Most buildings are bulldozed well before they are unsound because of systemic barriers to reuse that are technical, physical and cultural. There are systemic reasons driving this often needlessly destructive activity, and addressing them will help us meet our climate emergency goals. …The National Trust for Canada has pushed for federal tax incentives (similar to the US Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program) through its long-running Landmarks Not Landfill campaign… It is broadly recognized internationally that reusing and upgrading our existing buildings is one of the quickest ways to reach our climate action targets. …Astonishingly, Canada sends 1.39 million tonnes of wood CRD (construction, renovation and demolition) waste to landfills each year, including precious old-growth lumber – and that’s an estimate, as Canada does an abysmal job of tracking its trash.