public lands: (a) on or within which there is water-power, (b) required for the protection of any water-power, or (c) required for the purposes of any undertaking, and the water-powers and waters thereon, shall not be open to entry, and except as otherwise provided in this Act, no interest therein shall be leased or otherwise granted or conveyed by the Crown (sect. 5). The Governor in Council may direct the Minister to expropriate lands necessary for creating, protecting or developing any water-power under sections 6 to 8. Section 9 provides for joint development of water-powers. For the purposes of this Act, all investigations and surveys and all undertakings shall be under the direction of a duly qualified officer to be designated the Director of Water-Power.