"The largest chunk of money in the federal government is in it's real estate holdings."

"My guess, based on preliminary research that I had gathered, was that it was pushing $60 billion." A quote from the Hon. Erik Nielsen, Minister of Public Works (1979-80); Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (1984-86) and Minister of National Defence.From page 269 of the book "On the Take" by Stevie Cameron.

The Nielsen Report, 1980.

"In one year, with the support of this bill, it is possible that there will be no Crown land assets left." MP Dennis Mills (Broadview-Greenwood, Toronto) Liberal, November 22, 1991.

House of Commons Ottawa  November 22, 1991. MP Dennis Mills (Broadview-Greenwood): "Madam Speaker, when I got up this morning and headed to the House I actually had no intention of speaking...Then in my office I read part of Bill C-3, an act respecting the acquisition, administration and disposition of real property by the Government of Canada. I know that all of us were in support of this bill, but as I started to reflect on what is really going on in this bill I became concerned. I do agree that anything we can do to make the operations of the Government of Canada more efficient should be supported."

"There is another aspect of this bill which disturbs me immensely. It concerns me that in one year, with the support of this bill, it is possible that there will be no Crown land assets left...I think of my own city of Toronto and the way the government has disposed of Harbourfront lands...the CBC lands. This is a bill that will make developers of every region and every city of Canada ecstatic."

"As a result of this bill if a line department has a Crown asset, a land asset, which does not meet that particular department's needs, the department will have the ability to put that land basically out to tender...That is not what the government is all about. We do not run this country by line departments. It may be that the railway lands of this country are no longer of any use to the railways. As a result of the way this country has dismantled our national railway system the lands do not have the same value any more. That does not mean the Crown land could not have a value and a purpose in some other strategic plan or overall objective to serve the people of Canada."

A statement by MP Dennis Mills in the House of Commons, May 15, 1992.

The plan to dismantle the Rideau Canal, Ottawa to Kingston, Ontario. House of Commons Ottawa May 26, 1970: MP Edmund Boyd Osler (Winnipeg South Centre, Manitoba) Liberal: "...I have had the pleasure of boating on the Rideau Canal. All one has to do is spend an afternoon reading the historical backround on the life of Colonel John By, look at some of the stones on the banks of the Canal and at some of the wooden gates to understand the wonderful craftsmanship, engineering skill and workmanship which went into this project." "What a crime it would have been had all this been allowed to go...I gather it was only a few years ago that the federal government decided that it was worth preserving. Things of that sort are not built today and they must be preserved."  ( The TV Ontario documentary "Tripping the Rideau Canal" is on YouTube.)

The Daly Building was part of Confederation Square.

Daly Building in Grave Danger - Heritage Ottawa-Summer of 1984. "Earlier reports indicated that CN Hotels were interested in restoring the Daly Building as an adjunct to the Chateau Laurier's own conference and meeting facilities, and were negotiating with the Department of Public Works to trade a piece of CN property for the Daly Building...CN might insist that the federal government give them the right to demolish the building."  "Another sure thing dictated by economics is that CN will not replace the Daly with a mere 5-storey building. Instead, they will likely put up a high rise which will dwarf the Chateau and the Conference Centre (Union Station) across the street. The Daly is an important building. Help save it by calling or writing the manager of the Chateau Laurier Hotel, Mayor Marion Dewar and the president of CN Real Estate.

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  The hotel is on the left, while the Daly Building is on the right. Photo is from William James Topley, Archives of Canada.