Just a few weeks ago in mid-late October, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) took up detailed consideration of Bill C-323. This is the private member’s bill we’ve been following that would provide income tax incentives for heritage property.[1]
We’ve been following Bill C-323 — legislation to provide income tax incentives for heritage property, which has been referred to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development but not yet taken up.[1]
Presumably in part to give them context for the coming Bill C-323 debate, the committee is currently in the midst of a milestone study on “Heritage Preservation and Protection in Canada.”
The aesthetic value of a ruin is pretty obvious (or, depending on the observer, it isn’t). What about its historical value?
Run-down, collapsed building in field
We’re ruminating on ruins, exploring the meaning and value of Ontario’s ruined structures.
Stone bridge
Did I ever tell you about my passion for ruins?
A recent decision by the Conservation Review Board helps elucidate one of the criteria for heritage designation.
In Lambeth Health Organization Inc. v. London (City), issued on March 1, 2017, the Board had to decide whether a 1925 former school building in the community of Lambeth, now part of the City of London, met the criteria for designation in O. Reg. 9/06. [1]
On the eve of the country’s and province’s 150th anniversary, a look back to two historic achievements associated with our last big national bash.
In case you missed it… on May 30, 2017 Minister of Municipal Affairs Bill Mauro introduced the government’s long-anticipated changes to the Ontario Municipal Board. Bill 139, the Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017, combines OMB/planning system-related changes and changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, which has also been under review. [1]
The province says: “If passed, the proposed legislation would overhaul the province’s land use planning appeal system.”
Ka-boom! Another heritage building bites the dust.
It’s been over ten years now since the last major amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act in 2005-06.
I am sometimes asked what new changes should be made to the Act. Well, there are a few...
Let’s start with an easy one.
The OHA should be amended to remove the reference to “[Indian] bands” in the definition of municipality. This reference is outdated and unnecessary — not to mention culturally insensitive, or worse.
Specifically, section 2 of the OHA defines “municipality” as follows: