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CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
Ontario's Halton Region shutting down heritage division, getting rid of 30,000-item historical collection
Social Sharing Ontario's Halton Region is shuttering its heritage services department and will soon start trying to get rid of around 30,000 historical items, including photographs, tools, natural history specimens, archeological finds, art and the Halton County archives. The region is hoping local lower-tier municipalities and organizations such as the Royal Botanical Gardens, Conservation Halton and the Halton Regional Police Service will take the items in order to keep them in public hands, but says anything it can't rehouse will be up for public auction – a move heritage advocates, including a consulting firm hired by the region, say can be unethical and degrade public trust. Halton Regional Council voted July 9 to "cease delivering heritage services" by the end of this year and to "deaccession" its collection. The vote was held in a closed session, following staff and consultant reports from the past year that indicate region staff have supported this idea for some time. The move is a sharp turn from the vision in the region's five-year operational plan endorsed in 2021, which included $8 million for a new "heritage centre" for the department that was never built. "Regional staff will implement a process for dispersing the collection – that is, removing these items from the region's ownership and responsibility," stated a confidential staff memo that came before council that day, which was later made public by the region. "Regional staff will make every effort to continue public ownership of the items and to keep the items located within Halton." Collection includes 20 'potential Indigenous belongings' The memo says the collection includes "tools and equipment, uniforms and clothing, furniture, personal items, medical tools and equipment, communication tools and equipment, natural history specimens, archeological materials, works of art, and other miscellaneous items." It also contains about 20 "potential Indigenous belongings," such as "beaded objects, bark and quill boxes, footwear, and gloves." The region will attempt to return those items to the communities they came from, the memo states. It lists potential partners to receive items from the rest of the collection as Conservation Halton, the Halton Regional Police Service, Royal Botanical Gardens, Country Heritage Park, the Milton Historical Society, local municipalities and local libraries. "Transfers to these organizations would be strictly voluntary and will differ based on the level of interest and how items from the collection align with their individual mandate and capacity," it states. But, it adds that some items may go to auction. "There are objects in the collection that do not have a clear value or direct relationship to Halton or its heritage. In these cases, public auction may be a valid method for dispersal. Where this approach is taken, advance public notice will be provided. "Given the size of the collection and the complexity of deaccessioning and dispersal processes, it is anticipated that this will be a significant undertaking with an extended timeline." 'I am hoping that Halton valued these objects' Halton Region communications specialist Isabel Contin shared more details with CBC Hamilton about what the collection includes. She said there are: About 18,400 "objects": Tools, uniforms and clothing, furnishings, personal and medical items, communication devices, natural history specimens, archeological finds, and artworks. About 3,100 photographs. About 13,000 archival materials: Maps, documents and other materials. "The items span from the 19th century (e.g., court artifacts and family farm tools), through the 21st century (e.g., medical equipment, police service items, and items related to the COVID-19 pandemic)," she wrote in an email on Thursday. "While some items in the collection have a clear link to Halton's local heritage, many do not." As for the Indigenous items, she said Halton Region's Indigenous Relations team will be involved in their transfer "to ensure they are properly identified, respected, and ultimately returned to the appropriate communities or custodians." Halton Region sits on the treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), and is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat and Anishinabek, according to the region's land acknowledgement. Darin Wybenga, traditional knowledge and land use coordinator for MCFN, told CBC Hamilton he was unaware of the objects held by the region, and is keen to see what they are. "I am hoping that Halton valued these objects enough to keep a good record of where they obtained these things," he said on Thursday, noting there was strong likelihood some of them could belong to MCFN. He was thankful the region will reach out to first nations before auctioning the items — something he said shows progress in the relationships between Canadian institutions and Indigenous communities. "There is some consideration given to the people who might have something at stake with these objects, so that's a positive step." In the same call, MCFN councillor Erma Farrell said she hopes to arrange a meeting to see the items soon. She also noted her disappointment with the closure of the department, noting it seems several area municipalities are cutting back on support for heritage services. Heritage advocate concerned items will be 'dispersed everywhere' A consultant's report about potential options for the collection issued in April included numerous potential scenarios for the collection, with shutting down the division entirely the only one for which it found more "cons" than "pros." The Museum Collection Administration Study, written by Canadian cultural planning firm Lord Cultural Resources, notes "the Region made a commitment when accessioning an object to care for it in the public trust. "The public's reaction may be particularly negative if the matter is not communicated properly, or if a large portion of objects are not transferred to other institutions and thus are removed from the public realm," it states. It gives an example of objects from the collection that have already been transferred to the Royal Botanical Gardens, but instead of being accessioned by the RBG – which means they'd have to steward them in perpetuity – they were used as display props. That means they can be accessible to the public in way they weren't before — but the change in status removes the "requirement for permanent preservation and conservation. "As props they may be discarded when deterioration becomes an issue," the study states. It also notes that many of the agencies that the region hopes to send items to already have their own staffing, space and funding challenges, as well as narrow collections mandates that will limit what they can accept. London, Ont., heritage advocate and public history professor Michelle Hamilton has been watching the Halton process unfold, and says many in her field are shocked by how many items stand to go from the public trust to private hands through this process. "The idea that this will not lead to loss of artifacts is naive," Hamilton told CBC on Tuesday. "They would be dispersed everywhere, they'd go into private collections, and never be seen or heard from again. You're taking something that belongs to the public, you're selling it off without permission and it goes into private hands. It's just ethically wrong." Hamilton, who teaches at Western University, says it is also unethical to deaccession the collection prior to consulting the public, noting she's worried this move could start a trend. "If it happens in Halton, it's going to be a ball rolling down a hill and others will follow," she says.
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Investing In Tax Liens And Tax Deeds Through A Self-Directed IRA
Jaime Raskulinecz, founder/CEO of Next Generation Trust Company, specializing in custodial & administrative services for self-directed IRAs. As I have shared in the past, real estate is one of the most popular alternative assets allowed in self-directed IRAs. There is one aspect of real estate investment that people may not realize they can include in their self-directed retirement account: tax liens. Using a self-directed IRA (SDIRA) or solo 401(k) plan, investors can further diversify their portfolios by including this asset class, which generates passive income and can offer high returns within a tax-advantaged plan. What Is A Tax Lien? A tax lien is a legal matter, a claim against a piece of real estate when an owner does not pay the property taxes. The property in question can be a single-family home, a multifamily property or a commercial property. The municipality in which the property is located—and which is unable to collect that tax debt—puts a lien on the property; this represents the municipality's right to foreclose on it. These liens become investment opportunities when the municipality that is trying to collect the debt (the lien holder) sells them through either a tax lien certificate or a tax lien deed. This is done at a public auction. These certificates or deeds are alternative assets that can become investments in an SDIRA or solo 401(k) for self-employed taxpayers and business owners who don't have employees (except a spouse). Compared to many other types of real estate investments, tax liens are relatively short-term (a year or a few years), which may be attractive to some investors. The Difference Between Tax Lien Certificates And Tax Lien Deeds Think of this as a loan to cover the delinquent taxes. The investor (in this case, the self-directed retirement account) pays off the taxes and interest and provides a redemption period to the property owner in which to pay back that money to the retirement account. The payments for the back taxes and interest generate investment income. If at the end of that period (usually one to three years) the property owner cannot make the debt whole, the property is transferred to the SDIRA or solo 401(k); the retirement account will then hold the deed on property it acquired for the cost of the tax debt it paid and can sell the property for additional investment income. In this scenario, the investor is bidding to buy the deed to the property without providing a grace period to the property owner. This is more of a 'one and done' transaction. The IRA or solo 401(k) with the winning bid becomes the new owner and can retain the property as an investment for the long term, fix it and flip it or sell it right away. This upfront purchase usually means paying more with smaller profit margins later, but it is a more streamlined transaction since there is no property owner to deal with after the sale is completed. The investment income stays within the tax-advantaged account and can be used to invest in other tax liens or the myriad alternative assets self-directed plans allow. Funds to renovate the property must also come from the SDIRA or 401(k) plan. Investor Beware As I always counsel my clients, make sure to do your thorough research about the property, local market values and regulations and the foreclosure process before making this self-directed investment. You can invest through a traditional or a Roth IRA, so you should consult a trusted advisor about which retirement plan makes the most sense for your overall financial situation and goals. Investing with a solo 401(k) is a bit different. You may not personally benefit from the investment (such as living in the house after the plan takes ownership, using it as a personal vacation property or renting to family members), which constitutes prohibited transactions. You also cannot buy a tax lien on a property you, certain relatives or business partners own. In self-direction, the plan custodian holds the asset and executes the investment instructions; in this case, the custodian holds the legal title to the lien 'for benefit of' your self-directed account. Your IRA custodian can explain the IRS guidelines to help you maintain your investment's tax advantages, stay compliant and avoid triggering a penalty. The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?
