Meeting of Provincial-Territorial Ministers responsible for Culture and Heritage

Canada's historic places are places of memory, celebration and reflection, relevant for all Canadians, both present and future generations. Historic places are sources of pride that connect us to our past and that contribute in a myriad of ways to the health and vitality of communities, our high quality of life, and economic development.

Federal, provincial and territorial governments carry out complementary responsibilities for the protection and conservation of these irreplaceable resources. The success of our work together under the national Historic Places Initiative (HPI) demonstrates that a long term partnership between the two levels of government and municipal administrations is needed.

Future directions for HPI identified by the FPT Ministers of Culture and Heritage in 2007 are: to engage the private sector; to reflect and promote Canada’s diversity by engaging Aboriginal people and youth; and to link heritage conservation to the environmental sustainability agenda.

Provinces and territories have shown their long term commitment to the protection, conservation, promotion and awareness of Canada’s heritage resources. The federal government must continue to play a role in maintaining a pan-Canadian framework for heritage conservation. This includes the introduction of substantial federal financial incentives for conservation of historic places and, for the historic places under its jurisdiction, the introduction of  effective federal legislation.

Continued financial support by the Canadian government is required for PT participation in maintaining and growing the Canadian Register of Historic Places and developing and promoting the national conservation Standards and Guidelines, which have proven to be successful tools in building the foundation for a culture of heritage conservation in Canada, as well as carrying out other priorities identified by the Ministers in 2007

We recognize that the federal government has announced plans to establish a national trust in the 2007 federal budget, and we reiterate the need to hold a formal and meaningful consultation of PT governments regarding the role and possible mandate of this national trust. However, this measure must continue to support and enhance existing collaborative activities, and ongoing partnerships under the Historic Places Initiative.