section2-11d

Conserve Heritage Resources

Other Heritage Programs

Heritage Railway Stations

The Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act (HRSPA), proclaimed in 1990, affirms the federal Government’s commitment to safeguard the heritage character of heritage railway stations under the ownership of federally regulated railway companies. The Act applies to railway stations that are more than 40 years old and owned by railway companies to which Part III of the Canada Transportation Act applies. Parks Canada provides research support to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada on the stations brought forward for consideration by the board and maintains the heritage railway stations database (www.pc.gc.ca/clmhc-hsmbc). Through an agreement with Public Works and Government Services Canada, Parks Canada receives professional and technical advice (e.g. intervention reviews and heritage recording).

Between 1989 and 1996, 306 heritage railway stations were documented. Fourteen of these documented stations were not evaluated, 11 because they were not yet 40 years old and three because they fell under provincial jurisdiction. Of the 292 stations evaluated by the HSMBC, 174 were designated. Eleven designated stations have been de-listed since 1996 primarily due to destruction by fire or demolition leaving, as of March 2007, 163 designated stations in Canada. Two designated stations, the former Via Rail station in Churchill, Manitoba, which is now used as a visitor reception centre for Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site of Canada and Wapusk National Park of Canada, and the former CN station in Jasper, Alberta that now serves as the park administration office, are owned by Parks Canada.

If a station is sold or transferred to a party not regulated by theCanada Transportation Act, it is no longer protected under the HRSPA. The potential purchaser is required to provide the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada with written assurances that they will respect the heritage character of the station and obtain a commitment to designate the site under provincial legislation. The owner is not required to advise Parks Canada of interventions to the building further to its sale, unless included as a condition of sale in the Order in Council authorizing the transfer of ownership. If a station is sold to a party that is regulated by the Canada Transport Act, it remains protected under the HRSPA. All requests for authorization for an intervention, disposal or transfer are evaluated by Parks Canada, which then prepares a recommendation to the Minister to approve or deny the request.

Although a monitoring program is not required under the HRSPA and regulations, due diligence with respect to the GIC approvals is exercised through subsequent intervention reviews and heritage recording. Upon the sale of a station, the owner is not required to seek Parks Canada’s approval of interventions. A letter of record indicating that the station is protected under provincial legislation is on file with Parks Canada. The station retains its heritage designation under the HSMBC.

Seventy-three of the 163 designated stations have been sold to outside parties conditional on their protection under provincial or territorial legislation. The number of approved alterations and sales over the last five years is shown in Table 21.

Table 21: Alterations and Sales of Heritage Railway Stations

		2006- 2007	2005- 2006	2004- 2005	2003- 2004	2002- 2003	Total
Approved	Alterations	0	3	1	4	3	11
	Sales	3	1	4		2	10
Denied		0	1	0	0	1	2
Source: Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Secretariat data

There is no monitoring system to ensure that property owners obtain the required approvals before making alterations or selling their property, that alterations are carried out as planned, or that purchasers continue to respect the heritage character of a station and obtain a designation for the site under provincial legislation, as required under the conditions of transfer or sale.

< Previous Page  |  Table of Contents  | Next Page  >