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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 This reference is outdated and unnecessary — not to mention culturally insensitive, or worse.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:

Near St. Mary's, Ontario

A bit of good news for those concerned about our rural heritage.

The legislation we’ve been following, private member’s Bill C-323, is headed to committee!  But it’s uncertain when that will be. The Environment committee is still busy with a major review of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The committee is off the last two weeks of April and only has five weeks in May and early June before rising for summer break.

So it may not happen until fall. In the meantime, we in the heritage community should be thinking hard about what to say to the committee — and who should say it — when they hold public hearings on the bill.

The Speaker:

"I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development."

- Hansard, March 23, 2017

By a vote of 150 to 140, Bill C-323, which would create a tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic properties, passed Second Reading in the House of Commons last Thursday.^[1] Wow!

"Most of those who have grown to know and love our country's history have travelled that path guided by heritage buildings that were the gateways to the stories of the past."

- Peter Van Loan, MP (CPC)

The most interesting heritage discussion in Canada right now is going on in Ottawa — in the House of Commons!

The 1867 Eden Mills Hotel, Eden Mills

Hope y’all are having a great Heritage Week! With Canada/Ontario 150 this year, it’s the perfect time to celebrate achievements and take stock.