WHEREAS some currently vacant properties have formerly been used for purposes that may have resulted in those properties being left in a contaminated state; AND WHEREAS reconditioning a contaminated site is so cost prohibitive that the owners choose to leave the site vacant and virtually unusable for future use, representing a significant economic loss; AND WHEREAS many of these properties are commonly located in highly visible areas along major transportation corridors in local governments where such properties would otherwise be attractive to potential developers: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM initiate discussions with provincial and federal environment ministries to amend current legislation in order to require the owners of vacant properties that have been contaminated to remediate these properties within five years of their becoming vacant in order to make them more attractive to potential developers.
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands This resolution identifies one of many tools that could be used to ensure that brownfields are remediated and redeveloped. The Province of British Columbia, through the Ministry of Environment, is contemplating a package of potential amendments to the Environmental Management Act that would support brownfield redevelopment - this resolution will be carefully considered as part of this package. A similar resolution was also responded to by the Ministry of Environment as resolution B29.
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT The amendment of current legislation to compel remediation of contaminated sites for the purpose of redevelopment is a matter that lies more within provincial and territorial, jurisdiction. There are several pieces of federal environmental legislation, such as the Fisheries Act, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Species at Risk Act that may require polluters to address certain aspects of a contaminated site. However, the main objective of these pieces of legislation is the protection of the environment and human health, and not the facilitation of redevelopment of contaminated sites. There are a number of targeted federal initiatives that do provide support for the remediation andor redevelopment of non-federal contaminated sites and brownfields i.e., contaminated sites with a potential for redevelopment. Some of the main initiatives are the 8.8-billion Building Canada Fund, which includes the remediation and redevelopment of brownfields as one of the funding categories; and the Green Municipal Fund, which includes 150 million to provide loans to municipalities to remediate brownfield sites. Another program that was established to address federal contaminated sites for which the Government of Canada is responsible is the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan. Under the Plan, 3.5 billion was allocated to assist federal departments, agencies and consolidated Crown corporations in assessing their highest-risk contaminated sites, and in remediating and managing these risks. Some federal contaminated sites are located in urban areas and could be considered brownfield sites. The Government recognizes the importance of addressing these sites, in order to bring them into more effective and economically productive uses. Therefore, this program allows departments to take action on federal brownfield sites that meet the program eligibility criteria.