WHEREAS vacant sites or orphan properties known as brownfields are often on properties located along transportation corridors and in downtown core areas, are eyesores to the community and have caused real or suspected environmental contamination and negatively impact economic development of that specific site and in the general area of that specific site; AND WHEREAS the owners of these brownfield sites have already reaped the benefits and should have an obligation to clean-up their own mess; AND WHEREAS the UBCM membership endorsed resolution 2008-B33, which strongly urged the provincial government to take immediate steps to implement the previously adopted resolutions 2007-B29 and 2007-B70 that were passed at the 2007 Convention and no concrete action has taken place; AND WHEREAS there has been no real progress to support rural communities continuing to face the challenge of economic loss and unsightly premises in their downtown core due to real or suspected environmental contamination on vacant lots; AND WHEREAS provincial policies and regulations for remediation of brownfield sites are vague and not strictly enforced: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that the Ministry of Environment be authorized to legislate that owners of all contaminated brownfield sites, regardless of their hazard rating, be remediated upon request from the local government and provide timely communication with the local government regarding remediation progress.
Ministry of Environment In response to issues related to the delay of remediation activities on contaminated sites which include brownfield sites, the Province has implemented policy imposing a time limit of one year for completion of site investigation of decommissioned sites. This helps to expedite the remediation process and determine the degree of risk of contamination at these sites sooner. High-risk sites are then identified and dealt with appropriately. Policy also includes the release of local government demolition permits so that structures that frequently become unsightly if left in place may be removed in a timely manner. The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations works with partner agencies and stakeholders to increase awareness of brownfield development potential and practices. Key initiatives include: -Implementation of a fund with a total of 10 million that will match provincial and private sector investment in the early stage investigations on sites where market forces will not achieve redevelopment and where triple-bottom-line outcomes can be achieved. -Assisting local governments to decrease the impact brownfields may have on the visual aesthetic of a community by providing input into a model bylaw that could address safety and landscaping requirements for brownfield sites prior to redevelopment.