The ''Heritage Conservation Act'' (french: Loi sur la conservation du patrimoine) is a
provincial
Provincial may refer to:
Government & Administration
* Provincial capitals, an administrative sub-national capital of a country
* Provincial city (disambiguation)
* Provincial minister (disambiguation)
* Provincial Secretary, a position in Can ...
statute
A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs the legal entities of a city, state, or country by way of consent. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. Statutes are rules made by le ...
which allows for the preservation of
cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the heritage of tangible and intangible heritage assets of a group or society that is inherited from past generations. Not all heritages of past generations are "heritage"; rather, heritage is a product of selection by soci ...
properties and areas in the province of
New Brunswick,
Canada.
Designation of historic places and areas
Depending on their nature and significance, historic places in New Brunswick may be eligible for recognition and/or protection under the ''Heritage Conservation Act'' under one of the following types of designations:
# Provincial Heritage Place (places which are provincially significant, as designated by the government of New Brunswick through the Minister of the
Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture);
# Municipal Heritage Conservation Area (districts within a municipality having unique heritage value as a conservation area, as designated by the municipality); and
# Local Historic Place (places that exhibit local historic significance, as designated by the municipality with the consent of the property owner).
Once designated, the character-defining elements of a Provincial Heritage Place cannot be altered without a provincial heritage permit, nor can work or development occur in a Municipal Heritage Conservation Area without a permit issued by the municipality's heritage board. The designation of a site as a Local Historic Place does not impose any restrictions or obligations on the owner of the property.
The ''Heritage Conservation Act'' received
Royal Assent on February 26, 2010.
It replaced and repealed the ''Historic Sites Protection Act'' of 1973 and the ''Municipal Heritage Preservation Act'' of 1978. A site that had been designated as an historic or anthropological site under the former ''Historic Sites Protection Act'' is deemed to be a Provincial Heritage Place under the new statute, while a by-law establishing a Municipal Heritage Conservation Area under the former ''Municipal Heritage Preservation Act'' is deemed to continue to be in force under the new legislation.
Archaeological protection
Section 5 of the ''Heritage Conservation Act'' establishes that the
provincial Crown has
ownership
Ownership is the state or fact of legal possession and control over property, which may be any asset, tangible or intangible. Ownership can involve multiple rights, collectively referred to as title, which may be separated and held by different ...
of all "
archaeological
Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
,
palaeontological and burial site heritage objects in New Brunswick". If the object is of
Aboriginal
Aborigine, aborigine or aboriginal may refer to:
*Aborigines (mythology), in Roman mythology
* Indigenous peoples, general term for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area
*One of several groups of indigenous peoples, see ...
origin it is to be 'held in trust' on behalf of the Aboriginal communities.
The Act provides guidelines and standards on how professional research is to be conducted, and how the management of objects is to be done. There are also guidelines regarding how amateur researchers can participate and gain approval for specific type of heritage exploration. Included in the Act is a clause that enforces the mandatory reporting of all possible discoveries of heritage objects to the provincial authority. It outlines regulations of heritage impact assessment, and "prohibits the alteration of any heritage place in the Province without specific government approval".
Burial grounds
In New Brunswick, burial grounds are mainly covered under the ''Cemetery Companies Act''. However, the ''Heritage Conservation Act'' protects places that have been used in the past for the placement of human remains or related objects, including old family plots, ancient burial grounds and abandoned cemeteries. A "burial ground" is defined in the heritage legislation as any place containing
human remains Human remains may refer to:
A corpse or skeleton
* A deceased human body
** A cadaver
** A Human skeleton, skeleton
Music
* Human Remains (band), an American grindcore band
* Human Remains (Hell album), ''Human Remains'' (Hell album), 2011
* Huma ...
and/or their associated objects. The discovery of such a site must be reported to the Heritage Branch of the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture as soon as possible specifying the location, and date and time it is discovered. Upon this reporting it will be reviewed by the Minister who will then make a decision as to whether or not to implement procedures to the protect the site. It is illegal for anyone to alter or disturb a burial ground or object.
See also
*
Heritage conservation in Canada
*
List of historic places in New Brunswick
*
List of National Historic Sites of Canada in New Brunswick
References
{{reflist
External links
Heritage Conservation Act
Heritage Conservation Act
Heritage Property Act
New Brunswick
2010 in Canadian law
21st century in New Brunswick
2010 in New Brunswick