The people of Canada own the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa---not federal politicians, bureaucrats or real estate developers. The Farm is an urban oasis, a "country in the city" "a museum without walls"...and a developers dream. In 1975, a former head of the National Capital Commission wanted to see 7,000 housing units on 700 acres of CEF land. The project never materialized, thanks to Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan, "Save the Experimental Farm" and many other concerned individuals and groups.
In 1965, my classmates and I visited the Experimental Farm, and we were fascinated by the Dominion Observatory---the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles is featured in the James Dean/Natalie Wood movie "Rebel Without A Cause":
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| The Dominion Observatory in Ottawa, Ontario---a Classified Heritage Building that a former government wanted to demolish. |
Federal officials said in 1998 that the Farm may be radically changed, and there could be major controversies. What does the term "radical changes" mean? A chain link fence barring the public from the grounds? A major selloff? Demolitions?
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| In 1983, the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa encompassed 1,200 acres of land. The Clyde/Merivale lands were sold to a developer. |
The public was barred from the grounds of Rideau Hall from 1986 until 1990, when the new Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Ray Hnatyshyn reopened the gates.
Will joggers, bird watchers, dog walkers, bicyclists...have to pay admission fees?
A few weeks ago, Ottawa city councillors were discussing the possibility of a "wall" of high-rise condos lining both sides of Carling Avenue near Dow's Lake. The National Capital Commission, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Public Works and Natural Resources Canada are major landowners in the vicinity of Dow's Lake and Little Italy. I would like to know if Agriculture Canada is planning to sell more property in the nation's capital.
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