Canada’s historic places are a source of pride for Canadians. They are part of our collective history and a legacy that we pass on from generation to generation.

About 13,000 of these places have received an official heritage designation from various public authorities. They are owned by non-governmental organizations, private owners or federal, provincial, Indigenous or municipal governments.

Many of our historic places are disappearing or under threat. The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development believes the federal government needs to take stronger action to preserve Canada’s historic places.

First, the government must take a leadership role to safeguard the heritage character of its own designated buildings if it wants to be recognized as a credible voice on this issue. Departments, agencies and Crown corporations that are custodians of federal heritage buildings should be required to preserve the heritage character of the buildings and places under their stewardship, and resources should be provided to prevent their demolition by neglect. Ideally, this obligation should be entrenched in legislation.

During its study, the Committee learned that Canada is the only G7 country that has not passed legislation to protect historic places and archaeological resources under its jurisdiction. In light of the extensive testimony on this issue, the Committee recommends that the federal government introduce such legislation. This is not a new recommendation. In 2003, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada also recommended that the federal government strengthen the legal framework for built heritage in Canada.

The government must also show leadership and support Canadians’ efforts to preserve the national historic places and heritage buildings they own. For this, the government must give priority to existing and heritage buildings when it leases or buys real estate. It must also expand the range of financial tools available to owners of heritage places.

Parks Canada’s National Cost-Sharing Program for Heritage Places is the main program providing financial support to owners and lessees of national historic sites, heritage lighthouses and heritage railway stations that do not belong to the federal government. During our study, a number of witnesses reported that organizations’ needs greatly exceed the funding available. To correct the problem, the Committee recommends that the annual funding for the National Cost-Sharing Program for Heritage Places be set at a minimum of $10 million.

Philanthropy is another option to consider. The federal government could offer to match the amounts contributed by individuals and businesses to charitable organizations that undertake projects to renovate heritage places.

The Committee also sought to identify the best way to encourage businesses to invest in restoring historic buildings. Multiple witnesses praised the American federal government’s tax credit program for historic buildings. The Committee believes that introducing a similar tax credit in Canada would attract private investment to preserve and restore historic buildings.

The National Building Code should also be revised to facilitate the preservation of the heritage characteristics of buildings when they are modernized. The federal government could work with the provincial and territorial governments to achieve this goal.

The Committee’s study highlighted the specific issues and challenges facing historic places in rural areas. Because these places are located outside the major urban centres, their owners sometimes have fewer means to draw the necessary financing and attention of public decision-makers to their specific needs. The Committee recommended that Parks Canada review the National Cost-Sharing Program for Heritage Places to determine whether historic places in rural Canada are receiving their fair share of the funding. If not, we recommend making changes to the program to account for their circumstances.

The Committee also examined the issue of preserving Indigenous heritage places. The Committee found that Indigenous peoples define their heritage in a more holistic manner than the Western model. As a result, solutions currently used to protect heritage places must be adapted in order to preserve Indigenous heritage places.

Indigenous peoples must participate in the protection and preservation of places. The Committee recommends that Parks Canada support an Indigenous-led initiative to determine how places that are important to them should be protected and preserved. This initiative would convey the perspective of Indigenous communities on the protection of heritage places to organizations such as the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and its Secretariat, Parks Canada, and other federal government departments and agencies.

Furthermore, the Committee supports closer collaboration between Parks Canada and Indigenous groups. A step in the right direction would be including Indigenous registrars in the Canadian Register of Historic Places in order to improve the process by which Indigenous heritage places are identified and designated.

Finally, the Committee adopts the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action that concern the protection and preservation of Indigenous heritage in Canada. As such, Indigenous peoples must be included on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada so that the Board integrates Indigenous history, heritage values and memory practices into Canada’s national heritage and history. The Committee also believes it is vital to quickly launch a process to commemorate the Indigenous children who never returned to their families, as requested in the Commission’s calls to action 72 to 75.