NCC Approval Required Near Historic National Sites

Summary#

This bill changes the National Capital Act to protect key federal and historic sites in the National Capital Region. It expands when the National Capital Commission (NCC) must approve building projects and sets conservation rules for sites of national significance.

• Adds a 500 m approval zone around listed “buildings or works of national significance” (Clause 2).
• Lists Parliament Hill and nine nearby federal buildings, plus all places commemorated as historic places and all national historic sites, as “of national significance,” with power to add more by regulation (Clause 1; Clause 3).
• Requires work on nationally significant sites to follow Parks Canada’s Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada (new section after s.12.2).
• Requires alterations to national historic sites to preserve their “commemorative integrity” (new section after s.12.2).

What it means for you#

• Households and property owners

  • If your property is within 500 m of a site of national significance in the National Capital Region, you must get NCC approval before you build, alter, extend, or demolish a building or work (Clause 2).
  • This applies to both public and private land in the 500 m zone (Clause 2).
  • Timing: Data unavailable in the provided text.

• Developers and contractors

  • Projects within 500 m of a listed site need NCC approval before starting (Clause 2).
  • Work done on a listed site itself must follow Parks Canada’s conservation Standards and Guidelines (new section after s.12.2).
  • If the site is a national historic site, work must preserve its commemorative integrity (new section after s.12.2).
  • The government may add more sites by regulation, which could expand where approval is required (Clause 3).

• Federal departments and agencies

  • Department-led projects within 500 m of listed sites need NCC approval, in addition to any existing federal processes (Clause 2).
  • Projects on listed sites must comply with the Parks Canada conservation standards and preserve commemorative integrity for national historic sites (new section after s.12.2).

• Municipal governments (Ottawa, Gatineau)

  • Local planning approvals remain, but NCC approval is also required for projects in the 500 m zones (Clause 2).
  • Potential need to coordinate timelines and conditions with the NCC for affected permits (Clause 2).

• Heritage organizations and site users

  • Clear legal requirement to use the Parks Canada Standards and Guidelines for work on listed sites (new section after s.12.2).
  • Added protection for the setting around national sites through the 500 m approval zone (Clause 2).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• No fiscal note identified. Data unavailable.
• The bill includes no direct appropriations, taxes, or fees (Clauses 1–4).
• Expands NCC approval workload for projects within 500 m of listed sites; administrative cost not estimated (Clause 2).
• Compliance costs for proponents to meet Parks Canada Standards and Guidelines are not quantified (new section after s.12.2).

Proponents' View#

• Protects Parliament Hill and nearby federal landmarks by ensuring nearby projects get NCC review within 500 m, which can prevent incompatible development (Clause 2).
• Sets a clear, national standard for work on significant sites by requiring the Parks Canada Standards and Guidelines, improving consistency and quality (new section after s.12.2).
• Preserves the commemorative integrity of national historic sites, aligning construction with heritage objectives (new section after s.12.2).
• Allows Cabinet to add sites by regulation, keeping the protections current as new places gain national significance (Clause 3).
• Clarifies and strengthens NCC’s role as the federal steward of the capital area’s symbolic core (Clauses 1–2).

Opponents' View#

• Expands federal oversight onto private property within 500 m of listed sites, adding an extra approval step that may increase timelines and costs for owners and developers (Clause 2).
• The bill does not set approval timelines, criteria, or an appeal process, creating uncertainty for project planning (Clause 2).
• “Any prescribed building or work” lets Cabinet expand the list by regulation, which may broaden the 500 m zones without new legislation, reducing predictability (Clause 1; Clause 3).
• Potential overlap or conflict with municipal planning approvals could cause duplication and delays unless processes are coordinated (Clause 2).
• The list includes both “places commemorated as historic places” and “national historic sites,” which may overlap; the breadth could make the 500 m rule apply to many areas in the National Capital Region (Clause 1).