CLEANING UP THE PAST, BUILDING THE FUTURE:
A National Brownfield Redevelopment Strategy for Canada
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
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...
Executive Summary: National Strategy, Feb, 10, 2003
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