It’s a sad commentary on our…

It’s a sad commentary on our government that conservation of Ontario’s history is being downgraded. Our past informs our future. The destruction of longstanding landmarks destroys our sense of place.

The proposed changes facilitate the destruction of the province’s heritage but there’s no evidence that this will lead to an increase in affordable housing.

The change in the “threshold” for designation, requiring that two criteria be met rather than one, will make it almost impossible to protect humble buildings and places associated with the historic contributions of Black, Indigenous, and other such communities in Ontario.

The changes to the Municipal Heritage Register and listing undermine the importance of local planning, limit the ability of local Municipal Heritage Committees, and place undue pressure on municipal staff and volunteers to protect local heritage properties.

Forcing municipalities to designate all listed properties within 2 years or drop them from the Register is draconian and totally unrealistic. It will result in tens of thousands of listed sites losing what little protection they have.

Property owners shouldn’t be forced to choose between listing and designation to recognize the heritage significance of their property.

Changes to the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Provincial Heritage Properties leave provincially owned landmarks such as Ontario Place vulnerable to the whims of politicians and developers.