You Don’t Know It, but You’re on the Hook for What’s Buried on Your Land

In Canada, if any part of your property is identified as an archaeological site, you could end up paying for the excavation.

An archaeological dig at a National Historic Site in Halifax Harbour on Aug. 6, 2020. The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan

Commentary

Many Canadians value heritage and historical sites, but far fewer would accept a surprise bill of hundreds of thousands of dollars to preserve them on their own property. That is exactly the risk some homeowners face under Canada’s current approach to heritage protection.