The Farm is a National Interest Land Mass, it cannot be subdivided.

"The Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site is designated in its entirety as part of the National Interest Land Mass. These lands are essential for the long-term symbolism, functions, physical structure, and natural and cultural landscapes of the Capital. 

"Implicit in a NILM designation is a formal designation of the Federal Government's interest in the long-term use of these lands. Most NILM lands are, or should be under the custody of the federal government to ensure they are protected and enhanced. Generally, the majority of these lands are, or will be, owned by the NCC, while some NILM land will also be under the custody of other federal custodians or departments." (From: "CEF National Historic Site Management Plan"Part 7/20.)

The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.House of Commons, Ottawa. Evidence. Monday, October 26, 2009.  Mr. Jean-Paul Murray (Co-Chair, Gatineau Park Protection Committee.) "...The government established the National Interest Land Mass in 1988 following a recommendation by the Nielsen Commission that it curtail the National Capital Commission and impose a managerial discipline on it and its real estate transactions....In addition, the Auditor General and the NCC Mandate Review Panel emphasized that the NCC was managing the NILM in a ambiguous and inconsistent manner and that the agency should be more transparent in this regard."

Definition of a National Interest Land Mass-The National Interest Land Mass (NILM) consists of "National shrines, the river and canal banks, the Confederation Boulevard, the Gatineau Park, and the Greenbelt in the National Capital Region...considered essential to the realization of the Vision of the Capital..." There are 37 individual parcels of property in this category currently owned by the NCC totalling some 44,200 ha. in area. Land forming part of the NILM will be retained by the NCC on behalf of the government in perpetuity, for purposes which lie at the core of the NCC's mandate, and will be managed by the NCC with little or no further management involvement by the Treasury Board Secretariat. (Google: 1988-09-15-TB-re-NCC-Land Holdings.)

Cabinet minister Erik Nielsen and future Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who created the National Interest Land Mass designation for the Farm and other properties; and former Prime Minister of Canada Joe Clark. Peter Bregg photo.

House of Commons Ottawa June 18, 1954. Mr. John Angus Maclean. "I want to support what other members have said with regard to retaining the experimental farm. I know the minister will strongly resist any move which might develop to have that beautiful and worthwhile experimental farm subdivided for building or anything of that sort. I think it would be a tragic loss not only for the City of Ottawa but to the agricultural industry generally and to the many people who benefit through having an opportunity to visit the farm..."

"Canada's Hyde Park" House of Commons Ottawa June 18, 1954. Mr. John Alpheus Charlton, Progressive Conservative. "Rumours persist, and I have heard them in many places, that here is some thought of moving the central experimental farm from Ottawa. Has the department any such idea in mind? Is it considering changing the location of the farm by moving it farther out from the city?

The Hon. James Gardiner Garfield (Minister of Agriculture) Liberal. "No consideration has been given to the possibility of moving the farm. There are people making suggestions all the time of course. We listen to them, of course, but any suggestions that anything along that line should be done have always been replied to in the negative. Many people have taken the position that this farm, as far as agriculture is concerned, provides opportunities that no farm in any other place could. There are so many people who come to Ottawa who probably would not go out of the city ten miles to look at an experimental farm, but in this case the farm is right here. These people are told by everybody that it is one of the beauty spots of the area and they go there.

"...In addition, I find that no matter where I go, whether I am in Europe or in Washington, a great deal of attention has been paid to keeping areas in their natural state. For example, whenever I go to London and look over Hyde Park I wonder why we do not have areas like that in our cities in Canada? The experimental farm in Ottawa is the nearest approach that we could possibly have to that. Even if it becomes necessary at some time to move some of the activities a little farther away, I do not believe that farm should be closed up or eliminated by allowing people to build on the area, or doing anything else with it. I believe it should remain there just as it is now."

Mr. Alexander Malcolm Nicholson (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (C.C.F.) "I want to draw the minister's attention to the applause he received a few minutes ago when he intimated that the experimental farm at Ottawa would not be available for subdivision."

PETITIONS

Save Ottawa's Precious Urban Green Space-Ottawa is about to lose part of a National Heritage Site and a big chunk of its precious green space. The Ottawa Hospital's  new Civic Campus is slated to be built on the former Sir John Carling site of the Central Experimental Farm. Situated by beautiful Dow's Lake, this green space is enjoyed by thousands of Ottawans, Canadians and tourists each year. We have to preserve this green space for many reasons. This is our Hyde Park, our Central Park. Once it has been paved over and built on we will never get it back. (Change.org petition.)

Stop the rezoning of Parks to Condos, Queen Juliana in Little Italy.

The National Trust for Canada.

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (1974.)

Save the Central Experimental Farm-Ottawa.

Protect the Farm-Home|Facebook.

Save the Central Experimental Farm-Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital.

Saving the Central Experimental Farm-Heritage Ottawa.

COALITION TO SAVE THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM.

Save the Farm-Protest to save our trees and greenspace. 2017.

Protection of the Central Experimental Farm as a research facility and a national historic site of Canada. Petition 388, sent to the Auditor General of Canada.

House of Commons Ottawa February 9, 1998. Marlene Catterall (Ottawa West-Nepean) Liberal. "Mr. Speaker, last week the Secretary of State for Parks and the minister of agriculture designated the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa as a national historic site. This does not mean that the farm will be frozen in time. It will continue to evolve as it has for 111 years, but it will evolve in a way that is consistent with the important contribution it has made to agriculture in Canada and internationally."

"It will be a permanent visible reminder in the nation's capital to all Canadians of the importance of agriculture to our economic and social development. The people of this region are proud of the nation's capital and its national institutions. I know they will want to contribute and be part of planning the future of the Central Experimental Farm, our newest national historic site."