HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND THE 2006 ELECTION:
What Heritage Canada Foundation Members Need to Know
Make your voice heard! Find out how you can raise the profile of built heritage issues in the upcoming federal election.
- How you can make a difference
- Key questions for candidates
- What the federal parties are saying about heritage conservation
- Join the Heritage Canada Foundation
- Link to Elections Canada
Make the candidates who are running in your riding aware of the importance of historic places to our communities.
How you can make a difference:
- Engage candidates who come to your door about their own and their party’s commitment to heritage conservation (keep our suggested list of questions handy!)
- Attend your local all-candidates meetings and ask a question
- Initiate direct contact by e-mailing, telephoning, writing or visiting candidates at their election offices – draw them out on heritage conservation issues.
- Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper
- Call a phone-in radio or television show featuring all candidates or other election coverage
Let your candidates know your views on the importance of conserving our heritage buildings and historic places. By raising important questions you will help to increase the political profile of heritage issues.
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Elections 2006 – Questions for political parties
FACT:
Proposed federal tax incentives for rehabilitation of historic buildings would encourage entrepreneurship throughout Canada, improve local economies and contribute to the quality of life in communities large and small.
QUESTION:
Would your Party fully implement and fund the Historic Places Initiative, including tax incentives for commercial built heritage in the private sector (a refundable 20% tax credit and a new capital cost allowance) and funding assistance to third party owners of national historic sites?
FACT:
Many heritage properties in Canada are owned by charitable organizations which, because of their tax status, would be unable to benefit from federal tax incentives. For example, many congregations and not-for-profit agencies face crippling repair costs for culturally significant community landmarks they own.
QUESTION:
Will your Party encourage conservation in the non-profit and charitable sector, through federal government funding to support the conservation of heritage properties owned by churches, historical societies and cultural groups?
FACT:
Canada is the only G8 country without statutory protection of its designated federally owned heritage places.
QUESTIONS:
Would your Party introduce statutory protection for designated federally owned and federally regulated buildings (a component of the Historic Places Initiative)?
Would your Party ensure that the Government of Canada leads by example in the conservation and maintenance of the heritage buildings it owns? For example, will your party give priority to using existing buildings, before resorting to new construction?
Will your party commit to ensuring protection of heritage buildings before they are transferred out of Government ownership, for example, through the use of protective covenants?
FACT:
The Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Cities and Communities identifies culture as one of the four pillars of sustainability. It is the Heritage Canada Foundation's position heritage buildings can be sensitively adapted and retrofitted to meet energy conservation targets.
QUESTION:
How would your Party ensure that protection of cultural heritage integrated into existing or new federal programs designed to promote environmental sustainability? For example, how would your Party ensure that laudable programs such as Energuide accommodate the protection of heritage buildings by their owners?> Back to top of page
What the Federal Parties Are Saying About Heritage Conservation
> Liberal Response
> Conservative Response
> NDP Response
> Bloc Québécois Response
> Green Party Response
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Liberal Response to the Heritage Canada December 2005 Questionnaire
The Liberal government remains committed to the preservation of Canada's building heritage. As stated in the 2004 election, we believe that Canada's historic places represent the soul and spirit of the country, providing tangible economic, environment, social and cultural benefits to our communities. Moreover, the Liberal government is committed to protecting Canada's heritage buildings a legacy for future generations.
The Liberal government is committed to acquiring, using, and disposing of federal buildings in a manner that protects their heritage character. When the existing program use of a heritage building ends, or the building is no longer fully used, government departments must make best efforts to arrange for appropriate alternative uses, first within the department, then within the federal government, then outside of the federal government. Furthermore, departments must take steps to protect the building's heritage character and specify the nature and level of protection in any sale agreement.
A key mechanism for the protection of Canada's built heritage is the Historic Places Initiative. Consultation has been key in the development of the Initiative, involving extensive input from the provinces and territories, municipalities, an Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Members of Parliament, other elected officials, heritage experts and volunteers, archaeologists, planners, government departments, Agencies, Crown Corporations, and a cross-section of other thoughtful and committed Canadians. By the time the Historic Places Initiative is completed:
- Canadians will have built a culture of heritage conservation;
- governments will be working together to achieve common goals;
- Canadians will have the basic tools to protect historic places; and
- The Government of Canada will become a model custodian of historic places
To ensure that these goals are met, the Liberal Government has committed $46 million over the next five years. These funds will further develop critical projections within the Historic Places Initiative, including the Canadian Register of Historic Places, Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places, and the Commercial Heritage Properties Incentive Fund.
A key element of the initiative is the Canadian Register of Historic Places, whose purpose is to identify, promote and celebrate historic places in Canada. Over 20,000 historic buildings are eligible for the registry. Canadian Register listings will eventually include structures and locations as diverse as grain elevators, theatres, churches, gardens, fortresses, archaeological sites and heritage districts, representing the breadth of historic places found in Canada.
The Department of Canadian Heritage has also developed has also developed Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada to provide principles and practices that encourage conservation. The Standards and Guidelines are used by the Government of Canada to guide federal conservation work and to assess projects seeking funding from the Government of Canada's Commercial Heritage Properties Incentive Fund.
The Liberal Government is committed to providing incentives for the rehabilitation
of historic buildings for commercial uses. This can be accomplished through
the Commercial Heritage Properties Incentive Fund, the objective of which is
to engage a broad range of taxable Canadian corporations in preserving Canada's
heritage properties for the benefit of communities throughout Canada. The fund
will provide a tax refund for up to 20 percent of the costs associated with
the rehabilitation project.
The incentive program provides financial incentives to eligible commercial
historic places listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places (provided
that conservation work complies with the Standards & Guidelines for the
Conservation of Historic Places in Canada). Its ultimate goals are to save
threatened historic properties from demolition or destruction; preserve historic
properties for future generations through proper conservation; and develop
new or enhance existing commercial purposes for historic properties within
the community.
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Conservative Response to the Heritage Canada December 2005 Questionnaire
Party has chosen not to respond to date.
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NDP Response to the Heritage Canada December 2005 Questionnaire
The NDP believes museums and heritage institutions have a major role to play in the promotion, discovery and social integration of artists, scholars, and connoisseurs through which they will advance creativity in all Canadians.
FACT:
Proposed federal tax incentives for rehabilitation of historic buildings would encourage entrepreneurship throughout Canada, improve local economies and contribute to the quality of life in communities large and small.
QUESTION:
1. Would your Party fully implement and fund the Historic Places Initiative, including tax incentives for commercial built heritage in the private sector (a refundable 20% tax credit and a new capital cost allowance) and funding assistance to third party owners of national historic sites?
New Democrats believe that rehabilitation of historic buildings encourages entrepreneurship throughout Canada, improves local economies and contributes to the quality of life in communities large and small. New Democrats are open to studying proposals to address these issues with your organization and other stakeholders.
FACT:
Many heritage properties in Canada are owned by charitable organizations which, because of their tax status, would be unable to benefit from federal tax incentives. For example, many congregations and not-for-profit agencies face crippling repair costs for culturally significant community landmarks they own.
QUESTION:
2. Will your Party encourage conservation in the non-profit and charitable sector, through federal government funding to support the conservation of heritage properties owned by churches, historical societies and cultural groups?
The NDP has been active in working to improve conditions for the charity sector. Former NDP Leader and current NDP MP, Ed Broadbent, headed up one such review to help improve the charity sector. We would be interested in pursuing proposals to broaden support for the participation of charitable agencies such us churches, historical societies or cultural groups in public policy debate, including changes to taxation and caps on policy and advocacy. Their have been a number of reviews of the regulatory framework governing charities over the years, but much more needs to be done to help this vital sector better help itself and better help Canada.
FACT:
Canada is the only G8 country without statutory protection of its designated federally owned heritage places.
QUESTIONS:
3. Would your Party introduce statutory protection for designated federally owned and federally regulated buildings (a component of the Historic Places Initiative)?
The development of a national protection strategy will ensure that our collective patrimony is properly cared for and documented. This strategy must reach beyond the museum and heritage community to involve our citizens and non-profit organizations. Canada's NDP is open to investigating these protections with partners and stakeholders like yours.
4. Would your Party ensure that the Government of Canada leads by example in the conservation and maintenance of the heritage buildings it owns? For example, will your party give priority to using existing buildings, before resorting to new construction?
5. Will your party commit to ensuring protection of heritage buildings before they are transferred out of Government ownership, for example, through the use of protective covenants?
4 and 5)
The NDP believes that it's time to stop taking Canada's rich heritage for granted and work to protect our cultural heritage for generations to come.
In Parliament and in committee, New Democrats have been active in advocating the preservation of the built heritage of Canada.
New Democrats believe that Canadians should have a right of full access to their heritage.
The NDP recognizes that a new national policy is a key part of preserving local and regional culture throughout Canada as well as fostering regional economic development.
We believe that the federal, provincial, and municipal governments must work in partnership to ensure that Canadian heritage institutions are viable and solidly funded. They must develop an outreach strategy to involve the full participation of Canadians in the celebration of our culture. Clearly, core f unding must be more stable and predictable and the flat line in spending must be addressed.
FACT:
The Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Cities and Communities identifies culture as one of the four pillars of sustainability. It is the Heritage Canada Foundation's position heritage buildings can be sensitively adapted and retrofitted to meet energy conservation targets.
QUESTION:
6. How would your Party ensure that protection of cultural heritage integrated into existing or new federal programs designed to promote environmental sustainability? For example, how would your Party ensure that laudable programs such as Energuide accommodate the protection of heritage buildings by their owners?The NDP is committed to ensure federal commitments to energy sustainability and we will make sure that such commitment will accommodate the protection of heritage buildings by their owners.
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Bloc Québécois Response to the Heritage Canada December 2005 Questionnaire
Party has chosen not to respond to date.
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Green Party Response to the Heritage Canada December 2005 Questionnaire
Party has chosen not to respond to date.
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Link to Elections Canada
Liberal Party of Canada: http://www.liberal.ca/
Conservative Party of Canada: http://www.conservative.ca/
New Democratic Party of Canada: http://www.ndp.ca/
Bloc Québécois: http://www.blocquebecois.org/fr/default.asp
Green Party of Canada: http://www.greenparty.ca/
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