2005, Mar 09
Liens and Tax Arrears Workshop (Ottawa). Invitation Only

2005, Mar 10
CBN Advisory Panel Meeting (Ottawa)

2005, Oct 13-14
6th Canadian Brownfields Conference and 2nd annual CBN member's general meeting (Ottawa)

CBN c/o OCETA
Tel: 905-822-4133
2070 Hadwen Road, Unit 201A
Mississauga, ON, L5K 2C9

Welcome to the first CBN e-newsletter.

The Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN) provides a national voice for brownfields redevelopment and sustainable urban revitalization in Canada.

The CBN is uniquely positioned as the enabling mechanism to implement the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy's recommendations to accelerate brownfield redevelopment activities across Canada.

• Budget Recommendations: CBN submitted recommendations (PDF) for the upcoming Federal Budget (announced Feb. 23, 2005) for the:
  1. Federal government to work with the provinces and municipal governments to identify the criteria and protocol to remove liens and tax arrears from qualified brownfield properties and;
  2. Federal government to amend the Income Tax Act to permit the deduction of remediation expenses from other income in the computation of income.
  

• New CBN Advisory Panel Member: Doug Salloum, Manager of Project Development and Portfolio Risk, Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

• Liens and Tax Arrears Workshop (Ottawa, 2005, Mar 09): The National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) and the CBN have organized the Strategic Solutions for the Removal of Liens and Tax Arrears Workshop. This workshop is for invited key provincial and federal representatives as well as experts from the private sector.
  Background: For many brownfield properties, particularly those that have fallen under municipal control following a failed tax sale or those that are genuine “orphans”, the added burden of repayment of outstanding liens and tax arrears to three orders of government in addition to cleanup costs can render them totally uneconomic to remediate. As a consequence, they lie as blights in municipalities with little or no likelihood of the taxes ever being recovered within the foreseeable future. Removal of the liens and tax arrears would eliminate a significant upfront cost and bring many of these sites into a more competitive position with other, cleaner sites.
  Outcome: CBN and NRTEE Summary Report of workshop and recommendations.

• Formation of a CBN Advisory Panel comprised of a distinguished group of experts from across Canada;
• Strategic alliances with industry to create market credibility;
• Delivery of high profile conferences and workshops;
• Development of a brownfields toolbox for Ontario municipalities; and
• Membership base of more than 200 practitioners and stakeholders.