The Canadian government was the biggest landlord in the world. During the year 1982.

The Hon. Erik Nielsen was Canada's Minister of Public Works from June 1979 until March 1980.

 House of Commons Debates  Ottawa   February 23, 1982. Erik Nielsen (Official Opposition House Leader; Progressive Conservative Party House Leader.) " ...Canada's Department of Public Works is probably the biggest landlord in the world with well over $40 billion of property, real and other in its list of assets."

What happened.

1.) The City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission ignored a 1988 federal directive/order that called for the preservation of "National Interest Land Mass." properties. Crown corporations have the power to remove the following designations: National Historic Site of Canada; Classified Federal Heritage Building; Recognized Federal Heritage Building; National Interest Land Mass; Greenbelt, and Heritage Conservation District. (The Sparks Street Mall in Ottawa is a Heritage Conservation District protected by Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. But plans are being made to dig a subway tunnel under the street.) Laws pertaining to height restrictions in the Parliamentary Precinct are ignored by local councillors:

House of Commons Debates  Ottawa  November 23, 1967. The Hon. George McIlraith (Minister of Public Works). "The Lebreton Flats were envisioned as a western extension to the Parliamentary Precinct. Buildings on or near the Parliamentary Precinct cannot be any taller than the Peace Tower."

2.) In their zeal to decommission government real estate, politicians are encroaching upon buffer zones:

The Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site - (Ottawa to Kingston, Ontario.) UNESCO is a United Nations agency that was created to protect endangered landscapes, buildings and heritage sites. The Chateau Laurier Hotel extension and the creation of a medical centre on the Experimental Farm are forcing the agency to reevaluate the Rideau Canal's UNESCO designation. Real estate along the banks of the Rideau Canal is extremely valuable and the buffer zones are probably hindering the sale of land.

The Victoria, British Columbia Astrophysical Observatory was privatized and the land is part of an exclusive neighbourhood.

The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Carling Avenue Ottawa. - The buffer zone will be encroached upon, roads widened, hundreds of trees clearcut, the old hedge collection was uprooted, and the nearby William Saunders Building is vacant. 

Laws were created that encourage the sale of federal real estate: The Canada Post Corporation Act. The National Capital Act. Broadcasting Act. Surplus Crown Assets Act... Canada Post, Manpower, the RCMP, Canada Customs and many other departments were located in Dominion Buildings. 

Dominion Buildings that were divested.

Higinbotham Building, Lethbridge, Alberta.Paul Martin Sr. Federal Building, Windsor,Ontario. Almonte, Ontario Post Office. Dominion Public Building, 1 Front Street West, Toronto. 2384 Yonge Street, Toronto Ontario.

The government of Canada can appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board if community groups want to preserve a parcel of land.Ordinary people do not have access to a bottomless pit of money called the Consolidated Revenue Fund, to fight the redevelopment of Moffat Farm or Rochester Field.The redevelopment of tiny Norman Street in Little Italy was appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board but wealthy builders were victorious, aided and abetted by councillors who re-zoned the area.