{
  "id": 20175892,
  "title": "Less than half of Crown-owned heritage buildings in fair or better condition",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/less-than-half-of-crown-owned-heritage-buildings-in-fair-or-better-20175892",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T11:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/11/15/less-than-half-of-crown-owned-heritage-buildings-in-fair-or-better-condition/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Federal government data reveals that only 45% of Crown-owned heritage buildings are in fair or better condition, falling short of the department's target of at least 35%. Public Services and Procurement Canada aims to improve this figure despite the target decreasing from 53% the previous year, reportedly due to funding reallocation and shifting priorities.\n\nCanada is home to nearly 1,260 federal heritage buildings, spanning from Nunavut to Newfoundland. In 2024, the department reported ongoing work on rehabilitating the Lester B. Pearson and West Memorial buildings in Ottawa. Minister Joël Lightbound emphasized that investments in heritage and national building rehabilitation ensure safety, accessibility, sustainability, and value for Canadians.\n\nHowever, heritage preservation faces challenges, with the National Trust for Canada's Chris Wiebe advocating for better maintenance to prevent further deterioration. Canada has no federal legislation protecting its heritage buildings, unlike other G7 nations, a matter Wiebe considers crucial for the long-term sustainability of these \"iconic\" public assets.",
  "summary": "OTTAWA — Forty-five per cent of Crown-owned heritage buildings are in fair or better condition, says a federal government report.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Less than half of Crown-owned heritage buildings in fair or better condition",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/less-than-half-of-crown-owned-heritage-buildings-in-fair-or-better",
        "published": "2026-11-15T11:00:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}