Bill 97 2001

An Act to ensure the
preservation of the site of
Toronto's first parliament buildings

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Definitions

1. In this Act,

"Minister" means the Minister who is responsible for the administration of the Ontario Heritage Act; ("ministre")

"parliamentary site" means the site of Toronto's first parliament buildings, built in 1798 and 1820, namely the land whose boundaries are Parliament Street, Front Street, Berkeley Street and the southern boundary of the parking lot owned by the City of Toronto. ("site parlementaire")

Deemed designation,
Ontario Heritage Act, Part VI

2. (1) The parliamentary site shall be deemed to have been designated under Part VI of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Same

(2) The deemed designation continues until December 31, 2010 unless, before that date, the Minister revokes it under section 55 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Role of Minister

3. The Minister shall,

(a) ensure that a full archaeological excavation and investigation of the parliamentary site is conducted;

(b) promote the purchase of the parliamentary site, the relocation of businesses from the parliamentary site and the donation of the site to the City of Toronto;

(c) promote the construction of a museum at the parliamentary site, to preserve its historic features and to provide for public education; and

(d) promote the provision of operating funds for the museum.

Commencement

4. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

5. The short title of this Act is the Democratic Heritage Archaeological Preservation Act, 2001.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill is intended to ensure the preservation of the site of Toronto's first parliament buildings, built in 1798 and 1820. Section 2 provides that the site is deemed to have been designated under Part VI (Conservation of Resources of Archaeological Value) of the Ontario Heritage Act. Section 3 provides that the minister responsible for the administration of that Act shall ensure that a full archaeological excavation and investigation is conducted and shall promote the purchase of the site (including the relocation of businesses) and its donation to the City of Toronto, the construction of a museum and the provision of operating funds for the museum.