ARCHIVED - Treasury Board Heritage Buildings Policy
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Treasury Board Heritage Buildings Policy
Table of Contents
1. Effective date
This document contains the policy as revised April 15, 1998. It replaces the version dated November 15, 1993.
2. Policy objective
To protect the heritage character of federal buildings.
3. Policy statement
It is government policy to acquire, use, and dispose of federal buildings in a manner that protects their heritage character.
4. Application
This policy applies to all departments within the meaning of section 2 of the Financial Administration Act unless specific acts or regulations override it.
5. Policy requirements
(a) Departments must manage buildings they administer so as to conserve their heritage character throughout their life cycles.
(b) Departments must arrange for the Parks Canada Agency to evaluate all buildings 40 years of age or older as to their heritage designation before acquiring, altering, dismantling, demolishing, or selling them. Departments may also arrange for buildings less than 40 years old to be evaluated.
(c) Departments are responsible for all decisions affecting the heritage character of a heritage building that has been designated as either classified or recognized. In making these decisions departments must
(i) in the case of a classified heritage building, consult with the Parks Canada Agency before selling or undertaking any intervention that may affect its heritage character; and
(ii) in the case of a recognized heritage building, obtain appropriate heritage advice before undertaking any intervention that may affect its heritage character and consult with the Parks Canada Agency as early as possible before dismantling, demolishing, or selling it.
(d) Departments must take heritage protection into account when granting leases, licences, or operating agreements involving designated heritage buildings.
(e) When the existing program use of a heritage building that has been designated as either classified or recognized ends, or the building is no longer fully used, departments must make best efforts to arrange for appropriate alternative uses first within the department, then within the federal government, then outside of the federal government. In so doing, departments must
(i) in the case of a classified heritage building, take steps to protect the building's heritage character and specify the nature and level of protection in any sale agreement; and
(ii) in the case of a recognized heritage building, decide whether to continue to protect its heritage character and specify the nature and level of any heritage protection in any sale agreement.
(f) When selling a property containing a National Historic Site or part thereof, departments must consult with the Parks Canada Agency.
Note:
The National Capital Act requires separate approval by the National Capital Commission for the acquisition, disposal, and demolition of buildings on federal lands within the National Capital Region, as well as for exterior alterations and additions to them.
6. Responsibilities
(a) The Parks Canada Agency establishes goals for the protection of federal heritage buildings and National Historic Sites and develops policies, standards, or guidelines in consultation with other departments. Through the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, it also provides criteria and a process for evaluating and designating heritage character, provides advice and recommendations to other departments, and maintains a register of federal heritage buildings.
(b) The Minister of Canadian Heritage is responsible for approving heritage designations for federal buildings on the recommendation of an interdepartmental advisory board.
(c) The National Capital Commission reviews all proposals for heritage designation within the National Capital Region and makes recommendations to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
7. Monitoring
The Secretariat will determine how effective this policy is, find out how it is applied in departments, and decide whether it needs to be revised. It will do this through ongoing contact with departments, consulting with the Treasury Board Advisory Committee on Real Property, and noting audits and reviews conducted by departments or the Auditor General of Canada. The Treasury Board Guide to Monitoring Real Property Managementprovides information so that departments can monitor and assess policy implementation.
8. References
8.1 Authority
This policy is issued pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, subsections 7(1), 9(1.1), and 9(2), and theFederal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act, subsection 16(4).
8.2 Treasury Board publications
Treasury Board Real Property Revenue Policy
Treasury Board Guide to Monitoring Real Property Management
Treasury Board Real Property Glossary
9. Enquiries
Please direct enquiries about this policy to your departmental headquarters.
For interpretation of this policy, departmental headquarters should contact:
Real Property and Materiel Policy Directorate
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
L'Esplanade Laurier
140 O'Connor Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0G5
Telephone: (613) 941-7173
Facsimile: (613) 957-2405
E-mail: rpmpd@tbs-sct.gc.ca