The National Capital Commission is permitting the construction of towers on the Parliamentary Precinct.

The Parliamentary Precinct includes the Lebreton Flats. Buildings located on the Precinct cannot be any taller than the Peace Tower. The Flats are also designated as a National Interest Land Mass property.

A 65- storey condominium on 900 Albert Street, LeBreton Flats. (Ottawa Construction News photo.)

Ottawa Business Journal photo.

House of Commons Debates  Ottawa  June 16, 1966. Regarding plans to build a high rise on the Flats during the year 1966.

MP Stanley Howard Knowles (NDP House Leader) New Democratic Party.

Mr. Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre). "...I understand that the height of the Peace Tower, from its base to the top of the tower is 296 feet. The proposed national defence headquarters from the ground floor to the top would be 460 feet..."

"The proposed national defence headquarters would be 164 feet taller than the Peace Tower...However, as everyone knows, the LeBreton Flats area west of Parliament Hill is lower than Parliament Hill. The elevation at the corner of Fleet and Booth is 184 feet."

"I think the skyline of Ottawa is something of which we can be proud. A tower that is only going to be a few blocks away (from Parliament Hill) rising higher than the Peace Tower would spoil the skyline of the city of Ottawa...I think that a government that is only in power for a short time, has to be careful when it takes a course of action that has an effect for decades, perhaps half a century or a century."

House of Commons Debates Ottawa  November 23, 1967. Lebreton is 4,440 feet from Parliament Hill.

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."

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House of Commons Debates Ottawa   January 12, 1970. Hon. Marcel Lambert (Edmonton West).

"Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Public Works. I wonder if the minister could...make a statement in the House with regard to the applicability of height restrictions on federal government buildings in the neighbourhood of Parliament Hill, with particular reference to the new National Defence building?"

(Note: The National Defence building was going to be located in the Lebreton Flats, which is part of the Parliamentary district.)

Hon. Arthur Lang (Minister of Public Works) Liberal. "Yes, Mr. Speaker, I think that could be arranged."

House of Commons Debates  Ottawa  January 30, 1978.

MP Stanley Howard Knowles (NDP House Leader) New Democratic Party,

Mr. Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre).  "...I was glad to hear the Hon. Member for Ottawa West (Mr. Lloyd Francis) say a few things which make it clear that he realizes, even though he is an Ottawa resident, that there is a sense in which this area belongs to Canada. It is the nation's capital. It is appropriate that the people of Canada through their parliament and the government should have something to say about the planning of this general area..."

"But the National Capital Commission seems to have evolved in a way which includes no elected members and operates on its own self-created mandate."

"I greatly deplore the lack of planning that has resulted in this cluster of high rise structures in one part of this city...Woe betide the developer who happens to put a high rise between me and the Peace Tower."

"There are areas in many parts of the city where one used to be able to see the Peace Tower when driving around but now in most cases its blocked out."

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Incorporating Official Plan Amendments - January 1997.

Highlights of The LeBreton Flats Plan January 1997.

"Views of the Parliament Buildings and other national symbols will not be obstructed." Page 40/164.

"There is an overall height limit which limits building heights to 10.7 metres" or 3.2 storeys. Page 41/164.

"The Parliamentary Precinct will be extended westward." Page 49/164.

"The dominant land use is open space. In total, the land dedicated to open space is 26 hectares about 39% of the overall site. Page 48/164.

Residential - In total the area designated as residential is 6.5 hectares. Page 61/164.

"The new community will not infringe on the liveability and identity of neighbouring communities." Page 101/164.

This document is from a 1983 book located at a library.