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Across Canada, as in most countries, contaminated land lies
unused and unproductive. Such sites, known as brownfields, may
have the potential for rejuvenation, bringing both health and
economic benefits to local communities. Therefore, responding
to the Government, the NRTEE has agreed to develop a national
brownfield redevelopment strategy in order to ensure that Canada
is a global leader in remediation." December
2001 Federal Budget |
The
Vision
The transformation of Canada's brownfields into economically
productive, environmentally healthy and socially vibrant centres
of community life, through the coordinated efforts of all levels
of government, the private sector and community organizations.
Canada's
Brownfields: Legacy and Opportunity
Brownfields are a legacy of a century of industrialization-they
are abandoned, idle or underutilized commercial or industrial properties
where past actions have caused known or suspected environmental
contamination, but where there is an active potential for redevelopment.
There may be as many as 30,000 such sites in Canada.
They include decommissioned refineries, former railway yards, old
waterfronts and riverbanks, crumbling warehouses, abandoned gas
stations, former drycleaners and other commercial properties where
toxic substances may have been used or stored. Left idle and unmanaged,
brownfields represent a significant loss of economic opportunity.
They adversely impact a neighbourhood's image and quality of life,
and in some cases pose risks to human health and the environment.
Brownfields also represent an untapped opportunity
to revitalize older neighbourhoods and generate wealth for communities.
With the right kind of incentives and partnerships, brownfields
can have a bright future. Already, several thousand contaminated
sites have been cleaned up in Canada, creating tens of thousands
of jobs, millions of dollars in additional property taxes and thousands
of new housing units. With the package of supportive measures outlined
in this national strategy, Canada's nascent brownfield redevelopment
industry could evolve rapidly into a business worth many billions
of dollars a year.
In addition to direct commercial benefits realized
by the developers and users of the land, brownfield redevelopment
within cities (instead of the development of so-called "greenfield"
land on the city's periphery) has the potential to generate up to
seven billion dollars a year in public benefits in Canada.* These
public benefits arise through the increased economic productivity
of surrounding land, increased tax revenues, lower municipal infrastructure
costs, reduced health risks, preservation of agricultural land,
less air pollution and improved neighbourhoods.
Complete
document (PDF version)
Table
of Contents
Executive
Summary
1. Introduction
2. The
Case for a National Strategy: Challenges Facing Brownfield Redevelopment
3. Recent Progress
on Brownfield Redevelopment
4. Strategic
Directions: A Blueprint for Action
5. Moving
Forward
Annexes
1. Glossary of Brownfield
Redevelopment Terms
2. Brownfield Redevelopment Projects
in Canada: Selected Case Studies
3. Impact of Brownfield Redevelopment on
the Canadian Economy
4. Profiles of Selected International
Activities on Brownfield Redevelopment
5. Market
Failures and Optimal Use of Brownfield Redevelopment Policy Instruments
6. An Expanded
Brownfield Redevelopment Policy Toolkit
Endnote
Hara Associates, "Estimate of National Public
Benefits from Canadian Brownfield Redevelopment", backgrounder
prepared for NRTEE, 2003.
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