All of the properties along Wellington Street opposite Parliament Hill in Ottawa are the focus of an international design competition. This is so wrong. Foreign architects should be banned from any project involving national, Crown-owned properties.
1.) House of Commons Debates Ottawa May 20, 1971.
Mr. Jack Cullen (Sarnia-Lambton, Ontario.) Liberal.
" Although it is somewhat foreign to my own field, I want to talk about architects...Architects in Canada, as we know, plan and design private residences, office buildings, theatres, public buildings, factories and other structures, and organizes the services necessary for their construction. They consult with a client to determine size and space regulations, and provide information regarding costs, design, materials and equipment.
...Architects have other problems to meet, such as those caused by the changing seasons we have in Canada. How can an architect from the state of California, knowing nothing about winter conditions in Canada, claim he is in a position to plan the types of buildings that we need."(From: Request for copy of a study regarding development of guidelines to establish Canadian Equivalence of Foreign Degrees and Diplomas.)
2.) The government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau expropriated all the of buildings across from Parliament Hill on Wellington, and along Sparks Street Mall in 1973, in order to save them; and to expand the Parliamentary Precinct:
House of Commons Debates Ottawa July 20, 1973.
Hon. Jean-Eudes Dube (Minister of Public Works) Liberal.
"Mr. Speaker, for a number of years it has been recognized that Parliament faces a severe space problem creating a limitation of its effective operation. As Parliament has become, through its committees and in other ways, even more involed in all aspects of the nation's life, it has become much more a year round operation and space available has fallen behind its needs as they have developed in the modern era.
"Moreover, concern has been expressed about the danger of visual encroachment on the beauty of the present parliamentary precinct, which is one of the great symbols of Canada. We must ensure that nearby developments do not adversely affect it and furthermore, we have an opportunity, I believe, to enhance the present precinct by enlarging and therefore completing it in a fitting manner.
"To properly house the expanding requirements of Parliament for generations ahead in a way that would both compliment and preserve the existing beauty of the Parliament Buildings we must enlarge the present parliamentary grounds.
"I wish therefore to announce Mr. Speaker, that I have today, on behalf of the government, filed a notice of intent to expropriate the land and buildings in the area bounded by Wellington Street, Elgin Street, Sparks Street and Bank Street. The purpose of this expropriation is as I have indicated to protect the environment of Parliament from any development which could adversely affect it...The property of the United States Embassy has been excluded from this expropriation but discussions are well advanced for its acquisition. (Emphasis mine.)
"I should like to add a few words, Mr. Speaker, with respect to the existing properties and especially the Sparks Street Mall. It is the government's intention that until Parliament's needs have been fully defined there will be no disturbances whatsoever of the existing properties. This will be especially true of the commercial operations on Sparks Street....I want to assure everyone involved that on the Mall it will be business as usual."
3.) Senate Bill S-203 was introduced in November 2019 by Senator Serge Joyal. The Bill has already passed the Second Reading and will stop any demolition, alteration, facadism, infill developments etc. of historic buildings along Wellington and Rideau Streets known as the Parliamentary Precinct.
4.) The design competition is international. Foreign companies should not have the power to strip Canadian Maple Leaf Flags from government buildings, or build office towers that are taller than the Parliament Buildings/Peace Tower. Also, they should not remove the names of significant people from an edifice.
5.) Prime Minister Mulroney and Deputy Prime Minister Erik Nielsen designated many sites in Ottawa "National Interest Land Mass" properties, to protect them from redevelopment. The City has identified 13,800 acres of the Greenbelt that could be removed from the Greenbelt and used for housing.
6.) Canadian politicians have always encouraged the participation of home-grown architects in national projects:
House of Commons Debates Ottawa April 28, 1965.
The Hon. Mitchell Sharp (Minister of Trade and Commerce) Liberal.
"Habitat '67 can best be described as a housing complex rather than an apartment building. It will be constructed on the Expo '67 site by the Canadian Corporation for the 1967 World Exhibition...Moshe Safdie and Associated Architects are the designers of the building...The design was not the result of an architectural competition."
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Dow's Lake Park, Ottawa.
The National Capital Commission was known as the Federal District Commission.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa March 3, 1938.
Mr. Thomas Langdon Church, Conservative.
"If we look at the work done by the federal district commission we find, in the western section, it includes: Island Park, the Rideau Canal, Echo Drive; Dow's Lake Park; Confederation and Lake Flora Park; Val Tetreau Park and Central Park, Bronson Avenue and Somerset Street parks.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House of Commons Debates Ottawa September 23, 1949.
Mr. James Garfield Gardiner (Minister of Agriculture). Liberal.
"The other evening the hon. member for Winnipeg North asked a question with regard to the central experimental farm in Ottawa. I am informed that the size of the farm is 1,194.4 acres, made up in the following way:
---The old original farm, 468 acres.
---the Caldwell farm of 300 acres, purchased some time ago and added onto it.
---the Scott farm of 65 acres.
---the Booth farm of 361.4 acres, making a total of 1,194. 4 acres."
"There have been discussions from time to time of the advisability of retaining the farm in such close proximity to the city of Ottawa...the argument up to date has always been that it is a real asset to the city, to the eastern part of Canada and to a very considerable extent to the people of Canada as a whole.
When people, particularly from agricultural areas, come to the capital they can go out and see the latest experiments being carried on at a place close to the city. If it were ten or fifteen miles away many people would not go near it or would not be able to find the opportunity to go. Most people who come from the outlying sections of Canada look upon the farm as being one of the sights that they want to see while in Ottawa and I have no doubt that many of them carry away beneficial ideas in connection with agriculture that otherwise they would not get."
Federal Directory of Real Property website.
Ottawa Research and Development Centre.
Crown Owned.
Primary Purpose - Agricultural Research and Management.
Address - 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa Centre, Ontario.
Land - 425.6000 ha. or 1,051 acres.
Building Count - 88.
Record Last Modified - December 20, 2018.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa March 3, 1938.
Mr. Thomas Langdon Church, Conservative.
"If we look at the work done by the federal district commission we find, in the western section, it includes: Island Park, the Rideau Canal, Echo Drive; Dow's Lake Park; Confederation and Lake Flora Park; Val Tetreau Park and Central Park, Bronson Avenue and Somerset Street parks.
 |
| The Dow's Lake Park. |
House of Commons Debates Ottawa September 23, 1949.
Mr. James Garfield Gardiner (Minister of Agriculture). Liberal.
"The other evening the hon. member for Winnipeg North asked a question with regard to the central experimental farm in Ottawa. I am informed that the size of the farm is 1,194.4 acres, made up in the following way:
---The old original farm, 468 acres.
---the Caldwell farm of 300 acres, purchased some time ago and added onto it.
---the Scott farm of 65 acres.
---the Booth farm of 361.4 acres, making a total of 1,194. 4 acres."
"There have been discussions from time to time of the advisability of retaining the farm in such close proximity to the city of Ottawa...the argument up to date has always been that it is a real asset to the city, to the eastern part of Canada and to a very considerable extent to the people of Canada as a whole.
When people, particularly from agricultural areas, come to the capital they can go out and see the latest experiments being carried on at a place close to the city. If it were ten or fifteen miles away many people would not go near it or would not be able to find the opportunity to go. Most people who come from the outlying sections of Canada look upon the farm as being one of the sights that they want to see while in Ottawa and I have no doubt that many of them carry away beneficial ideas in connection with agriculture that otherwise they would not get."
Federal Directory of Real Property website.
Ottawa Research and Development Centre.
Crown Owned.
Primary Purpose - Agricultural Research and Management.
Address - 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa Centre, Ontario.
Land - 425.6000 ha. or 1,051 acres.
Building Count - 88.
Record Last Modified - December 20, 2018.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
The people of Ottawa need green space.
Mr. Jean-Robert Gauthier (Chief Opposition Whip; Whip of the Liberal Party) Liberal. The park at Rideau Hall.
"Mr. Speaker, I have approximately six petitions from constituents and visitors to the national capital who wish to present a grievance...The closure of this attractive and tranquil park affects thousands of visitors from across the country. Area residents from across the national capital region have used and enjoyed the grounds of Rideau Hall. They cannot accept a blanket closure of the 120-acre park to public access."
When His Excellency the Right Hon. Ray Hnatyshyn became Governor General of Canada in 1990 he reopened the gates.
-------------------------------------------
Preserve the Lebreton Flats as a National Urban Park--- calls from politicians John Manley, John Baird and Barry Mather:
House of Commons Debates Ottawa October 22, 1969.
MP Barry Mather: "Is the Government of Canada giving favourable consideration to the establishment of a national park at the LeBreton Flats area in Ottawa?"
Mile Circle Park near Rockcliffe.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa April 9, 1986.
Mr. John Barry Turner (Ottawa-Carleton) Progressive Conservative.
"Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present another petition signed by 34 residents of the National Capital Region who are very much opposed to the National Capital Commission's proposal to turn the Mile Circle into an embassy row. They indicated that Mile Circle was designated in 1925 by the Ottawa Improvement Commission as a national park. (Note: More than 4,000 signatures were collected on petitions.)
House of Commons Debates Ottawa June 17, 1986.
Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Ontario) Liberal.
"Mr. Speaker, today at noon close to 200 people took part in a demonstration on Parliament Hill demanding that the Tory government leave the Mile Circle Park the way it is - a park for the people of Canada to enjoy. The park has been in existence for 71 years, and we do not want the Government to turn it into a building site for the US Embassy."
----------------------------------------------------
Commissioner's Park at Dow's Lake. King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima never visited Commissioner's Park during their recent visit to Canada. The Dutch Royal Family always attended events at the park-Queen Juliana, Prince Bernhard, Queen Beatrix and Princess Margriet. The Tulip Festival is offering virtual tours of the event, which is probably a kiss of death to any live, real, interactive event in the future. Do not ruin important tourism venues--- Dow's Lake, the Farm and Little Italy. Residents of the west end can look forward to:
---noise pollution
---light pollution
---traffic congestion
---intensification-"In the next decade the near west of Ottawa will see tens of thousands of new residents." Councillor Jeff Leiper.
 |
| Bayshore on Carling Avenue, Ottawa during Canada Day celebrations, July 2019. |
-- The federal government is planning to privatize thousands of GOC buildings.
--- Canadians own Gatineau Park, the Greenbelt, the Rideau Canal; Lebreton Flats; all of the federal museums; Mooney's Bay; Confederation Heights and Tunney's Pasture.
Museum paintings and artifacts may be sold off because virtual tours are now acceptable. The paintings will probably be sold off by the Crown Assets Disposal Corporation or at auction houses in London, England and New York, Sotheby's and Christies.
During the 1960's my generation detested anything "phony"- imitation lawn grass; musicians who pretended to play musical instruments (my brothers threw my Monkee albums out the window and cars drove over them, because the Monkees had a backup band); a soft drink commercial proclaimed that Coca Cola was "the real thing."
Virtual reality is phony, fake, an imitation, artificial and plastic. A City of Ottawa document is claiming that "green space does not have to be green" in order to program us into accepting concrete plazas and parkettes.
A parkette is a mini park less than 1 acre in size. You can take your mini-parks Ottawa politicians.
 |
| 12 acres of public land donated to the Ottawa Hospital have been rezoned mixed-use to facilitate the construction of high rise apartments. The $4 million dollar Dow's Lake parking lot was also a gift and underground parking is being considered. The cafeteria annex designed by Hart Massey will be demolished, as well as the South Azimuth on the Observatory grounds. Maple Lane and Prince of Wales Drive will have to be widened to accommodate an increase in traffic. Former Councillor Katherine Hobbs, residents of Little Italy and the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association are trying to save Queen Juliana Park. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Books, movies and songs that celebrate Canada's railway history.
The National Dream (1970) and The Last Spike (1971) by Pierre Berton.
Steel of Empire: The Romantic History of the Canadian Pacific, the Northwestern Passage of Today (1935) by J.M. Gibbons.
A History of the Canadian Pacific (1923) by H.A. Innis.
The People's Railway: A History of Canadian National (1992) by Donald MacKay.
Movies
Son of Lassie - starring Peter Lawford.
Canadian Pacific - (1949) Randolph Scott, Jane Wyatt.
Songs that are on YouTube.
Canadian Railroad Trilogy by troubadour Gordon Lightfoot.
Movin in (from Montreal by Train) by Stompin' Tom Connors. The video was filmed in 1973 at the Parkdale, Toronto station.
Canadian Train Song by Deryl Dale.
 |
| Nova Scotia singer and song writer Hank Snow recorded 140 albums. YouTube photo. |
Festival Express (1970) Starring Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Ian and Sylvia, the Band.
 |
| The CN pavilion, Expo in Montreal. Unknown individual, Senta Berger and Robert Wagner. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 |
| My grandmother thought that American singer Boxcar Willie was a real freight hopper. During the Great Depression of the 1930's men and boys traveled on railway cars looking for work. Many individuals disembarked at Jasper, Ontario and walked or hitchhiked to my grandparents mansion. My grandmother always gave them odd jobs, including milking the cows, picking apples, harvesting hay or mowing the grass. My grandmother also gave the men cash and provided lavish meals. During the Depression my grandfather was a Bank of Nova Scotia manager and a gentleman farmer. |
 |
| During the 1980's train conductor overalls were popular for babies and toddlers. |
 |
| The friend who is standing on my right is wearing an engineer's cap. I was on a Canada Post loading dock, Higinbotham Building, Lethbridge Alberta. 1973. |
Friday, May 15, 2020
"There are many reasons why the CNR should remain a publicly-owned corporation."
"In fact, the CPR should be nationalized as well in order to have one national railway system in Canada." Mr. Lorne Edmund Nystrom, New Democratic Party, February 9, 1978.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 9, 1978.
"When the CPR was formed it was given $25 million in cash on an outright gift basis; it was given 25 million acres of land; it was given other private railways that became part of the CPR in our country, and it was given all kinds of various rights and gifts by the federal government of this country. The CPR has been able to expand into several other businesses...It is involved in land development through Marathon Realty; it is involved in the airline business through CP Air; it is involved in the resource industry through Cominco; it is involved in oil through CP Oil."
"When we consider CN we see the reverse situation. Instead of being given all kinds of gifts and subsidies, we find that the CNR was really formed when five railways in this country went bankrupt:
the Intercolonial Railway
the National Transcontinental Railway
the Grand Trunk Railway
the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
the Canadian Northern Railway.
...I want to say at the outset that I am in favour of this bill, which will take much of the debt from the CNR and put it on an equal footing with the CPR...
Let me now say a few words about my fear regarding the privatization of the CNR.
From the statements I have heard from the president of the CNR, Minister of Transport (Mr.Lang) and other officials of the railway and government, one of the objectives is to gradually sell off the CN. They will start doing that by selling off the more profitable aspects of the railway, that is, by taking away some of its profitable branches. They have already set up Via Rail and are now talking about reorganizing other branches such as the hotel end...I maintain this should not be done...
There are many reasons why the CNR should remain a publicly owned company. In fact, the CPR should be nationalized as well in order to have one national railway in Canada. A transportation system should provide a basic service to people. It should not be existence simply to provide a profit to its shareholders. If the railway system is publicly owned then decent transportation will be provided to the various regions of our country.
If that system is privately owned, its main concern will be the making of a profit. I do not believe in that, but it is the motivation of the free enterprise system.
Transportation should not be organized in that way. If it is, there will be a greater concentration of people in the huge urban centres such as southern Ontario, metropolitan Montreal and the lower mainland of British Columbia. At the same time there will be fewer people living in the farm regions, the small towns, the Atlantic provinces, the North and other areas which are distant from the urban centres.
I hope parts off the CNR are not sold off. If they are, the ones sold off will be the profitable ones and the ones retained will be lose which are losing money. If the CNR and CPR are amalgamated and operated as a Crown corporation then it could be used as a major planning device for our economy and would assist in diversifying our population. Most Canadians live in three or four of the larger populations centres. This creates all kinds of problems in terms of crime rates, the noise of the big city, transportation problems and the hustle and bustle. Most of our big cities are built on the best farmland...If the urban centres are expanded then more farm land is paved over. By taking away the grain and oilseeds industries, Canada will not be self-sufficient in the production of food."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 9, 1978.
"When the CPR was formed it was given $25 million in cash on an outright gift basis; it was given 25 million acres of land; it was given other private railways that became part of the CPR in our country, and it was given all kinds of various rights and gifts by the federal government of this country. The CPR has been able to expand into several other businesses...It is involved in land development through Marathon Realty; it is involved in the airline business through CP Air; it is involved in the resource industry through Cominco; it is involved in oil through CP Oil."
"When we consider CN we see the reverse situation. Instead of being given all kinds of gifts and subsidies, we find that the CNR was really formed when five railways in this country went bankrupt:
the Intercolonial Railway
the National Transcontinental Railway
the Grand Trunk Railway
the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
the Canadian Northern Railway.
...I want to say at the outset that I am in favour of this bill, which will take much of the debt from the CNR and put it on an equal footing with the CPR...
Let me now say a few words about my fear regarding the privatization of the CNR.
From the statements I have heard from the president of the CNR, Minister of Transport (Mr.Lang) and other officials of the railway and government, one of the objectives is to gradually sell off the CN. They will start doing that by selling off the more profitable aspects of the railway, that is, by taking away some of its profitable branches. They have already set up Via Rail and are now talking about reorganizing other branches such as the hotel end...I maintain this should not be done...
There are many reasons why the CNR should remain a publicly owned company. In fact, the CPR should be nationalized as well in order to have one national railway in Canada. A transportation system should provide a basic service to people. It should not be existence simply to provide a profit to its shareholders. If the railway system is publicly owned then decent transportation will be provided to the various regions of our country.
If that system is privately owned, its main concern will be the making of a profit. I do not believe in that, but it is the motivation of the free enterprise system.
Transportation should not be organized in that way. If it is, there will be a greater concentration of people in the huge urban centres such as southern Ontario, metropolitan Montreal and the lower mainland of British Columbia. At the same time there will be fewer people living in the farm regions, the small towns, the Atlantic provinces, the North and other areas which are distant from the urban centres.
I hope parts off the CNR are not sold off. If they are, the ones sold off will be the profitable ones and the ones retained will be lose which are losing money. If the CNR and CPR are amalgamated and operated as a Crown corporation then it could be used as a major planning device for our economy and would assist in diversifying our population. Most Canadians live in three or four of the larger populations centres. This creates all kinds of problems in terms of crime rates, the noise of the big city, transportation problems and the hustle and bustle. Most of our big cities are built on the best farmland...If the urban centres are expanded then more farm land is paved over. By taking away the grain and oilseeds industries, Canada will not be self-sufficient in the production of food."
Thursday, May 14, 2020
 |
| Princess Diana in the Chateau Laurier Hotel, Ottawa, 1983. |
  |
| American aviator and inventor Howard Hughes lived in Vancouver's Bayshore Hotel during the year 1972. |
 |
| John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded the song "Give Peace a Chance" at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Quebec. (Montreal Gazette photo) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 |
| A real Zeppelin hovered over the Chateau Laurier, 1930. (Ottawarewind.com.) |
CNR Toronto - Alleged agreement to demolish Union Station.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa November 16, 1971.
Mr. John Gilbert (Broadview) New Democratic Party.
"Has the CNR entered into any agreement with Metro Development Centre to sell Union Station in Toronto and, if so, does the federal government agree with the demolition of Union Station?"
Hon. Donald Jamieson, Liberal.
"Mr. Speaker, the hon. member I believe is aware that it is a consortium that is planning what is commonly referred to as Metro Centre. It has the full support of the government. We have given a good deal of assistance to the main parties concerned to get it going. One of the objectives is a new terminal, and I believe this involves the destruction of Union Station, but I assume that the decision whether it is to be destroyed or not would be up to the municipal..."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa December 2, 1971.
Mr. John Gilbert (Broadview) New Democratic Party.
"Mr. Speaker, why is it up to the municipality of the city of Toronto to determine the destruction of Union Station in Toronto? May I remind the hon. members that this Union Station land is comprised of approximately nine acres, is owned by the city of Toronto but is subject to a renewable lease of 21 years, in perpetuity, to the railway companies."
Timeline
1927 - The railway station is officially opened by the Prince of Wales, Prince Edward.
1969 - CNR and CP plan to redevelop the railway lands. From 1969 until 1975 individuals and groups fight to save the station, including the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and future mayor of Toronto John Sewell, who created the "Save Union Station Committee."
1975 - Union Station is designated a Classified Federal Heritage Building by the Federal Government of Canada.
2000 - The City of Toronto purchases the building. The building is no longer protected by the "Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act" because of the following loophole:
"Only designated railway stations that are still owned by a railway company under federal jurisdiction are subject to the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act."
Mr. John Gilbert (Broadview) New Democratic Party.
"Has the CNR entered into any agreement with Metro Development Centre to sell Union Station in Toronto and, if so, does the federal government agree with the demolition of Union Station?"
Hon. Donald Jamieson, Liberal.
"Mr. Speaker, the hon. member I believe is aware that it is a consortium that is planning what is commonly referred to as Metro Centre. It has the full support of the government. We have given a good deal of assistance to the main parties concerned to get it going. One of the objectives is a new terminal, and I believe this involves the destruction of Union Station, but I assume that the decision whether it is to be destroyed or not would be up to the municipal..."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa December 2, 1971.
Mr. John Gilbert (Broadview) New Democratic Party.
"Mr. Speaker, why is it up to the municipality of the city of Toronto to determine the destruction of Union Station in Toronto? May I remind the hon. members that this Union Station land is comprised of approximately nine acres, is owned by the city of Toronto but is subject to a renewable lease of 21 years, in perpetuity, to the railway companies."
 |
| Union Station on Front Street, Toronto, Ontario. Wikipedia photo. |
1927 - The railway station is officially opened by the Prince of Wales, Prince Edward.
1969 - CNR and CP plan to redevelop the railway lands. From 1969 until 1975 individuals and groups fight to save the station, including the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and future mayor of Toronto John Sewell, who created the "Save Union Station Committee."
1975 - Union Station is designated a Classified Federal Heritage Building by the Federal Government of Canada.
2000 - The City of Toronto purchases the building. The building is no longer protected by the "Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act" because of the following loophole:
"Only designated railway stations that are still owned by a railway company under federal jurisdiction are subject to the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act."
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
PWGSC and NCC parks and green spaces.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa November 25, 1968.
Mr. Walter Dinsdale, (Brandon, Manitoba), Progressive Conservative.
"I think the hon. member will agree that the national parkways, the experimental farm and many other specialized and beautiful park areas are supported by the people of Canada through public funds expended by the National Capital Commission whose estimates we are now discussing."
Mr. William Arnold Peters, (Timiskaming, Ontario.) New Democratic Party.
"Our national capital should be developed in a way acceptable to Canadians who visit it from all parts of Canada. We rent, buy and expropriate property to build a national capital plan. But what happens in Ottawa, every time some joker gets an idea that he wants to build a high rise building in Ottawa, the City changes its zoning. In effect the city seems subject to the plans of two or three entrepreneurs."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Capital Region parks in 1983.
PWGSC.
---Major's Hill Park.
---Plouffe Park.
---Land, proposed American Embassy next to Major's Hill Park.
---Jacques Cartier Park.
---Rideau Falls parkland.
---Confederation Park.
---Garden of the Provinces Park.
NCC.
Arboretum located at the Farm.
Gatineau.
Greenbelt.
Rockcliffe Park.
Lot: St. Bernadette Park.
Brebeuf Park.
Mooney's Bay Park - should be returned to the NCC.
Hog's Back Park.
Vincent Massey Park.
Nepean Point Park.
Lacasse Park.
Kingsview Park.
Fontaine Park.
Linear Park.
Leamy Lake.
Richilieu.
(from: My January 2, 2019 blog.)
Parks that were not mentioned in the 1983 document:
Commissioner's Park, Dow's Lake, Ottawa.
Mile Circle near Rockcliffe.
LeBreton Common.
Mr. Walter Dinsdale, (Brandon, Manitoba), Progressive Conservative.
"I think the hon. member will agree that the national parkways, the experimental farm and many other specialized and beautiful park areas are supported by the people of Canada through public funds expended by the National Capital Commission whose estimates we are now discussing."
Mr. William Arnold Peters, (Timiskaming, Ontario.) New Democratic Party.
"Our national capital should be developed in a way acceptable to Canadians who visit it from all parts of Canada. We rent, buy and expropriate property to build a national capital plan. But what happens in Ottawa, every time some joker gets an idea that he wants to build a high rise building in Ottawa, the City changes its zoning. In effect the city seems subject to the plans of two or three entrepreneurs."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Capital Region parks in 1983.
PWGSC.
---Major's Hill Park.
---Plouffe Park.
---Land, proposed American Embassy next to Major's Hill Park.
---Jacques Cartier Park.
---Rideau Falls parkland.
---Confederation Park.
---Garden of the Provinces Park.
NCC.
Arboretum located at the Farm.
Gatineau.
Greenbelt.
Rockcliffe Park.
Lot: St. Bernadette Park.
Brebeuf Park.
Mooney's Bay Park - should be returned to the NCC.
Hog's Back Park.
Vincent Massey Park.
Nepean Point Park.
Lacasse Park.
Kingsview Park.
Fontaine Park.
Linear Park.
Leamy Lake.
Richilieu.
(from: My January 2, 2019 blog.)
Parks that were not mentioned in the 1983 document:
Commissioner's Park, Dow's Lake, Ottawa.
Mile Circle near Rockcliffe.
LeBreton Common.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Monday, May 11, 2020
Selling reversionary property.
CN Rail and CP Rail properties were never given to the railways in perpetuity. The land reverts to the Crown, to the people of Canada, when the company no longer uses the land for railway purposes.
A few years ago CN announced that real estate in Montreal and Calgary would be sold to a third party. That is not permitted:
House of Commons Debates Ottawa April 29, 1974.
Mr. Hamilton (Qu'Appelle-Moose Mountain), Progressive Conservative.
"Has the Minister a legal opinion from the Department of Justice as to their ownership of the land underneath the rails? I put my question another way by saying that under the Charter of the CPR and under the Charter of the various railways that make up the CNR, this land belonged to the Crown and was granted to the railways for the sole purpose of transportation. When any railway gives up land and no longer uses it for the purpose for which that Charter was granted, all that land reverts to the Crown which was the grantee."
Mr. Stanley Basford (Minister of State for Urban Affairs), Liberal.
"Mr. Chairman, Ministers are not supposed to give legal opinions. I will make some inquiries about the point...The expropriation section provides that the Minister of Public Works is authorized to acquire by way of expropriation land that is or was occupied as part of the railway undertaking by the company."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House of Commons Debates Ottawa April 29, 1974.
Mr. Hamilton (Qu'Appelle-Moose Mountain), Progressive Conservative.
"Has the Minister a legal opinion from the Department of Justice as to their ownership of the land underneath the rails? I put my question another way by saying that under the Charter of the CPR and under the Charter of the various railways that make up the CNR, this land belonged to the Crown and was granted to the railways for the sole purpose of transportation. When any railway gives up land and no longer uses it for the purpose for which that Charter was granted, all that land reverts to the Crown which was the grantee."
Mr. Stanley Basford (Minister of State for Urban Affairs), Liberal.
"Mr. Chairman, Ministers are not supposed to give legal opinions. I will make some inquiries about the point...The expropriation section provides that the Minister of Public Works is authorized to acquire by way of expropriation land that is or was occupied as part of the railway undertaking by the company."
 |
| The 1984 Report of the Auditor General of Canada, Section 6.90. |
CN Rail divested reversionary property in 2018 that should have been returned to the Crown, to Canadians:
2018 Annual Report, page 6/37.
---On April 6, 2018, the Company completed the sale of land located in Calgary, Alberta, excluding the rail fixtures, for cash proceeds of $39 million dollars.
---On April 9, 2018, the Company completed the transfer of its capital lease in the passenger rail facilities in Montreal, Quebec for cash proceeds of $115 million dollars.
---On September 3, 2018, the Company completed the sale of property located in Montreal, Quebec for cash proceeds of $40 million dollars.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Government of Canada wanted to pay CN $1 dollar to reclaim the Quebec Bridge which is located between Quebec City and Levis, Quebec:
House of Commons Debates Ottawa March 24, 2010.
Mr. Brian Jean:
"Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to speak to Motion No. 423, regarding the acquisition of the Quebec Bridge from the Canadian National Railway. Motion No. 423 - "That, in the opinion of the House, the government should purchase the Pont de Quebec for one dollar and commit to quickly finishing the repair work so as to respect its importance as a historical monument and a vital transportation link for the Quebec City region."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House of Commons Debates Ottawa April 30, 1974.
Mr. MacKay, Progressive Conservative.
"In committee we had a lot of discussion about the status of hotels vis-a-vis the railway. How does the Minister envisage the situation where a hotel might be situated quite close to a railway and perhaps have some railway facilities in it or adjoining it? Is this going to be considered as a railway property in the sense that the Minister has discussed?"
Mr. Basford: (Minister of State for Urban Affairs) Liberal.
"Mr. Chairman, again it would depend...If it is a hotel owned by a railway and not connected with railway lands, then it would not be on railway lands. If it is a hotel over a railroad station it is obviously built over railway lands."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed demolition of Union Station, Ottawa.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa May 3, 1965.
Mr. John A. MacLean (Queens) Progressive Conservative.
"Is it the intention of the government of Canada to retain Union Station in Ottawa for some suitable purpose as well as for its historic value when it's use as a railway station has terminated?"
Hon. Lucien Cardin (Minister of Public Works) Liberal.
"I am informed by the National Capital Commission as follows: The Parkin Plan for the redevelopment of Confederation Square which was approved in principle by the Government calls for the removal of the Union Station together with the buildings between Union Station and Sussex Street. The Plan proposes the widening of the Canal basin at this point and the construction of a convention hall."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa June 29, 1966.
Mr. Bell (Carleton) Progressive Conservative.
1.) On what date is it now expected that the new railway station in the national capital will be put into regular service?
2.) When is it expected that the railway tracks now leading to the existing Union Station in Ottawa will be lifted?
3.) What are the present plans with respect of the existing Union Station and when is it proposed that they shall be carried out?
4.) What is the proposal for the utilization of the railway right-of-way leading to the existing Union Station when and what is the time schedule for its commencement and completion?
Mr. John B. Stewart (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works) Liberal.
1.) It is expected that the new railway station at Hurdman will commence regular service on July 1966.
2.) It is expected that the railway tracks leading to the existing Union Station in Ottawa will be lifted in the first week of August 1966.
3.) The plan is for demolition at an early date, but the definite date has not been fixed.
4.) The right of way leading to the Union Station will be utilized as a route for an N.C.C driveway linking up with Colonel By drive at Main Street.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa March 24, 2010.
Mr. Brian Jean:
"Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to speak to Motion No. 423, regarding the acquisition of the Quebec Bridge from the Canadian National Railway. Motion No. 423 - "That, in the opinion of the House, the government should purchase the Pont de Quebec for one dollar and commit to quickly finishing the repair work so as to respect its importance as a historical monument and a vital transportation link for the Quebec City region."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House of Commons Debates Ottawa April 30, 1974.
Mr. MacKay, Progressive Conservative.
"In committee we had a lot of discussion about the status of hotels vis-a-vis the railway. How does the Minister envisage the situation where a hotel might be situated quite close to a railway and perhaps have some railway facilities in it or adjoining it? Is this going to be considered as a railway property in the sense that the Minister has discussed?"
Mr. Basford: (Minister of State for Urban Affairs) Liberal.
"Mr. Chairman, again it would depend...If it is a hotel owned by a railway and not connected with railway lands, then it would not be on railway lands. If it is a hotel over a railroad station it is obviously built over railway lands."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed demolition of Union Station, Ottawa.
 |
| The former Grand Trunk Railway Station.(Wikimedia Commons.) |
Mr. John A. MacLean (Queens) Progressive Conservative.
"Is it the intention of the government of Canada to retain Union Station in Ottawa for some suitable purpose as well as for its historic value when it's use as a railway station has terminated?"
Hon. Lucien Cardin (Minister of Public Works) Liberal.
"I am informed by the National Capital Commission as follows: The Parkin Plan for the redevelopment of Confederation Square which was approved in principle by the Government calls for the removal of the Union Station together with the buildings between Union Station and Sussex Street. The Plan proposes the widening of the Canal basin at this point and the construction of a convention hall."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa June 29, 1966.
Mr. Bell (Carleton) Progressive Conservative.
1.) On what date is it now expected that the new railway station in the national capital will be put into regular service?
2.) When is it expected that the railway tracks now leading to the existing Union Station in Ottawa will be lifted?
3.) What are the present plans with respect of the existing Union Station and when is it proposed that they shall be carried out?
4.) What is the proposal for the utilization of the railway right-of-way leading to the existing Union Station when and what is the time schedule for its commencement and completion?
Mr. John B. Stewart (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works) Liberal.
1.) It is expected that the new railway station at Hurdman will commence regular service on July 1966.
2.) It is expected that the railway tracks leading to the existing Union Station in Ottawa will be lifted in the first week of August 1966.
3.) The plan is for demolition at an early date, but the definite date has not been fixed.
4.) The right of way leading to the Union Station will be utilized as a route for an N.C.C driveway linking up with Colonel By drive at Main Street.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
The expansion of Canada's National Parks.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 15, 1916.
Mr. William James Roche (Superintendent - General of Indian Affairs; Minister of the Interior) Conservative.
"Our national parks in the Rocky Mountains are: Jasper park; Rocky Mountain park; Waterton Lakes park; Buffalo park; Elk Island park; Yoho and Glacier park and Revelstoke."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa March 21, 1952.
Mr. Dinsdale - Progressive Conservative.
"What are the names of the national parks in each of the provinces of Canada?"
Mr. Winters (Minister of Resources and Development.)
"Prince Edward Island National Park. Nova Scotia - Cape Breton Highlands "; New Brunswick - Fundy "; Ontario - Georgian Bay Islands "; Point Pelee "; St. Lawrence Island "; Manitoba - Riding Mountain "; Saskatchewan-Prince Albert "; Alberta- Banff "; Elk Island "; Jasper "; Waterton Lakes ";
British Columbia - Glacier "; Kootenay "; Mount Revelstoke "; Yoho ".
House of Commons Debates Ottawa May 17, 1965
Hon. Arthur Laing (Minister of Northern Affairs and Natural Resources) Liberal.
a.) Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia.
b.) Banff National Park - Alberta.
c.) Elk Island " " - Alberta.
d.) Fundy " " - New Brunswick.
e.) Georgian Bay Islands - Ontario.
f.) Glacier " " - British Columbia.
g.) Jasper " " - Alberta.
h.) Kootenay " " - British Columbia.
i.) Mount Revelstoke " " - British Columbia.
j.) Point Pelee " " - Ontario.
k.) Prince Albert " " - Saskatchewan.
l.) Prince Edward Island " ".
m.) Riding Mountain " " - Manitoba.
n. ) St. Lawrence " " - Ontario.
o.) Terra Nova " " - Newfoundland.
p.) Waterton Lakes " " - Alberta.
q.) Yoho " " - British Columbia.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 7, 1966.
Mr. Hopkins - Liberal.
"Has consideration been given by the government to the establishment of a Rideau National Park or to the extension of the Thousand Islands National Park to include the Rideau?"
Hon. Arthur Laing,(Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources). Liberal.
"The government has received representations to investigate the establishment of a Rideau national park...Specific consideration has not been given to extending the St. Lawrence Islands national park to include the Rideau area."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa October 22, 1969.
Mr. Barry Mather (New Westminster, British Columbia) New Democratic Party.
"Is the Government of Canada giving favourable consideration to the establishment of a national park at the LeBreton Flats area in Ottawa?"
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 3, 1971.
Mr. W.C. Scott (Victoria-Haliburton).
"Mr. Speaker, when the Minister is reviewing the parks in Ontario will he consider the Trent Canal as a national park?"
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 12, 1975.
Mr. Hnatyshyn - Progressive Conservative.
"Is the government committed to the establishment of a national park in the grasslands area in Southern Saskatchewan and, if so, on what date shall such a park be established?"
Mr. William James Roche (Superintendent - General of Indian Affairs; Minister of the Interior) Conservative.
"Our national parks in the Rocky Mountains are: Jasper park; Rocky Mountain park; Waterton Lakes park; Buffalo park; Elk Island park; Yoho and Glacier park and Revelstoke."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa March 21, 1952.
Mr. Dinsdale - Progressive Conservative.
"What are the names of the national parks in each of the provinces of Canada?"
Mr. Winters (Minister of Resources and Development.)
"Prince Edward Island National Park. Nova Scotia - Cape Breton Highlands "; New Brunswick - Fundy "; Ontario - Georgian Bay Islands "; Point Pelee "; St. Lawrence Island "; Manitoba - Riding Mountain "; Saskatchewan-Prince Albert "; Alberta- Banff "; Elk Island "; Jasper "; Waterton Lakes ";
British Columbia - Glacier "; Kootenay "; Mount Revelstoke "; Yoho ".
House of Commons Debates Ottawa May 17, 1965
Hon. Arthur Laing (Minister of Northern Affairs and Natural Resources) Liberal.
a.) Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia.
b.) Banff National Park - Alberta.
c.) Elk Island " " - Alberta.
d.) Fundy " " - New Brunswick.
e.) Georgian Bay Islands - Ontario.
f.) Glacier " " - British Columbia.
g.) Jasper " " - Alberta.
h.) Kootenay " " - British Columbia.
i.) Mount Revelstoke " " - British Columbia.
j.) Point Pelee " " - Ontario.
k.) Prince Albert " " - Saskatchewan.
l.) Prince Edward Island " ".
m.) Riding Mountain " " - Manitoba.
n. ) St. Lawrence " " - Ontario.
o.) Terra Nova " " - Newfoundland.
p.) Waterton Lakes " " - Alberta.
q.) Yoho " " - British Columbia.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 7, 1966.
Mr. Hopkins - Liberal.
"Has consideration been given by the government to the establishment of a Rideau National Park or to the extension of the Thousand Islands National Park to include the Rideau?"
Hon. Arthur Laing,(Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources). Liberal.
"The government has received representations to investigate the establishment of a Rideau national park...Specific consideration has not been given to extending the St. Lawrence Islands national park to include the Rideau area."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa October 22, 1969.
Mr. Barry Mather (New Westminster, British Columbia) New Democratic Party.
"Is the Government of Canada giving favourable consideration to the establishment of a national park at the LeBreton Flats area in Ottawa?"
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 3, 1971.
Mr. W.C. Scott (Victoria-Haliburton).
"Mr. Speaker, when the Minister is reviewing the parks in Ontario will he consider the Trent Canal as a national park?"
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 12, 1975.
Mr. Hnatyshyn - Progressive Conservative.
"Is the government committed to the establishment of a national park in the grasslands area in Southern Saskatchewan and, if so, on what date shall such a park be established?"
The birthplace of Lucy Maude Montgomery was sold to a farmer.
 |
| Lucy Maude Montgomery wrote "Anne of Green Gables." (photo is from tourismpei.com.) |
Mr. Winfield McLure - Progressive Conservative.
"What I was going to speak about, Mr. Chairman, was an historic site in the Cavendish-Rustico national park of Prince Edward Island. Every member of this committee knows...that associated with the national park is the home and birthplace of our great authoress, Lucy Maude Montgomery Macdonald, one of the greatest that Canada has ever produced. Her birthplace is quite near the national park. At one time it was in the possession of the federal parks; then by some kind of shuffle it gradually came under the government of the province...Then the provincial government offered this property for sale and it was not advertised a great deal.
Finally the birthplace of this great authoress was sold to a retired farmer, a fine gentleman...Today I had several letters from the people in that location asking me to bring the matter again to the Minister's attention."
The Government of Canada reclaimed the property and Green Gables is a Parks Canada National Historic Site.
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Ottawa's Dominion Observatory.
 |
| The Dominion Observatory, a Classified Federal Heritage Building. |
 |
| Natural Resources Canada properties.The interior of the Observatory House, Building Number 2 was totally gutted last year and modernized, and an extension was added. It would be worth at least $200,000 on the open market. The South Azimuth will be demolished because the Civic has to widen Maple Drive. |
1.) Most of Canada's astro and geophysical buildings are gone.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 12, 1968.
Mr. Jack Davis (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources) Liberal.
"Federal observatories for geophysical observations are located in the provinces of:
Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec,
Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia and
Northwest Territories.
Astronomical observatories are located in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. In addition, a meteoric observatory and recovery program is being prepared in Saskatchewan. In the province of Quebec fully owned seismic observatories are located in Poste de la Baleine, St. Fereol and Schefferville. In addition, seismic observatories at Montreal are supported by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources and contribute to the federal network."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.) Federal buildings lose all heritage protection when they are privatized. They can be sold to a foreign country, given away to a municipality (the Paul Martin Federal Building in Windsor, Ontario) or flattened.
3.) Most of the Natural Resources Canada buildings on the north side of Carling Avenue have been taken over by Canada Lands Company. The Dominion Observatory campus is directly across the street, and is part of the NRCan portfolio.
4.) A River Ward politician is hoping that the the astrophysical buildings will be saved.The Mooney's Bay bridges and 16 mature trees in River Ward were never saved.
 |
| Mooney's Bay bridges, trees and grass. Gone. A National Capital Commission property rented to the City of Ottawa. |
6.) During the mid-1990's at least 55 of the 85 buildings on the Farm were slated for demolition.
7.) The federal government is always "divesting" Crown property. Canada is one of the richest countries in the world. But Parks Canada wants to privatize $8 billion dollars worth of infrastructure in our National Parks, supposedly because they cannot afford to maintain the bridges, highways, etc.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is saving money by sharing embassies with Great Britain.
Gordon Campbell sold Macdonald House in London, England for 1/2 a billion dollars to a developer from India, who promptly demolished the embassy to build condos.
According to a report by Deputy Prime Minister Erik Nielsen, Agriculture Canada owned 1 Million acres of land in 1985. PWGSC has an ongoing, ever expanding list of properties for sale.
During the 1960's the government of Canada was creating, and not selling, National Parks, post offices, museums, Expo...
House of Commons Debates Ottawa November 2, 1964.
Mr. Basford - Liberal
"Has a site been selected for construction of the Queen Elizabeth 11 Observatory, and, if so, where is the site?"
Mr. Benidickson (Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys.) Liberal.
"Mr. Speaker, it will be located on Mount Kobau in the southern Okanagan Valley in the province of British Columbia."
Friday, May 8, 2020
The Mooney's Bay controversy.
YouTube video - NCC Annual Public Meeting-Floor Audio, streamed live, June 27, 2016.
From 32 minutes and 43 seconds into the video:
"Thank you for letting me speak, Mr. Chair and CEO, members of the board. Nice to meet you all tonight. I'm here to draw concern to your attention and it isn't that you're not more open than you used to be. But for those of you who live in Ottawa and listen to the news in Ottawa there has been a land development approval that was done by the NCC in the last month that has created a bit of a backlash. And the way you are re looking at the location of the Civic Hospital on the Experimental Farm, I would like you to account, not tonight, to account for the decision to approve the City of Ottawa's proposed development on Mooney's Bay Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site."
"There was no public consultation and the information has only come out in bits and pieces.
And I believe if you want to be an accountable organization when you have a decision that yields or garners a public backlash the way this particular decision has, and if you have been looking at the papers you know that it has, it is the duty of the organization to review the decision and to account and that is to explain how you fulfilled your responsibilities at this level. And you say its not an NCC responsibility, its a city responsibility. The city also hasn't reviewed or accounted for their decision.
Petition:savemooney'sbay.Change.org.
Sign the Petition - Save Mooney's Bay.
Save Mooney's Bay - Posts|Facebook.
Ottawa: Protect Mooney's Bay from Development.
From 32 minutes and 43 seconds into the video:
"Thank you for letting me speak, Mr. Chair and CEO, members of the board. Nice to meet you all tonight. I'm here to draw concern to your attention and it isn't that you're not more open than you used to be. But for those of you who live in Ottawa and listen to the news in Ottawa there has been a land development approval that was done by the NCC in the last month that has created a bit of a backlash. And the way you are re looking at the location of the Civic Hospital on the Experimental Farm, I would like you to account, not tonight, to account for the decision to approve the City of Ottawa's proposed development on Mooney's Bay Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site."
"There was no public consultation and the information has only come out in bits and pieces.
And I believe if you want to be an accountable organization when you have a decision that yields or garners a public backlash the way this particular decision has, and if you have been looking at the papers you know that it has, it is the duty of the organization to review the decision and to account and that is to explain how you fulfilled your responsibilities at this level. And you say its not an NCC responsibility, its a city responsibility. The city also hasn't reviewed or accounted for their decision.
Petition:savemooney'sbay.Change.org.
Sign the Petition - Save Mooney's Bay.
Save Mooney's Bay - Posts|Facebook.
Ottawa: Protect Mooney's Bay from Development.
 |
| 80 protesters oppose change to Mooney's Bay Park. |
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia is a National Park.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa 1930/05/09.
Mr. Henry Herbert Stevens, Conservative:
"I am one of those who are exceedingly anxious to do everything that is humanly possible to preserve our national parks for the people...Take Stanley Park at Vancouver. It is a large area for a city park, I think 900 acres. It is leased by the Dominion government to the city of Vancouver."
1986 - Potential transfer of title from the federal government to the City of Vancouver.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 4, 1986
Right Honourable John N. Turner (Leader of the Opposition-Liberal.)
"Mr. Speaker, in April of this year Canada will join the citizens of Vancouver in celebrating the centennial of that great city. Along with Expo itself, a major focus of Vancouver's celebrations will be in Stanley Park, the largest urban park in the country.
" From time immemorial Vancouverites have claimed the park as their own. Our native people have lived and hunted in the park, and generations of British Columbians have enjoyed its trees, its water, and the beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains. Perhaps no park in Canada evokes such civic pride and such a feeling of identification as Stanley Park. The park belongs to Vancouver in all but name. In fact, it belongs to the federal government.
"As a symbolic gesture to the city I am asking the Prime Minister (Mr. Mulroney) to recognize the historic association of the people of Vancouver with Stanley Park and to dedicate the property over to the citizens of Vancouver in its centennial year." Stanley Park is still a Federal Government Park.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Prime Minister of Canada John Turner and my Dad George Shaw, who was a speechwriter for Members of Parliament (see my May 24, 2018 blog "The de Havilland Saga."); a United Press International reporter and a member of the National Press Club of Ottawa.
Mr. Henry Herbert Stevens, Conservative:
"I am one of those who are exceedingly anxious to do everything that is humanly possible to preserve our national parks for the people...Take Stanley Park at Vancouver. It is a large area for a city park, I think 900 acres. It is leased by the Dominion government to the city of Vancouver."
1986 - Potential transfer of title from the federal government to the City of Vancouver.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 4, 1986
Right Honourable John N. Turner (Leader of the Opposition-Liberal.)
"Mr. Speaker, in April of this year Canada will join the citizens of Vancouver in celebrating the centennial of that great city. Along with Expo itself, a major focus of Vancouver's celebrations will be in Stanley Park, the largest urban park in the country.
" From time immemorial Vancouverites have claimed the park as their own. Our native people have lived and hunted in the park, and generations of British Columbians have enjoyed its trees, its water, and the beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains. Perhaps no park in Canada evokes such civic pride and such a feeling of identification as Stanley Park. The park belongs to Vancouver in all but name. In fact, it belongs to the federal government.
"As a symbolic gesture to the city I am asking the Prime Minister (Mr. Mulroney) to recognize the historic association of the people of Vancouver with Stanley Park and to dedicate the property over to the citizens of Vancouver in its centennial year." Stanley Park is still a Federal Government Park.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Prime Minister of Canada John Turner and my Dad George Shaw, who was a speechwriter for Members of Parliament (see my May 24, 2018 blog "The de Havilland Saga."); a United Press International reporter and a member of the National Press Club of Ottawa.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Do not privatize Canada's National Parks.
House of Commons Debates Ottawa March 19, 1998
Canada Parks Agency Act,
Mr. Rick Laliberte (Churchill River, Saskatchewan, NDP):
"(The Canada Parks Agency Act) is a capitalist form of commercialization of our national parks and eventual privatization... where the hon. members take their children, pay at the toll gate to lift the Stornoway gates up, enter Walt Disney national park and come out and negotiate the price with the minister."
An hon. member:
"The people will be the custodians, not private enterprise."
Mr. Nelson Riis (Kamloops, B.C. NDP).
"...Members can probably tell that I do not support Bill C-29 at this point...This bill involves a great deal of Canada;
31 national parks, 786 historical sites, a number of historical canal systems, 661 sites that are managed by third parties that are ecologically or environmentally significant, 165 heritage railroad stations, 31 heritage river systems and others...If someone is a wealthy person or from a high income family and someone tells them that in order to use the parks they will have to pay $10 dollars to canoe down the river, $20 per night for firewood and $50 to park a tent for a day or two, it is no big deal. However, if we pass this legislation we are going to put access to Canada's national parks out of the reach of many, many Canadians...Increasingly we will be turning the parks into some kind of quasi-business operation. That is not what Canada is all about."
Mr. Howard Hilstrom (Selkirk-Interlake, Manitoba, Ref.)
"Mr. Speaker, I am quite interested in the financial aspects of this bill. Is there a possibility of foreign interests getting involved in our parks system?"
Mr. Nelson Riis:
"Obviously the answer is yes...We lack a national park policy that makes any sense just as we lack a national waterways policy or a national highway policy."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rideau Canal is a national waterway. It is possible that the Rideau Canal could be sold to the Walt Disney Corporation. Steamboats would then navigate the waters:
The Disney Corporation was given the licence to market the RCMP image.
Winnie the Pooh was a black bear cub from White River, Ontario:
Clause 4 (1)
The National Parks of Canada are hereby dedicated to the people of Canada for their benefit, education and enjoyment, subject to this Act and the regulations, and the parks shall be maintained and made use of so as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future Canadians.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The following landscapes are designated as National Interest Land Mass properties, and they will never be redeveloped for mass residential, commercial and institutional purposes.And they will never be privatized. Small farms, and federal museums, libraries and research institutions are acceptable.
1.) Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa.
2.) Greenbelt Research Farm, 1740 Woodroffe Avenue.
3.) Gatineau Park.
4.) The Greenbelt - approximately 14,000 ha, in 1988.
5.) Pts of Wellington in front of Chateau Laurier and Conference Centre and land to the E of the Conference Centre; also lands N of Wellington between the Rideau Canal locks & Major Hill Park. Also, the approach to the Alexandra Bridge & the new Art Gallery site.
6.) Lady Grey Drive and the Ottawa River W of Sussex Drive (behind the Royal Canadian Mint.)
7.) Rideau Canal lands from downtown to Hog's Back Rd.
8.) 8 Parcels of land E of Sussex (Mile of History) from Rideau Street to MacDonald Cartier Bridge.
9.) Pt of the Mint property W of Sussex Drive.
10.) 4 parcels on Rideau River around City Hall. (The Ottawa City Hall is now the John George Diefenbaker Federal Building.)
11.) 2 Parcels W of Sussex Drive N of MacDonald Cartier Bridge, parking lot at Earnscliffe to waterlot.
12.) LeBreton Flats.
(Google: "1988-09-15-TB-re-NCC".)
Canada Parks Agency Act,
Mr. Rick Laliberte (Churchill River, Saskatchewan, NDP):
"(The Canada Parks Agency Act) is a capitalist form of commercialization of our national parks and eventual privatization... where the hon. members take their children, pay at the toll gate to lift the Stornoway gates up, enter Walt Disney national park and come out and negotiate the price with the minister."
An hon. member:
"The people will be the custodians, not private enterprise."
Mr. Nelson Riis (Kamloops, B.C. NDP).
"...Members can probably tell that I do not support Bill C-29 at this point...This bill involves a great deal of Canada;
31 national parks, 786 historical sites, a number of historical canal systems, 661 sites that are managed by third parties that are ecologically or environmentally significant, 165 heritage railroad stations, 31 heritage river systems and others...If someone is a wealthy person or from a high income family and someone tells them that in order to use the parks they will have to pay $10 dollars to canoe down the river, $20 per night for firewood and $50 to park a tent for a day or two, it is no big deal. However, if we pass this legislation we are going to put access to Canada's national parks out of the reach of many, many Canadians...Increasingly we will be turning the parks into some kind of quasi-business operation. That is not what Canada is all about."
Mr. Howard Hilstrom (Selkirk-Interlake, Manitoba, Ref.)
"Mr. Speaker, I am quite interested in the financial aspects of this bill. Is there a possibility of foreign interests getting involved in our parks system?"
Mr. Nelson Riis:
"Obviously the answer is yes...We lack a national park policy that makes any sense just as we lack a national waterways policy or a national highway policy."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rideau Canal is a national waterway. It is possible that the Rideau Canal could be sold to the Walt Disney Corporation. Steamboats would then navigate the waters:
The Disney Corporation was given the licence to market the RCMP image.
Winnie the Pooh was a black bear cub from White River, Ontario:
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Canadian National Parks Act S.C. 2000, c.32Clause 4 (1)
The National Parks of Canada are hereby dedicated to the people of Canada for their benefit, education and enjoyment, subject to this Act and the regulations, and the parks shall be maintained and made use of so as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future Canadians.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The following landscapes are designated as National Interest Land Mass properties, and they will never be redeveloped for mass residential, commercial and institutional purposes.And they will never be privatized. Small farms, and federal museums, libraries and research institutions are acceptable.
1.) Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa.
2.) Greenbelt Research Farm, 1740 Woodroffe Avenue.
3.) Gatineau Park.
4.) The Greenbelt - approximately 14,000 ha, in 1988.
5.) Pts of Wellington in front of Chateau Laurier and Conference Centre and land to the E of the Conference Centre; also lands N of Wellington between the Rideau Canal locks & Major Hill Park. Also, the approach to the Alexandra Bridge & the new Art Gallery site.
6.) Lady Grey Drive and the Ottawa River W of Sussex Drive (behind the Royal Canadian Mint.)
7.) Rideau Canal lands from downtown to Hog's Back Rd.
8.) 8 Parcels of land E of Sussex (Mile of History) from Rideau Street to MacDonald Cartier Bridge.
9.) Pt of the Mint property W of Sussex Drive.
10.) 4 parcels on Rideau River around City Hall. (The Ottawa City Hall is now the John George Diefenbaker Federal Building.)
11.) 2 Parcels W of Sussex Drive N of MacDonald Cartier Bridge, parking lot at Earnscliffe to waterlot.
12.) LeBreton Flats.
(Google: "1988-09-15-TB-re-NCC".)
Monday, May 4, 2020
Stop the sale and giveaway of Canada's National Parks.
1.) Mile Circle, Ottawa. "U.S. Embassy in Canada: Looking for a home" by Christopher S. Wren, Special to the New York Times, February 23, 1986.
"The Canadian government calls Mile Circle a vacant meadow. The neighbors protest that it is suburban parkland. And a brouhaha has broken out because the United States Embassy may call it home. The U.S. Embassy has occupied a stately mansion in downtown Ottawa since 1932. But 12 years ago the Government of Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau asked the US to move out as soon as it could build another chancery. The Trudeau government said it needed more office space...
The National Capital Commission, a federal agency created in 1948 to develop Ottawa into a more imposing capital, selected Mile Circle for the new US Embassy from a list of 16 available parcels of federally owned real estate. The commission proposed that up to 10 acres of the meadow, which covers 52 acres in eastern Ottawa, be sold to the US and that an additional 10 acres be reserved for five or six other embassies...But Mile Circle is the backyard for two affluent neighborhoods, Rockcliffe Park and Manor Park, where some of Ottawa's most influential civil servants, diplomats and business officials live...More than 4,000 signatures have been collected on a petition to keep the embassies out."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 7, 1986
Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Ontario) Liberal.
"Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has embarked on a policy of selling the Crown jewels. First it was the threat of logging the national parks, then selling our national aircraft manufacturer...and finally, the potential sale of Mile Circle Park right here in the city of Ottawa to build a U.S. embassy...As the opposition critic for the Department of Public Works, I call upon the Government to reject any American offers to buy or lease Mile Circle Park. I call on the Government to send a clear signal that Canadian parklands, our national treasures, are not for sale."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa April 9, 1986.
Mr. Barry Turner (Ottawa-Carleton) Progressive Conservative.
"Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present another petition signed by 34 residents of the National Capital Region who are very much opposed to the National Capital Commission proposal to turn the Mile Circle into an embassy row. They indicate that Mile Circle was designated in 1925 by the Ottawa Improvement Commission as a national park and they are very much opposed to this change."
2.) The Moffatt Farm Veteran's Park, Ottawa.
3.) Queen Juliana Park on 870 Carling Avenue was donated to the Ottawa Hospital Corporation by Public Works Canada.
4.) Vacant land that was earmarked for Major's Hill Park near the Chateau Laurier was sold to the American Embassy.
5.) The La Ronde amusement park that was built for Expo 67 was sold to the City of Montreal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House of Commons Debates Ottawa March 24, 1986
Request for government directive prohibiting the sale of national parkland.
Mr. Jean-Robert Gauthier (Ottawa-Vanier) Liberal.
"Mr. Speaker, could the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House whether he intends to act responsibly and give clear and precise instructions to all those who are responsible for our national parks, indicating clearly that none of our national parks are for sale?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Parks Canada to look at divesting highways, bridges, dams." by Dean Beeby, CBC News, August 26, 2017. "Parks Canada is considering whether to give up as much as $8.3 billion of its highways, bridges and dams."
(Note: All of the Rideau Canal locks and lock stations are managed by Parks Canada and they may be privatized. How dare you, Parks Canada, even consider taking away Crown assets from the people of this nation. I am sure that many foreign governments, global corporations and celebrities would love to own the Rideau Canal and the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park.)
"The Canadian government calls Mile Circle a vacant meadow. The neighbors protest that it is suburban parkland. And a brouhaha has broken out because the United States Embassy may call it home. The U.S. Embassy has occupied a stately mansion in downtown Ottawa since 1932. But 12 years ago the Government of Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau asked the US to move out as soon as it could build another chancery. The Trudeau government said it needed more office space...
The National Capital Commission, a federal agency created in 1948 to develop Ottawa into a more imposing capital, selected Mile Circle for the new US Embassy from a list of 16 available parcels of federally owned real estate. The commission proposed that up to 10 acres of the meadow, which covers 52 acres in eastern Ottawa, be sold to the US and that an additional 10 acres be reserved for five or six other embassies...But Mile Circle is the backyard for two affluent neighborhoods, Rockcliffe Park and Manor Park, where some of Ottawa's most influential civil servants, diplomats and business officials live...More than 4,000 signatures have been collected on a petition to keep the embassies out."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa February 7, 1986
Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Ontario) Liberal.
"Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has embarked on a policy of selling the Crown jewels. First it was the threat of logging the national parks, then selling our national aircraft manufacturer...and finally, the potential sale of Mile Circle Park right here in the city of Ottawa to build a U.S. embassy...As the opposition critic for the Department of Public Works, I call upon the Government to reject any American offers to buy or lease Mile Circle Park. I call on the Government to send a clear signal that Canadian parklands, our national treasures, are not for sale."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa April 9, 1986.
Mr. Barry Turner (Ottawa-Carleton) Progressive Conservative.
"Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present another petition signed by 34 residents of the National Capital Region who are very much opposed to the National Capital Commission proposal to turn the Mile Circle into an embassy row. They indicate that Mile Circle was designated in 1925 by the Ottawa Improvement Commission as a national park and they are very much opposed to this change."
 |
| The Mile Circle. Wikimapia image. |
3.) Queen Juliana Park on 870 Carling Avenue was donated to the Ottawa Hospital Corporation by Public Works Canada.
4.) Vacant land that was earmarked for Major's Hill Park near the Chateau Laurier was sold to the American Embassy.
5.) The La Ronde amusement park that was built for Expo 67 was sold to the City of Montreal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House of Commons Debates Ottawa March 24, 1986
Request for government directive prohibiting the sale of national parkland.
Mr. Jean-Robert Gauthier (Ottawa-Vanier) Liberal.
"Mr. Speaker, could the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House whether he intends to act responsibly and give clear and precise instructions to all those who are responsible for our national parks, indicating clearly that none of our national parks are for sale?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Parks Canada to look at divesting highways, bridges, dams." by Dean Beeby, CBC News, August 26, 2017. "Parks Canada is considering whether to give up as much as $8.3 billion of its highways, bridges and dams."
(Note: All of the Rideau Canal locks and lock stations are managed by Parks Canada and they may be privatized. How dare you, Parks Canada, even consider taking away Crown assets from the people of this nation. I am sure that many foreign governments, global corporations and celebrities would love to own the Rideau Canal and the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park.)
 |
| A Fraser Institute document from the late 1990's. |
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Why the Experimental Farm in Ottawa should be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
1.) The government of Canada is removing all of the designations that protect the buildings and landscape:
National Interest Land Mass.
National Historic Site of Canada.
Classified Federal Heritage Building.
Recognized Federal Heritage Building.
2.) The Ottawa Hospital Corporation is building a health care facility on the Farm, and they have already evicted the DARA Tennis Club; forced Agriculture Canada employees to dig up a hedge collection and they plan to demolish a Federal Heritage Building designed by architect Hart Massey, the Cafeteria Annex.
3.) A local councillor said he would "try to lock in lease conditions that would preserve as many buildings on the property as possible such as the Dominion Observatory." (Reevely:" Feds say they'll pay $11.8 million to clean up new Civic site" Ottawa Citizen newspaper, February 25, 2018.)
That is not good enough, if I were the Councillor I would tell the hospital corporation "You had better keep your wrecking crews away from the Dominion Observatory campus or you will be criminally responsible for destroying Canada's astrophysical history."
Ottawa's Dominion Observatory was modeled after the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England and designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The Greenwich Observatory is protected by UNESCO and British laws. Sir Christopher Wren also designed:
--Hampton Court Palace
--St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England.
--Kensington Palace.
--The Monument to the Great Fire of London.
4.) UNESCO wrote a warning letter to Parks Canada saying that the Rideau Canal could lose its heritage designation if a hospital is built on the Farm.
5.) " The NCC Federal Site Review for the New Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital" rated the Farm location as "poor." (Page 68/256.) The NCC indicated that several buildings on the Farm/Observatory Campus could be moved or demolished.
6.) During the mid-1990's there was an uproar when the government of Canada stated that they were "getting out of the business of running Experimental Farms" and planned to demolish at least 55 of the 82 buildings including the Observatory. The Booth Barn was saved because of intervention by:
--Heritage Ottawa.
--Historic Ottawa Development Inc.
--Friends of the Farm.
--Heritage Canada Foundation.
--Historical Society of Ottawa.
--The Council of Heritage Organizations of Ottawa.
--The Province of Ontario.
--The City of Ottawa.
--several local politicians.
7.) The National Capital Commission is offering virtual tours of the Tulip Festival on Commissioner's Park, 870 Carling. That is a giant red flag, I believe that the National Capital Commission is selling Commissioner's Park, which is a Veterans Memorial Park. The National Capital Commission sold off another Veterans Memorial Park during the year 2002, it was called the Moffatt Farm. The Crown corporation received about $10 million dollars for the 88-acre property. The subdivision is called "Prince of Wales on the Rideau".
As I have said before, an Ottawa City Councillor predicted that a wall of condos would line both sides of Carling.
Commissioner's Park is very close to the CEF and Observatory and could be part of the "Central Experimental Farm UNESCO World Heritage Site."
8.) 30 acres of land close to the Rideau Canal and the Arboretum have been earmarked as a location for a new attraction that includes a tower, laboratories, greenhouses, a giant parking lot, etc.
Criteria for inclusion as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site.
1.) The buildings and land are already protected by federal, provincial or municipal laws. YES.
2.) The buildings and landscape are used for a specific purpose (educational, commemoration, research) and are clustered in one area. YES.
3.) They site is endangered because of encroaching, inappropriate development. YES.
4.) The new development will have a negative impact on an existing World Heritage Site. YES, THE RIDEAU CANAL.
National Interest Land Mass.
National Historic Site of Canada.
Classified Federal Heritage Building.
Recognized Federal Heritage Building.
2.) The Ottawa Hospital Corporation is building a health care facility on the Farm, and they have already evicted the DARA Tennis Club; forced Agriculture Canada employees to dig up a hedge collection and they plan to demolish a Federal Heritage Building designed by architect Hart Massey, the Cafeteria Annex.
3.) A local councillor said he would "try to lock in lease conditions that would preserve as many buildings on the property as possible such as the Dominion Observatory." (Reevely:" Feds say they'll pay $11.8 million to clean up new Civic site" Ottawa Citizen newspaper, February 25, 2018.)
That is not good enough, if I were the Councillor I would tell the hospital corporation "You had better keep your wrecking crews away from the Dominion Observatory campus or you will be criminally responsible for destroying Canada's astrophysical history."
Ottawa's Dominion Observatory was modeled after the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England and designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The Greenwich Observatory is protected by UNESCO and British laws. Sir Christopher Wren also designed:
--Hampton Court Palace
--St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England.
--Kensington Palace.
--The Monument to the Great Fire of London.
4.) UNESCO wrote a warning letter to Parks Canada saying that the Rideau Canal could lose its heritage designation if a hospital is built on the Farm.
5.) " The NCC Federal Site Review for the New Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital" rated the Farm location as "poor." (Page 68/256.) The NCC indicated that several buildings on the Farm/Observatory Campus could be moved or demolished.
6.) During the mid-1990's there was an uproar when the government of Canada stated that they were "getting out of the business of running Experimental Farms" and planned to demolish at least 55 of the 82 buildings including the Observatory. The Booth Barn was saved because of intervention by:
--Heritage Ottawa.
--Historic Ottawa Development Inc.
--Friends of the Farm.
--Heritage Canada Foundation.
--Historical Society of Ottawa.
--The Council of Heritage Organizations of Ottawa.
--The Province of Ontario.
--The City of Ottawa.
--several local politicians.
7.) The National Capital Commission is offering virtual tours of the Tulip Festival on Commissioner's Park, 870 Carling. That is a giant red flag, I believe that the National Capital Commission is selling Commissioner's Park, which is a Veterans Memorial Park. The National Capital Commission sold off another Veterans Memorial Park during the year 2002, it was called the Moffatt Farm. The Crown corporation received about $10 million dollars for the 88-acre property. The subdivision is called "Prince of Wales on the Rideau".
As I have said before, an Ottawa City Councillor predicted that a wall of condos would line both sides of Carling.
Commissioner's Park is very close to the CEF and Observatory and could be part of the "Central Experimental Farm UNESCO World Heritage Site."
8.) 30 acres of land close to the Rideau Canal and the Arboretum have been earmarked as a location for a new attraction that includes a tower, laboratories, greenhouses, a giant parking lot, etc.
Criteria for inclusion as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site.
1.) The buildings and land are already protected by federal, provincial or municipal laws. YES.
2.) The buildings and landscape are used for a specific purpose (educational, commemoration, research) and are clustered in one area. YES.
3.) They site is endangered because of encroaching, inappropriate development. YES.
4.) The new development will have a negative impact on an existing World Heritage Site. YES, THE RIDEAU CANAL.
 |
| A collection of hedges on the Farm. |
 |
| On July 23, 1976 a representative from the Government of Canada signed the UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)