Request province extend Heritage Act deadline to 2030

Councillor Votes

Full Resolution Text

Whereas the Ontario Heritage Act amendments instituted by the provincial government in 2022 require municipalities to either designate properties listed under the Act or remove them from the heritage register by January 1, 2025; Whereas the City of Peterborough has 795 listed properties under this act, a volume that presents substantial logistical challenges to process within the prescribed timeframe, with the limited municipal resources available; Whereas municipalities across the province face similar challenges, casting doubt on the feasibility of the current deadline; Whereas the Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO) has urgently requested an extension of the deadline, emphasizing the near impossibility of municipalities meeting the current timeline without compromising the due process and integrity of heritage preservation; Therefore, be it resolved that the City of Peterborough formally requests the Province of Ontario to extend the deadline to process the listed properties under the Ontario Heritage Act from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2030; Be it further resolved that this extension will allow the City of Peterborough, along with other municipalities, to more effectively engage with community stakeholders and property owners, ensuring that significant heritage properties are properly recognized and preserved; Be it finally resolved that a copy of this motion be sent to Premier Ford, the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, and relevant provincial officials to underscore the urgency and necessity of this request for the protection of Ontario’s heritage.