Heritage Law and Symbolic Politics in Canada: Image Supersedes Protection under the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper argues that the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act is an example of symbolic legislation that bulwarks a façade of government protection and democratic participation in the face of relative public political powerlessness. Rather than protect railway stations, the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act creates an illusion of preservation. The Act's weak regulatory framework, the emotionality and legal complexity of railway station protection, and the disparate political experience of railway companies versus heritage advocates all imply the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act is symbolic legislation. This paper challenges discourse analysis's predominance within critical heritage studies. It demonstrates the importance of considering heritage law's real-world effects when analyzing its political import. It calls on critical heritage scholars to consult a broader range of sources and consider the political implications of heritage law beyond recognition.