Books, poetry and music that inspire me.

The Greening of America by Charles Reich, 1970

 I'm OK, You're OK---A Guide to Transactional Analysis by Dr. Thomas A. Harris

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

The Aquarian Conspiracy by Marilyn Ferguson

The poem Desiderata by Max Ehrmann, especially the words "You are a child of the Universe, No less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here." The 1972 song Desiderata by Les Crane is on YouTube.

The song Firework by Katy Perry

The People's Railway. Updating.

1918 - The government of Canada creates the Canadian National Railway, Canada's first Crown corporation.

1966 - Demolition of Union Station in Ottawa is halted after public opposition.

1970 - The documentary "Festival Express" featured Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, Ian and Sylvia and The Band as they travelled across Canada and performed at concerts. 

1970 - Attempts were made to demolish Union Station and the Dominion Public Building on Front Street, Toronto. Union Station is now owned by the City of Toronto, and the Dominion Building next door was privatized.

1982 - The Hotel du Canada pavilion at Disney World in Florida is modelled after the Chateau Laurier.

The Hilton Corporation tries to buy the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, but the federal government tells Hilton that the Chateau is not for sale. And if it were on the market, it would be sold to a Canadian company such as the Skyline.

Songs "Movin' In (from Montreal by Train") by Stompin' Tom Conners. The YouTube video was filmed at the Parkdale Station in Toronto.

"Railroad Man" by Hank Snow of Nova Scotia is on YouTube. Also: "I've Been Everywhere", "Canadian Pacific 1971", "Green, Green Grass of Home" and "I'm Movin' On."

"Canadian Train Song" by Deryl Dale. 

Tunnels  more

Privatization leads to foreign ownership House of Commons Ottawa May 15, 1995 Mr. John Soloman (Regina-Lumsden, NDP): "With no rules on foreign ownership, CN is destined, with the Liberal government's blessing, to be purchased by individuals and corporations with no interest in Canada's future. The Liberal government is exchanging an east-west transportation system for a north-south system that will see even more foreign control of the Canadian economy. Bill C-89 brings to an end Canadians' ownership and control of their own railway..."

House of Commons Ottawa February 4, 2013 Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina, NDP): "What is happening is that our national dream is slowly drifting away as CN and CP are abandoning rail lines because they are not always profitable in this vast country of ours. Even though CN made $2.7 billion last year, it is unwilling to service some of the areas that are not turning a substantial profit. Thousands of tracks are being given up, whether they are for passenger rail or freight services."

House of Commons Ottawa May 18, 1995 Mr. Michel Guimond (Beauport-Montmorency-Orleans, BQ): "My question is for the Minister of Transport. The minister is about to privatize one of the most important crown corporations without restricting foreign ownership. CN, which was established at a cost of billions of dollars of public moneys, is an asset for Canada and Quebec. Should it be under foreign control it might not serve the interests of Canada."

Prime Minister Stephen wanted to reclaim the Quebec Bridge in Laval from CN.

Calls to re-nationalize the CNR and reclaim the original tracks more

All of the tracks in Canada should be owned by the government. MP Bill Blaikie, NDP more

The Fraser Institute:

The Fraser Institute is also recommending the sale of the CN Tower, Via Rail and Canada Place in Vancouver with its iconic white sails.

"Booth Street Complex one step closer to designation under the Ontario Heritage Act".

 Heritage Ottawa, February 11, 2019.

The Booth Street campus is now included in the Public Land Bank. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney created the National Interest Land Mass in 1988---to prevent the City of Ottawa, NCC, developers etc. from using federal land and buildings as a land bank. And to stop the mass privatization of military bases, post offices, Dominion Buildings... 

I mentioned before that the campus is part of the National Interest Land Mass and will owned by Canadians in perpetuity.

The Booth Street Complex and the Farm cannot be sold. They are connected.

"Heritage buildings include Buildings 1 to 9 on the Natural Resources Canada campus, including the Dominion Observatory." (The New Civic Campus, A 21st Century Hospital in the Heart of Canada's Capital, page 10/76.)

The NRC complex and the Farm are protected by the designation National Interest Land Mass. Booth Street Complex "The site is bounded by Rochester Street to the west, Orangeville Street to the north, LeBreton Street South to the east and Carling Avenue to the south. The site area also includes the parcel at 299 Carling Avenue. The site is largely occupied by federal office and research facilities with some surface parking. The site borders Commissioner's Park to the south, residential uses to the east, Highway 417 and the residential land uses to the north, and mixed-uses including residential, office and retail uses to the west. The site is bisected by the local road network including Booth Street.

• Land Area: 10 hectares/26 acres
• Owner: Public Services and Procurement Canada, Natural Resources Canada
• National Interest Land Mass: Yes
• Existing Land Use: Agricultural Research and Federal Facilities/Employment
• Long-term planned use: Agricultural Research and Federal Facilities/Employment (Information is from NCC Federal Site Review for the New Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital,  page 27/256.)

NCC Federal Site Review for the New Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, November 2016.

Central Experimental Farm---Baseline Rd-Merivale Rd

• Land Area: 25 hectares/62 acres
• Owner: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• National Interest Land Mass: Yes
• Existing Land Use: Agricultural Research
• Long term planned use: Agricultural Research

Central Experimental Farm---Carling Ave (West)

• Land Area: 22 hectares/56 acres
• Owner: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• National Interest Land Mass: Yes
• Existing Land Use: Agricultural Research
• Long term planned use: Agricultural Research

Central Experimental Farm---Carling Ave (Central)

• Land Area: 26 hectares/65 acres
• Owner: agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• National Interest Land Mass: Yes
• Existing Land Use: Agricultural Research and Federal Facilities/Employment
• Long term planned use: Agricultural Research and Federal Facilities/ Employment

Central Experimental Farm---Carling Ave (East)

• Land Area: 20 hectares/50 acres
• Owner: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, NCC
• National Interest Land Mass: Yes
• Existing Land Use: Federal Facilities/Employment, Informal Greenspace, Parking
• Long term Planned Use: Federal Facilities/Employment, Greenspace (Information is from the NCC Federal Site Review for the New Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, pages 26/27 of 256 pages.)

Definition of a National Interest Land Mass "Land forming part of the NILM will be retained by the National Capital Commission on behalf of the government in perpetuity, for purposes which lie at the core of the NCC's mandate; and will be managed by the NCC with little or no further involvement by the Treasury Board Secretariat." (1988-09-15-TB-re-NCC Land Holdings.)

"The Central Experimental Farm, 960 Carling Avenue in Ottawa. The CEF National Historic Site is designated in its entirety as part of the National Interest Land Mass." (CEF National Historic Site Management Plan, Part 7/20.)

 National Historic Sites of Canada Act of 1985 - 

A Recognized Federal Heritage Building

Geological Survey of Canada Building, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa. Designation Date: 1997-11-27.

The photo is by Joseph Ting.

"Heritage buildings play a crucial role in preserving the cultural heritage of a community and provide a tangible connection to the past. They serve as symbols of cultural identity, reminding us of the rich history and tradition that have shaped our communities." (History or Heritage and what's the difference anyway? From the Internet.)

1992

 

Federal properties that were under review in 2006. (Recommended for disposal.) Updating.

Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street Ottawa. A brand-new archives building is envisioned for the Lebreton Flats. 

Sir Charles Tupper, 2720 Riverside Drive Ottawa.

John. G. Diefenbaker, 111 Sussex Drive Ottawa.

Lester B. Pearson, 125 Sussex Drive Ottawa.

East Memorial---Veterans Affairs, 284 Wellington Ottawa.

, 

National Printing Bureau, 45 Sacre-Coeur, Gatineau Quebec 

• National Film Board Headquarters, 3155 Cote-de-Liesse Road and 120 Houde Street, Montreal Quebec. "The former National Film Board headquarters in Saint-Laurent, Montreal, will be redeveloped into a mixed-use site. The redevelopment will include 600 to 700 apartments. Building F at 125 Houde will provide a minimum of 110 residential units. (Federal Land Initiative---Former NFB Building, August 24, 2024.)

Privatized Crown properties.

Canada's Farm in Ottawa was established in 1886.