[Bcma-l] (Fwd) HCF-FHC Communiqué : HCF Calls for Passage of Lighthouse

[bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca]

------- Forwarded message follows -------
From:                         *Fondation Heritage Canada Foundation*
                                 *<HeritageCanadaFoundation@heritagecanada.org>*
Date sent:                  *Fri, 4 Apr 2008 16:38:04 -0400*
Subject:                     *HCF-FHC Communiqué : HCF Calls for Passage 
of Lighthouse*
                                *Protection Bill*

La version française suit la version anglaise

Please share with your colleagues / Passez le message à vos collègues

[cid:015233320@04042008-0621]
Heritage Canada Foundation /
La fondation Héritage Canada

Communiqué

Heritage Canada Foundation Calls for Passage of Lighthouse Protection Bill

Ottawa, ON - April 3, 2008 - Appearing yesterday before the House of
Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) to comment on 
Bill S-215 An Act to protect heritage lighthouses, the Heritage Canada 
Foundation's (HCF) executive director, Natalie Bull, called on committee 
members to support legislation that will protect the icons of Canada's 
coastal and inland waterways. HCF and heritage advocates from across 
Canada have been working toward this legislation to preserve Canada's 
lighthouses for a number of years.

Ms. Bull stressed that protection of lighthouses under current federal
heritage buildings policy is inadequate and doesn't incorporate public
notice or consultation when a lighthouse is altered, transferred or
demolished. This new heritage lighthouse protection act "would engage
communities in the protection of their historic places by putting a
clear process in place, and increase accountability by providing
opportunities for pubic scrutiny," stated Ms. Bull. The Act would
establish a process to select and designate heritage lighthouses;
prevent their unauthorized disposal; require their maintenance; and
facilitate sales or transfers in order to ensure their continuing
public purpose.

HCF is hopeful that with the strong presentations made to the
committee and the number of committee members expressing support for the 
legislation, it will soon be passed into law. Ms. Bull thanked the
many Senators and MPs who have supported the bill over the last number 
of years. Particularly the Senator Pat Carney and Senator Lowell Murray, 
and MPs  Larry Miller (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, Ont.), Peter Stoffer 
(Sackville-East Shore, N.S.) and Gerald Keddy (South Shore - St. 
Margaret's, N.S.).

Also appearing before the committee were Barry Macdonald, president of 
the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society, David Bradley, chair of 
the Association of Heritage Industries - Newfoundland and Labrador, and 
Peter Noreau, Vice-president of the Corporation des gestionnaires de 
phares de l'estuaire et du golfe du Saint-Laurent.

Debate on the bill will wrap up at the committee on Thursday, April
10th. The bill will then go back to the House of Commons for 3rd and
final reading. HCF urges all supporters of built heritage to contact
the chair and vice-chairs of the FOPO committee and MP Larry Miller to 
express their support for this bill.

MP Fabian Manning (Chair, FOPO)
_Manning.F@parl.gc.ca_

MP Raynald Blais
(Vice-Chair, FOPO) Blais.R@parl.gc.ca

MP Bill Matthews (Vice-Chair, FOPO)
Matthews.B@parl.gc.ca

MP Larry Miller (Sponsor of Bill S-215)
Miller.L@parl.gc.ca

-30-
For more information:
Carolyn Quinn, Director of Communications,
Heritage Canada Foundation
cquinn@heritagecanada.org
Tel: 613-237-1066, ext. 229, Cell: 613-797-7206




------- End of forwarded message ------- _______________________________
Jim Harding, ED
BC Museums Association
(250) 356-5694