Conservative MP tables Heritage-friendly private bill
By Contributor
On December 6, Peter van Loan, Conservative critic for Canadian Heritage and National Historic Sites, introduced a Private Member’s Bill for the rehabilitation of historic buildings in Canada. Designed to support those who invest in our cultural heritage, this Bill will have the potential to encourage rehabilitation of properties in the Canadian Register of Historic Places.
In a press release, Mr. van Loan said, “By maintaining historic buildings and undertaking costly heritage renovations, citizens undertake a considerable private burden from which we all benefit, through the preservation of our past. This Bill seeks, in a small way, to provide some support for them for the considerable investment they make on behalf of all of us by restoring their heritage properties.”
“This is good news,” says Jenifer Iredale, Heritage BC director. “The heritage community in Canada has been asking for years for a tax credit such as that in the US – to encourage owners of heritage buildings to rehabilitate rather than demolish. Tax credits in the US have been critical to preservation, rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of historic buildings there. A tax credit in Canada would be nothing less than brilliant!”
Heritage BC will be working closely with the National Trust, as we collaborate on a national campaign to build awareness for this important issue and work toward the successful adoption of this much-needed tax credit.
Private bills rarely succeed. Will this be one of the successes?
