Earnscliffe.

 Earnscliffe was the Ottawa residence of Sir John A. Macdonald, the First Prime Minister of Canada. The mansion on Sussex Drive is now the Official Residence of the British High Commissioner. However, plans are underway to build an inappropriate structure right next to Earnscliffe:

Why this endeavor will not proceed:

1.)  Earncliffe is a National Historic Site of Canada and Senate Bill S-203 saves heritage properties in Ottawa. The modern buildings will encroach upon the 500-metre protective or buffer zone that protects 140 Sussex Drive. Bill S-203 applies to any place that has been commemorated as an historic place under paragraph 3 (a) of the Historic Sites and Monuments Act.

2.) Property will be expropriated from "National Interest Land Mass" land that should be owned by the people of Canada in perpetuity: "The National Interest Land Mass (NILM) consists of 'national shrines, the river and canal banks, the Confederation Boulevard, the Gatineau Park, and the Greenbelt in the National Capital Region...considered essential to the realization of the vision of the Capital...There are 37 individual parcels of property in this category currently owned by the (Crown corporation) totalling some 44,200 ha. in area (94 per cent of the total NCC holdings in area.')

'Land forming part of the NILM will be retained by the(Crown corporation) on behalf of the government in perpetuity, for purposes which lie at the core of the NCC's mandate, and will be managed by the NCC with no further management involvement by the Treasury Board Secretariat." Lady Grey Drive and the Ottawa River W. of Sussex Drive-2.76 ha. Google: 1988-09-15-TB-re-NCC. 

                     Cultural Heritage Impact Statement Earnscliffe 140 Sussex Drive, Ottawa., Development Site --- Page 5/49. 

     "Based on the Directory of Federal Real Property, the new project will touch a small portion of land owned by the National Capital Commission. (Figure 9.) The individual lots that make up the property include sections that were formerly streets-namely McKay Street (Earnscliffe Avenue), Lady Grey Drive and Bellevue Terrace.

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3.) Sussex Drive is Canada's Mile of History and it is a Heritage Conservation Distrct protected by Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.

4.).) The homes of former British prime ministers are cherished and respected by the National Trust of Britain and by historical societies. 

4.).) The National Capital Commission wanted to sell Mile Circle near Rockcliffe to a couple of embassies. But the local community fought the proposal because: modern architecture is not compatible with the surrounding neighbourhood and: the community did not want to lose a much-loved green space.

5.)  Confederation Boulevard is a National Interest Land Mass.

6.)  24 mature trees will be chopped down.

This is what the National Capital Commission will probably say:"Earnscliffe is no longer owned by the Government of Canada and we cannot interfere with the project." They never intervened when Larco submitted architectural designs for the Chateau Laurier Hotel addition---their excuse was "The Chateau Laurier is private property." However, Larco was not permitted to encroach upon Major's Hill Park. Why should a foreign government be permitted to take over multiple federal properties including Lady Grey Drive? Look at what happened when Major's Hill park land was sold to the American embassy and they took over part of an entire street.. Forever.

Why Earnscliffe should be returned to the people of Canada:

1.)  Because of the auction---" Sale complete list of furniture, china and glassware, pictures, ornaments, etc. The property of the late Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald to be sold at Earnscliffe, Ottawa; commencing Tuesday 15th May next at 10 a.m. 1982. W.L. Lewis auctioneer."( Page 4/49, Cultural Heritage Statement for 140 Sussex Drive, Ottawa.)

2.)  A fire in 2011 destroyed much of the attic and third floor.

A CBC News photo.

3..)  The public does not have any access to the property except maybe once a year at "Doors Open Ottawa." The homes of former British prime ministers are important tourist venues.

4.) The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada recommended the repatriation of 140 Sussex Drive. "A single report titled 'Historico-architectural significance of the Sir John A. Macdonald Buildings still standing in Kingston" May 1960, was used by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada when it recommended that Earnscliffe should be considered "a national shrine" and that the government should "investigate ways and means to acquire it for this purpose." From:   Parks Canada, "Record of National Historic Designation Reference File, February 18, 2000. (Page 7/49, Cultural Heritage Statement for 140 Sussex Drive, Ottawa.)

5.) Prime Ministers of Canada including Mr. Diefenbaker, Mr. Pearson, Mr. Clark and Members of Parliament wanted to see the landmark returned to its rightful owner, the citizens of this country.

House of Commons Debates Ottawa  February 27, 1967. Earnscliffe - Return to Canadian Ownership.

MP Walter Dinsdale (Progressive Conservative.) "...Since Earnscliffe, the residence of Canada's first prime minister, was declared a national historic site, what steps have been taken to ensure that it will return to Canadian ownership?"

Hon. Arthur Laing: "...The recommendation by the historic sites and monuments board that Earnscliffe be designated a national historic site was made in 1960 and plaques concerning the history of the house were unveiled by the then prime minister on June 6, 1961..."

House of Commons Debates  Ottawa  July 1, 1955.

Karl Arliss Eyre, Liberal; Sir Archibald Nye: "Mr. Speaker and gentlemen may I just say briefly that it was 25 years ago when the government of the United Kingdom acquired "Earnscliffe" as the residence and in the first instance office of the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom who had just been appointed...We were aware at the time that it was a very historic residence, so much so that the high commissioner of the day was instructed from London that before we went ahead with the purchase he should go to the prime minister of Canada and say that we were proposing to buy this house...You will see that we have been conscious from the very first of the fact that we were occupying what I think might properly be called an historic monument in Canada..."

A totally inappropriate design for Canada's Mile of History. I call it "The Shipping Crate" and "The Laboratory". 

The modern building breaches a 500-metre protective or buffer zone that protects 140 Sussex Drive, Ottawa. 140 Sussex Drive is owned by the British government, and the Chateau Laurier is a Larco investment. However, Bill S-203 applies to both properties.

Commemoration of Earnscliffe as an historic place under paragraph 3 (a) of The Historic Sites and Monuments Act. Powers of the Minister 3.) The Minister may by means of plaques or other signs or in any other suitable manner mark or otherwise commemorate an historic place.

Lady Grey Drive is untouchable. This 1920's photo is from the National Archives, and the Royal Canadian Mint can be seen.