Friday, January 15, 2021

The modern addition to the Chateau Laurier Hotel.

Why this endeavour cannot proceed:

1.)  The hotel is part of the Confederation Square National Historic Site of Canada. Memorials and buildings that are part of Confederation Square:  National War Memorial. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Bell Building, Central Chambers, Chateau Laurier, East Block, Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council (former Langevin Block), National Arts Centre, Postal Station "B", Scottish-Ontario Chambers, and the former Grand Trunk railway station. The Daly Building at 555 Mackenzie is gone.

2.) The grounds of Parliament Hill included Major's Hill Park. The Chateau Laurier was built on Major's Hill Park:

House of Commons Ottawa December 21, 1963."...With the exception of the years 1802-1823, Parliament Hill has been owned by the Crown-successively the Crown Imperial, the Crown Provincial and the Crown Federal. Since 1823, the Crown has always held these lands for public purposes-either of defence or generally. In 1802, the British Crown granted the area to Jacob Carman who deeded it in 1812 to Thomas Fraser by whose son Hugh it was inherited."

"In 1823 the Earl of Dalhousie, the Governor, purchased the Hill from Hugh Fraser on behalf of the British Crown and, by letter, entrusted its control and management to Colonel John By with instructions that the Hill, together with Major Hill and Nepean Point, be reserved for military purposes."

"About 1857 the British Crown transferred the Ordnance (or military) lands-these including the Hill together with the Rideau Canal lands-to the Government of Upper Canada. With Confederation the Hill and the buildings then thereon were included in those public lands and works transferred from Upper Canada by Section 108 of the B.N.A. Act and clause 9 of the 3rd Schedule thereto."

"Thereafter the Hill has continued in the ownership of Canada. The statutory phrase is that Parliament Hill lands are absolutely vested in Her Majesty in right of Canada for the purposes of Canada, See: Public Lands Grants Act, R.S. 1952 Can.,ch.224 and Ordnance and Admiralty Lands Act, R.S. 1927, Can., ch.115."

3.) Senate Bill S-203, an Act to Amend the National Capital Act (buildings or works of national significance.)

Bill S-203. Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and the House of Commons, enact the follows:

1 National Capital Act. Section 2 of the National Capital Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order: buildings or works of national significance means

(a.) the grounds in the City of Ottawa bounded by Wellington Street, the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa River and Kent Street, known as Parliament Hill, and any buildings or works located on those grounds;

(b.) the Senate of Canada Building, located at 2 Rideau Street in the City of Ottawa;

(c.) the building located at 1 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa;

(d.) the Victoria Building, located at 140 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa; 

(e.) the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, located at 144 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa;

(f.) the Wellington Building, located at 180 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa.

(g.) the Confederation Building, located at 229 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa.

(h.) the Justice Building, located at 249 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa.

(i.) the Supreme Court of Canada Building, located at 301 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa.

(j.) any place that has been commemorated as a historic place under paragraph 3(a) of the Historic Sites and Monuments Act.

(k.) a national historic site as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Parks Canada Agency Act.

(l.) any prescribed building or work.

Senate Bill S-203 applies to 1 Rideau Street because it is a national historic place. The marker is located just to the left of the main front entrance portico. 

4.)  The Rideau Canal will lose designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5.)  There is widespread opposition to the proposed addition:  Friends of the Chateau Laurier Public Group|Facebook.  Protect the Chateau Laurier-Home|Facebook.   Block Changes to the Chateau Laurier's Classic Look-Change.org. (As of January 15,2021 the petition had 13,702 signatures.)

6.)  Major's Hill Park is federal property and 1 Rideau is a National Historic Site of Canada. The addition will have a negative affect on viewscapes of the park and the original hotel:

1994-1995 Annual Report of the National Capital Commission-page 19/50. "Too many modern cities have paid the price of uncontrolled and disharmonious development. That is why the Canadian Parliament appointed the NCC to guard against inappropriate design use and land use in the Canadian Capital. The Commission has been authorized to examine all applications for design approval, land use changes, realty transactions and demolitions affecting federal property in the region, rejecting those that are inappropriate or suggesting changes to make others acceptable."

1993-1994 National Capital Commission Annual Report-page 9/36. Mission Statement-The NCC's mission statement reflects it's mandate:

  • to use the Capital to communicate Canada to Canadians.
  • to make the Capital a meeting place for Canadians; and
  • to safeguard and preserve national treasures in the Capital.

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To see the YouTube video Google "Paul McCartney Chateau Laurier."

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