The National Capital Commission wants to obliterate the Sparks Street Mall in Ottawa.

The Devlin/Ahearn Block was demolished so that a bank and office tower could be constructed here. Canadian politician Thomas D'Arcy McGee was assassinated in front of the Devlin Block.

In July of 1973 the government of Canada expropriated all of the properties between Wellington, Elgin, Sparks and Bank Street, in order to save the architectural heritage of the area, and to expand the Parliamentary Precinct.
During the year 2000 the NCC started buying up all the land and buildings on the south side of the Mall. They have been privatized. The NCC and a local politician want to animate the district by permitting the inclusion of wall-to-wall high rise condominiums.
All of the property on the north side of the Mall is still owned by the Department of Public Works. PWGSC is refurbishing heritage buildings including Canada's Four Corners.
-----------------------------------------------
The Sparks Street Mall is a Heritage Conservation District protected by Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.
The Parliament of Canada Act.
Definition of Parliamentary Precinct

---------------------------------------------
House of Commons Debates Ottawa    March 13, 2002
Mr. Joe McGuire (Egmont, Liberal):
"Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services has announced that the recently acquired Royal Bank Building on Sparks Street would be renamed in honour of the Hon. Thomas D'Arcy McGee. Could the Minister elaborate on this very visible and concrete decision?"
Hon. Don Boudria, Minister of Public Works and Government Services:
     "Mr. Speaker, Thomas D'Arcy McGee was without any doubt the greatest orator this country has ever had. He was a father of Confederation, the only one who gave his life and who died in service at the federal level."