On April 19, 2021 the federal budget was released and Heritage Ottawa was pleased to see major funding protecting Canada’s historic places.
The Budget proposes to provide $28.7 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, and $5.8 million ongoing, for the Parks Canada Agency to implement new legislation that, if enacted, would provide for a transparent designation framework as well as the sustainable protection of over 300 federally-owned historic places.
Canada’s failure to have legislation to protect federally-owned historic places has hampered our country’s built-heritage preservation. Heritage Ottawa has long advocated for this legislation. In a letter to Parks Canada following Heritage Ottawa’s participation in the Minister’s Round Table 2020: Cultural Heritage last October from President Richard Belliveau, Heritage Ottawa reminded the agency that Canada is the only G-7 country that lacks legislation and effective regulatory protection for its nationally-significant sites. “It is astonishing that there is no legislative protection for Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site, or any other national historic site,” wrote Mr. Belliveau.
Heritage Ottawa is pleased and relieved that the Federal Government is at last taking some action.
Related Reading:
Will Parliament Finally Accept Historic Sites in Law? | Heritage Ottawa, August 6, 2019
In Support of Federal Protection for Canada's National Historic Sites | Heritage Ottawa, March 18, 2021