Canadian cultural heritage
According to the , the cultural heritage of Quebec is made up of deceased historical figures, historic places and events, heritage documents, buildings, objects and sites, heritage cultural landscapes and intangible heritage.
The elements that make up cultural heritage of Quebec are listed in the , held by the Québec government's "Ministère de la Culture et des Communications". Items listed in the Register of Cultural Heritage and public information about them are published in the , the ' platform for disseminating information about Quebec's heritage.
History of the protection and enhancement of Quebec's cultural heritage.
The first Quebec law adopted to protect Quebec's heritage was the Act respecting the conservation of monuments and objets of art of historical or artistic interest. Presented to the Legislative Assembly by the Secretary of the Province, Louis-Athanase David, the Act was assented to on March 21, 1922. The Act empowers Cabinet to classify monuments and objets of art. It also established the . In 1929, the government classified the first three historic monuments: the , the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church and the Château Ramezay.
In 1935, the Legislative Assembly passed the Île d'Orléans Act to protect the traditional character of this cradle of settlement in the St. Lawrence Valley, threatened by the construction of a bridge.
Law on the conservation of monuments and works of art of historical or artistic interest is replaced by the , assented to January 23, 1952. This Act was replaced by the , introduced by the Minister of Cultural Affairs, Georges-Émile Lapalme. It was assented to on July 10, 1963.
The Cultural Property Act, assented to on July 8, 1972, was a major step forward in the protection of Quebec's heritage. The Act was introduced in the National Assembly by the Minister of Cultural Affairs, Marie-Claire Kirkland. The Act gives the Minister the power to classify or recognize a property, monument or historic site, an archaeological property or site, a work of art, or a cinematographic, audiovisual, photographic, radio or television work.
On June 20, 1985, the Cultural Property Act was amended to allow Quebec municipalities to protect immovable property located within their territory.
On October 19, 2011, the National Assembly adopted the Cultural Heritage Act, introduced by Christine St-Pierre, Minister of Culture and Communications. Three years of public consultations precede this adoption. The Act replaces the Cultural Property Act on October 19, 2012.
On April 1, 2021, the National Assembly adopts the Act to amend the Cultural Heritage Act and other legislative provisions.
Types of heritage elements (categories).
The Cultural Heritage Act states that cultural heritage consists of intangible heritage, heritage cultural landscapes, deceased historical figures, historic places and events, heritage documents and objects, and heritage buildings and sites.
Legal status.
The "Loi sur le patrimoine culturel" provides for five different statuses for the protection and enhancement of a heritage element:
Any person or organization may propose the attribution of legal status under the Cultural Heritage Act. Proposals to the should be submitted using the forms available on its website.
Heritage values.
The application of the Cultural Heritage Act is based on the heritage values approach. By choosing to protect or enhance an element of cultural heritage, an authority formally recognizes its public interest, and intends to ensure the protection or enhancement of its heritage values, with a view to passing them on to future generations.
The heritage values set out in the Cultural Heritage Act are archaeological, architectural, artistic, emblematic, ethnological, historical, identity-related, landscape, scientific, urban planning or technological.
Effects of granting status.
The granting of certain legal status under the Cultural Heritage Act has a number of effects with regard to works and disposals. These effects are control measures that are specific to each category of heritage element:
In a heritage building:
In a classified heritage site :
References.
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