The provincial government does not support recognizing the Riverview Hospital lands as a national historic site, and this decision is raising concerns across the community.

The City of Coquitlam submitted an application to the federal government in May 2009 for Riverview to be designated a national historic site. To proceed with the review, the federal government requires support from the province as the property owner.

Last month, Premier Gordon Campbell sent a signed letter to stakeholder groups stating that Shared Services B.C. (SSBC), on behalf of the provincial government, has declined to support the nomination.

"However, I can advise that the ministry's heritage programs team is encouraging SSBC to develop a conservation planning approach to the Riverview lands," states Campbell's letter, dated Sept. 22, 2010.

Richard Linzey, acting manager of heritage programs with the provincial Heritage Branch, said that formal recognition of heritage value, such as national historic site designation, is one of many conservation tools available.

"It's one of those very powerful political tools and it should be used sparingly. It should be part of a comprehensive planning process for land ... A conservation planning approach is a process that's intended to be inclusive," Linzey said. "It allows for all of the voices with an interest in this land to be heard -- that its multiple heritage values can be heard and recorded to guide the development of effective and practical strategies for the conservation and evolution of the Riverview site."

Linzey said he can't predict the timeframe nor the outcome of the planning process.

"I think people see heritage as something that prevents change and fossilizes a place, and really we can't manage land like that ... It has to continue to evolve in a way which recognizes the multiplicity of values of that land."

He also couldn't confirm whether the plans would consider sale of the properties for private use or housing units.

"When this conservation plan finally comes out, it will make it clear how people value the land and what they would like to see in a place and what they would not like to see in a place," he said. "It would be an agreed framework for the development of that land."

Federal Heritage Minister James Moore said it's up to the province to decide what it wants to do with the lands it manages.

"At the end of the day, it's the choice of the province as to whether or not they want to have the lands designated in that way," said Moore, MP for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam.

"If they don't, then the legal process is very clear that that's the end of it. The future of the lands is the choice of the province."

However, Moore said the province can revisit the decision at any time.

"I wouldn't say it's a dead issue. It's up to the province to decide to engage it, and it's not a political decision either," he said.

"It's not myself as minister of heritage and it's not the minister of environment that decides to designate. There's a process including public consultation and an overall assessment of the lands and the appropriateness of whether or not it should be designated as a heritage spot. It's done at arm's length by departmental officials after a great deal of consultation and consideration."

Elaine Golds of the Burke Mountain Naturalists said she believes Riverview is worthy of being declared a national historic site.

"We feel it's a significant site. The trees originally drew us to the site. It's Western Canada's first arboretum. It was started by the first botanist hired by the province," Golds said. "It's also a really good example of the English country estate style of landscaping with grand building design nicely framed by surrounding trees. So it certainly has some significance for that.

"Then it's got these wonderful old buildings. Each building by itself could be considered to have some significant heritage status. The fact that they're all together on this site, which has a real campus-like feel to it, makes it quite a remarkable area."

And for Coquitlam-Maillardville NDP MLA Diane Thorne, the land should be kept public.

"[NDP leader] Carole James has come out very clearly in favour of keeping these lands in public hands ... I have a recommitment from her on that. The leader of the official Opposition supports putting the brakes on selling off any or all of this site for market housing," Thorne said.

"The public right across the province, but particularly the Tri-Cities, has been working and fighting very, very hard for the last 25 years to keep those lands in public hands."

Meanwhile, Coquitlam Coun. Mae Reid continues to be optimistic for the future of Riverview.

"We're trying to keep this positive because if we get negative then it's just not going to help us," Reid said.

The Riverview Advisory Committee will host a meeting tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. in the committee room at Coquitlam City Hall, located at 3000 Guildford Way.