WHEREAS the historic built and cultural heritage of Prince Edward County is recognized as a fundamental part of its community character and identity, and is a d

WHEREAS the historic built and cultural heritage of Prince Edward County is recognized as a fundamental part of its community character and identity, and is a driver of the local tourism economy; WHEREAS the Ontario Heritage Act encourages municipalities in Ontario to designate and protect properties that meet provincial criteria related to design, historical and contextual value; WHEREAS the municipality has designated, and continues to encourage owners of heritage properties to protect those attributes which exemplify design, historical, and contextual value and interest by consenting to designation of those properties as being of cultural heritage value and interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act; WHEREAS the municipality has designated properties of heritage value and interest in the Picton Heritage Conservation District and Wellington Heritage Conservation District under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act; WHEREAS homeowners require insurance to protect their homes, which is often their most significant investment, and can be required to maintain a mortgage; and WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has stated that a heritage designation does not place additional requirements on insurers and that insurance premiums should not go up because of a heritage designation; WHEREAS some owners of designated properties have reported that their premiums have gone up as a result of a heritage designation or they have been denied an insurance policy as a result of a heritage designation; WHEREAS as a result of insurance concerns, some homeowners have objected to proposed heritage designation on their property; and WHEREAS this directly threatens the unique and irreplaceable heritage character of Prince Edward County; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the County of Prince Edward calls on the Provincial Government to: Investigate why some insurers are raising premiums on heritage designated properties or are denying insurance policies a