I know that Ontario has mutual servitude, which protects a building when an owner wants to have it recognized. We don't have that in Quebec.
In terms of the legislation, before 2012, the owners of provincially designated heritage buildings were entitled to a municipal tax credit meant as an incentive for the maintenance and conservation of the building. For reasons unknown to us, it was removed from the new legislation. We lost some money because of that, but there are places like Old Montreal, where there are a lot of heritage buildings and the owners lost a lot of money.
It seems that the money from the tax credit were not being used directly for the maintenance and conservation of the buildings. There could have been other ways to address that issue, because it was a major incentive for the building owners. We know there are many in Old Montreal. They are actually commercial buildings.
So it is important to continue to encourage people, but perhaps by regulating the way it is done and the way the money is used in the end. It is important because it's the people's money. So it has to be properly regulated. It cannot be like signing a blank cheque, far from it.
As I mentioned, in 2012, the provincial government gave municipalities a lot more responsibility for heritage, without transferring the expertise and resources. At the same time, it called on individuals to commit themselves to safeguarding the heritage. As a result, municipalities were faced with individuals asking that the heritage value of a building, site or tangible or intangible property be recognized by municipal bylaw. However, municipalities did not receive subsidies in return. They had to increase their reserve fund or create foundations.
There are cultural development agreements between provinces and municipalities, but culture is very broad. Perhaps heritage represents 10% of the sector. There are schools, the arts, and so on. It is vast.
The amendment to the legislation made the situation difficult.