Protecting the wilderness of your Canadian land

The Georgian Bay Land Trust partners with American Friends of Canadian Land Trusts (American Friends) to preserve priority conservation land owned by Americans. Some of Georgian Bay’s most pristine and ecologically sensitive properties are owned by US taxpayers, making this partnership is an important part of the GBLT’s conservation strategy.

American Friends (afoclt.org) is a US charity dedicated to preserving Canada’s natural heritage by facilitating donations of land and conservation easements from American landowners. In response to American Friends’ critical role in keeping Canada’s wild places for future generations, the Canadian government recognizes American Friends as a “prescribed donee”. This special tax status means that donations to American Friends may be exempted from Canadian capital gains taxes.

Through GBLT’s partnership with American Friends, US taxpayers donating land or a conservation easement in Canada can secure financial benefits equivalent to those received by Canadians for a comparable gift, including a US income tax deduction receipt and relief from capital gains tax in Canada. The latter benefit is crucial for families who wish to pass their Georgian Bay retreats to the next generation.

To learn about the American Friends Conservation Lands Program and how you can create a conservation legacy in a financially beneficial way, please browse the information below. For more information about donating land or creating a conservation easement with the Georgian Bay Land Trust, please contact our Executive Director Bill Lougheed at bill.lougheed@gblt.org or (416) 440-1519 x101.

[calltoaction href=”https://www.gblt.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/GBLT-Conservation-Lands-Program-Overview-Feb-2015.doc”]Download an introduction to the American Friends Conservation Lands Program[/calltoaction]