The preceding discussion has summarized federal archaeological heritage protection in Canada, identified some of the current shortcomings, and described the future potent to finally realize comprehensive federal heritage legislation. Clouding this optimism is the uncertain state of Canadian federal politics, in which discretionary legislation remains in a state of flux as governments, particularly those in a minority position, focus on retaining power Given the change in government in 2006 and the consequences of the re-election in 2008 of this minority government, the proposed historic places act is stalled until it again becomes a priority of the government. There is growing trepidation among heritage professionals that, should this proposed legislation fail to be passed into law, as occurred in the early 1990s, it may take a generation before another attempt is made. It seems unlikely that there will be the appetite among the present generation of heritage professionals to try again. In the meantime, Canada will continue with its patchwork of laws, guidelines, policies and protocols until it gets its federal act together.