The Canadian Ecological Gifts Program Handbook

Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program provides a way for Canadians with ecologically sensitive land to protect nature and leave a legacy for future generations. It offers significant tax benefits to landowners who donate land or a partial interest in land to qualified recipient organizations such as environmental charities as well as to federal, provincial and territorial governments, Canadian municipalities, and municipal or public bodies that perform a function of government. Recipient organizations become responsible for the conservation of the donated land’s biodiversity and environmental heritage. This responsibility lasts forever.

This handbook is intended for use by donors, recipients and others interested in the Ecological Gifts Program. It describes the general requirements and responsibilities of both donors and recipients, as well as the steps involved in making a successful ecological gift donation, from arranging the donation to determining its fair market value. 

For personal assistance, or to request printed copies of the Ecological Gifts Program publications, please contact the program’s National Secretariat by phone at 1-800-668-6767 or by email at pde-egp@ec.gc.ca. One of our regional coordinators can also provide assistance.