The mandate of the NCC is to beautify Canada's Capital.

Not to profit from the sale of Crown assets.

"The National Capital Commission is developing a new policy for its scenic parkways that will give priority to accomodating pedestrians and cyclists rather than automobiles.The proposal is aiming for a shift in paradigm, putting the park back into the parkway...The parkways should not be viewed as commuter routes."  "When completed next year the Capital Urban Lands Master Plan will be the first such plan covering federally owned parkways, recreational pathways, riverbanks, employment areas such as Tunney's Pasture and Confederation Heights and the Central Experimental Farm." (From: "Proposed NCC policy aims to put the park back into parkway." by Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen, May 20, 2014.)

An OC Transpo bus on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, Ottawa, Ontario Canada. As I have said before, one of the joys of my life is travelling on the scenic parkways in buses and taxis. You are discriminating against people who are older and physically challenged when you ban traffic from commuter routes, NCC. 

When I travelled on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway I could see the Ottawa River, Gatineau Hills, Westboro Beach, buildings and hills in Gatineau and trees. On the Queen Elizabeth Driveway I could view the Dow's Lake pavilion and Rideau Canal.  Now you want to ban vehicles on the aforementioned highways and Wellington Street. How could you, National Capital Commission, take away my access to one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  De-paving the roads will create thousands of acres of "surplus" federal real estate. This endeavour is all about real estate, not about saving the environment or giving the land back to the people.

House of Commons Debates Ottawa May 15, 1970. Mr. D. Gordon Blair (Grenville-Carleton) Liberal: "I would like to direct a question to the Acting Prime Minister...Is the government aware of a statement or statements to the press by the Chairman of the NCC to the effect that he might close the national capital parkways in this region for a week for the strange purpose of proving their importance in carrying traffic? The second part of my question is whether the Acting Prime Minister can assure the House that the government will not permit the people of this area to be inconvenienced by the disruption that this extraordinary and senseless experiment will cause?"

The Hon. George James McIlraith (Acting Prime Minister.): "The statement has caused concern. I am very doubtful that the Chairman of the Commission has any such authority under the National Capital Act passed by this Parliament."

 "Federal, scenic highways and parks in the National Capital Region are dedicated to the memory of Canadian soldiers who died fighting in foreign wars." (Greber Report of 1950, page 228/395.)

The following parkways and adjacent land will be owned by the citizens of Canada in perpetuity: Ottawa River, Wellington St. to Carling Ave. 254 ha.   Airport, 120 ha.  Eastern, Hemlock Rd. to Hwy 417, 72 ha.  Eastern & Rockcliffe Park from Sussex Drive to Greenbelt, 255 ha.  Potential NILM properties: Western Corridor, Carling Ave. to Queensway, 40.0 ha.   Experimental Farm Dr. Corridor Queensway to Experimental Farm, 76.0 ha.  Hull South, Lucerne Blvd to Gatineau Park, 275.0.(Google: 1988-09-15-TB-re-NCC.)

Driveways in the Capital, March 31, 1985. Ottawa River.  Airport.  Eastern Driveway.  Eastern Parkway.  Queen Elizabeth.  Hog's Back Road.  Rockcliffe Park.  Colonel By. (From: 1984-85 NCC Annual Report, page 32.)

Report of the Federal District Commission, 1949, page 37/79. "The park and parkway system is justly famous for its utilization of the scenic beauty of the Federal Capital Area whenever possible. The parks and driveways are and will be located along the banks of the Rideau and Ottawa Rivers,the Rideau Canal and Dow's Lake. In all, about twenty-two miles of parkways have been developed over a period of many years, and with the exception of several minor gaps, it is possible to drive along these scenic roads from the Village of Rockcliffe to the Champlain Bridges...The system comprises areas of natural beauty which were acquired by the Commission to ensure their retention and protection."

The Riverbanks.

The Central Experimental Farm. Videos that I created: