Metro Development Centre, Toronto-Alleged Agreement to Demolish Union Station.
House of Commons Debates, Ottawa November 16, 1971.
Mr. John Gilbert, New Democratic Party (Broadview).
Mr. Gilbert:
"Has Canadian National Railways entered into an agreement with Metro Development Centre to sell Union Station in Toronto and, if so, does the government agree with the demolition of Union Station?"
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The connection between Metro Centre and the Spadina Expressway.
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Summerhill Station, Yonge Street, Toronto.
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| In 1971 residents of Marlborough Street in Toronto fought the CPR's plan to flatten Summerhill Station and build hundreds of houses on the grounds of the station and surrounding land. The book "Marlborough Marathon-One Street Against a Developer" can be purchased on Amazon. (Amazon.ca photo.) |
Union Station, Ottawa
During the early 1950's an urban planner named Jacques Greber suggested that the CNR train station in Ottawa should be decommissioned and all the train tracks should be removed. The suggestion was controversial:
House of Commons Debates Ottawa June 23, 1951
Mr. Jean-Francois Pouliot, Liberal"
"I understand that the federal district commission is trying to follow the suggestion of Mr. Greber, the architect, who comes from Paris. In Paris there are many railway stations. There is the Gare du Nord, the Gare de Lyon, and there are others right in the heart of Paris which is a beautiful city."
"In London there is the same thing. Waterloo is right in the middle of the city, and there are others which are in the middle of the city. Montreal is a beautiful city. There is the central station of the Canadian National Hallways near the Windsor station of the Canadian Pacific Railway right in the heart of the city."
"I do not understand Mr. Greber's idea of having a railway station four miles from the centre of Ottawa, especially now that we have diesel engines that make no smoke and are not an inconvenience to the people. I do not know how he can beautify the city of Ottawa by removing the railway from the centre of downtown."
(Note: Mr. Greber advised the federal district commission, which today is known as the National Capital Commission.)
National Capital Commission plans in 1966.
(The following information is from the Internet website NCC Watch.)
"One of North America's first monumental railway stations, the Grand Trunk Railway Union Station opened in 1912 and served passengers until 1966. It was closed for the sake of the National Capital Commission's monumental plans-after all, it was the sixties and who needed trains anymore? So the valuable rail transit corridor that ran through the heart of the city was replaced with the Nicholas Street expressway and Colonel By Drive and the station moved out to the suburbs against the wishes of the railroads. Incredibly the plan called for the former station's demolition as it would impede traffic."
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During the early 1950's an urban planner named Jacques Greber suggested that the CNR train station in Ottawa should be decommissioned and all the train tracks should be removed. The suggestion was controversial:
House of Commons Debates Ottawa June 23, 1951
Mr. Jean-Francois Pouliot, Liberal"
"I understand that the federal district commission is trying to follow the suggestion of Mr. Greber, the architect, who comes from Paris. In Paris there are many railway stations. There is the Gare du Nord, the Gare de Lyon, and there are others right in the heart of Paris which is a beautiful city."
"In London there is the same thing. Waterloo is right in the middle of the city, and there are others which are in the middle of the city. Montreal is a beautiful city. There is the central station of the Canadian National Hallways near the Windsor station of the Canadian Pacific Railway right in the heart of the city."
"I do not understand Mr. Greber's idea of having a railway station four miles from the centre of Ottawa, especially now that we have diesel engines that make no smoke and are not an inconvenience to the people. I do not know how he can beautify the city of Ottawa by removing the railway from the centre of downtown."
(Note: Mr. Greber advised the federal district commission, which today is known as the National Capital Commission.)
National Capital Commission plans in 1966.
(The following information is from the Internet website NCC Watch.)
"One of North America's first monumental railway stations, the Grand Trunk Railway Union Station opened in 1912 and served passengers until 1966. It was closed for the sake of the National Capital Commission's monumental plans-after all, it was the sixties and who needed trains anymore? So the valuable rail transit corridor that ran through the heart of the city was replaced with the Nicholas Street expressway and Colonel By Drive and the station moved out to the suburbs against the wishes of the railroads. Incredibly the plan called for the former station's demolition as it would impede traffic."
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