The City of Ottawa and the Greenbelt.

"In February 2019, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson began the process to develop a modern version of the Greber Plan, a 25-year plan for the city, anticipating breaching a population of 1 million residents, and foreseeing a part of a megaregion to also encompass Toronto and Montreal." (From: The Greber Plan-Wikipedia.)

 The City wants 1/4th of the Greenbelt, which is land that Jacques Greber protected from encroachment. (From: "Beyond Ottawa 20/20. Tabling of the Official Plan Review-White Paper on Development in the Greenbelt.")

"The City of Ottawa is undergoing an Official Plan Review which, among other things, examines the need for additional land for urban purposes...The City has identified more than 13,700 acres of the Greenbelt, worth about $1.6 billion that could be developed in their view without damaging its overall integrity."

Protect the Greenbelt from devastating development. A letter to Mayor Jim Watson from CPAWS, regarding a transit project:  "Dear Mayor Watson: CPAWS Ottawa Valley has long been focused on the preservation of Ottawa and the surrounding area's ecological integrity, natural beauty and diverse species.It is as a CPAWS supporter that I learned of the proposed changes to the Greenbelt."

"As a resident of the National Capital Region, the Greenbelt is important to me. It provides jobs, fresh local food and countless recreation opportunities. More importantly, it provides critical habitat for plants and animals, including many species at risk. Mer Bleue is the most biologically diverse area in Eastern Ontario, an internationally recognized RAMSAR site and living laboratory where scientists from across Canada and around the world come to learn about climate change, bogs and the species which depend on them. We are so fortunate to have that resource within our city!"

A few of the Greenbelt properties:  

Commissioners Park at Preston and Queen Elizabeth Driveway-a major venue for the Tulip Festival. The 22-acre property is very close to the Dow's Lake parking lot where a cluster of 30 to 50 storey condominiums will be constructed.

Wesley Clover Parks - the former National Equestrian Park and Ottawa Municipal Campground.

Bruce Pit - at Hunt Club and Baseline. An off-leash dog park, cross-country trail and toboggan hill.

Conroy Pit - near Hunt Club, an off-leash dog park and toboggan hill.

Hornets Nest soccer field- eleven soccer fields and an air-supported dome.

Agriculture Canada Research Farm- 1740 Woodroffe Avenue. 

The map is from the Archives of Canada on Wellington Street.

Canadian politicians who did not want to see the Greenbelt exploited:

Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King invited Jacques Greber from Paris to create a "living memorial in the National Capital, to honour Canadians who were killed fighting in foreign wars."

Prime Minister John Diefenbaker-House of Commons, June 18, 1958.

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney created the National Interest Land Mass designation in 1988, to rein in the National Capital Commission and to stop the City of Ottawa from using federal property as a land bank. NILM properties cannot be sold or subdivided; will be owned by Canadians in perpetuity, and Treasury Board has little or no involvement with NILM holdings:

  Gatineau Park. 

 The Greenbelt. 

 Land beside the scenic parkways ---Sir John A. Macdonald; Queen Elizabeth Driveway; Sir George Etienne Cartier, etc.

Victoria Island.

Lebreton Flats

Green Island.

Land beside the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River.

Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice.

House of Commons Ottawa  May 25,2010. MP Marcel Proulx (Hull-Aylmer, Liberal): "...The Liberal members from the National Capital Region, the member for Ottawa South,the member for Ottawa-Vanier and myself, are calling for better protection for the greenbelt.There are no serious regulations protecting the greenbelt."

"Together the City of Ottawa and the NCC can do whatever they want with this land. We believe this green space must be protected from developers...Given that the greenbelt is completely unprotected, we firmly believe it must be given the same safeguards as Gatineau Park."

House of Commons  Ottawa November 26, 2007. MP Marcel Proulx (Hull-Aylmer, Liberal): "Mr. Speaker, the Greber Plan gave us the greenbelt to create a green, modern and avant-garde capital. The greenbelt contains farms, forests and wetlands, which provide opportunities for recreational and outdoor activities as well as learning...Now the new president of the NCC....wants to promote urban development in the greenbelt. Does the government plan on letting (him) do what he wants and permanently destroy our precious greenbelt?"

Hon. John Baird (Minister of the Environment, Conservative Party of Canada.): "Mr. Speaker, as a member from the Ottawa region, from the capital region, I am well aware that this was a very good policy. I completely agree with the member."

House of Commons Ottawa September 16, 2009. Hon. Gordon O'Connor: "Mr. Speaker, I am one of the great supporters of the greenbelt. I believe it is part of our heritage and it must last as long in the future as possible...The long-term goal of the NCC would be to try to protect as much of the ecological basis of the greenbelt as possible..."

House of Commons Ottawa June 22, 1992. Mrs. Beryl Gaffney (Nepean) Liberal: "...The greenbelt was established to control urban sprawl, provide beauty to the nation's capital, assist municipalities in local improvements such as the cycling paths, the Stoney Swamp, the Pinhey Forest and the Log Farm. They have all added to the enhancement and beauty of the nation's capital."

"The people of Nepean are most concerned that the NCC is moving away from that premise. Does this government plan on continuing the status quo with the Nepean greenbelt lands or does the government plan on putting these lands up for sale? The majority of us in Nepean clearly do not want the greenbelt chipped away for residential and commercial development. We want and we deserve an answer."

House of Commons Ottawa August 11, 1987. Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell) Liberal: "Mr. Speaker, last night some 500 people protested the proposal to build a garbage incinerator at Walkley Road and Russell Road in Ottawa. I want to take this opportunity to express my disagreement with any plan which could result in the use of National Capital Commission land be turned from the Greenbelt into the garbage belt."

"It is the responsibility of the NCC to protect and maintain the Greenbelt surrounding the National Capital. We are proud of the Greenbelt and we are proud of our city. Therefore I ask the Minister of Public Works (Mr. McInnis) to state clearly that under no circumstances would he allow the Greenbelt lands of the National Capital Commission to be used for a garbage incinerator or any other purpose, like a U.S. embassy." (Note: Major's Hill Park is designated as Greenbelt land, and the U.S. Embassy was built on Major's Hill Park.) 

 Major's Hill Park was part of Parliament Hill before the Rideau Canal was built."The park was cut off from Parliament Hill by the Rideau Canal,from Sussex Drive by the Chateau Laurier, and from the Byward Market by the temporary buildings between Mackenzie and Sussex." When the World War 11 temporary buildings were torn down the land should have been returned to Canadians. (Urbsite photo.)