C-23 44th Parliament, 1st session November 22, 2021, to present

A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available.

On 7 June 2022, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change introduced Bill C-23, An Act respecting places, persons and events of national historic significance or national interest, archaeological resources and cultural and natural heritage (Historic Places of Canada Act), and it was given first reading.

Bill C-23 enacts the Historic Places of Canada Act, which provides for the designation of places, persons and events that are of national historic significance or national interest and fosters the protection and conservation of the heritage value of the designated places.

The Act, among other things,

(a) sets out the powers, duties and functions of the federal minister responsible for the Act respecting, among other things,

(i) the designation of places, persons and events that are of national historic significance or national interest,

(ii) the protection and conservation of the heritage value of certain places that are of national historic significance or national interest,

(iii) the protection and conservation of certain archaeological resources,

(iv) the implementation of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, and

(v) the establishment of a program for the commemoration of deceased prime ministers of Canada at their grave sites or other appropriate places;

(b) continues the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and modifies its composition, including to provide for the appointment of representatives for First Nations, Inuit and Métis;

(c) requires the establishment and maintenance of a public register that includes certain information about designated places, persons and events and permits the exclusion of information from the register in certain circumstances;

(d) imposes obligations for the protection and conservation of the heritage value of certain designated places that are under the administration of federal ministers or certain Crown corporations, including

(i) the obligation to ensure that the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada is taken into account before an action is carried out that may result in a physical change to one of those designated places that may affect its heritage value, and

(ii) the obligation to consult with the Parks Canada Agency before that action is carried out and before the disposition of one of those designated places;

(e) contains provisions respecting navigation on certain canals that are designated places;

(f) authorizes the Governor in Council to make regulations respecting certain designated places; and

(g) contains provisions respecting the enforcement of the Act.

The Act also contains transitional provisions, makes related and consequential amendments to other Acts and repeals the Historic Sites and Monuments Act.