The government of Canada wants to sell the property to five foreign embassies. However, this land is part of a 900 square mile federal memorial in perpetuity to Canadian soldiers:
PC No. 6721- "The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated 25th October 1945 from the Minister of Public Works, stating:
"...That under the authority of Order in Council PC 5635 of August 16th, 1945, an area comprising some 900 square miles , more or less, adjoining the City has been defined as the National Capital District and it has been decided to re-engage Mr.Greber to make a study of that area with a view of preparing plans for a suitable long-term development of such area as a National War Memorial." (The Greber Report of 1950, page 9 out of 343 pages,)
"In Ottawa and Hull only a few riverside parks are opened to the public. Fortunately, the Federal District Commission has acquired additional land west of Cartier Park in Hull, and parallelling the Ottawa shoreline between Lazy Bay and Woodroffe, for park and parkway development." (Emphasis mine.) (From: The Greber Report of 1950, page 147 out of 343.)
In addition, land adjacent to the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway is designated as a National Interest Land Mass. (Google: 1988-09-15-tb-re-ncc.)
Similarities between Lazy Bay Commons Park and the Moffat Farm, located at 1709 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa:
1.) Both of the properties were part of the 900 square mile memorial to Canadian soldiers, and the properties were assembled by urban planner Jacques Greber and Prime Minister Mackenzie King.
2.) Both of the landscapes were designated as National Interest Land Masses.
"A representative from the Moffatt Farm Citizen's Coalition states that this was not just a local issue and he said that he was concerned that this was the beginning of a trend by the NCC to dispose of Greenspace that is not in the downtown area." (Google: City of Ottawa planning and development committee, Moffat Farm, February 28, 2002.)
In the future, decisions undertaken by the NCC may be overturned by petitions with over 1,000 signatures. Senate of Canada Ottawa May 8, 2002: The Hon. Senator Noel A. Kinsella, Proposal to Sell Moffatt Farm-Inquiry-Debate: "Honourable senators, I would like to make a few remarks with reference to this matter now before the Senate...The matter relates to the National Capital Act, which created the National Capital Commission.."
".It seems to me, we require a provision for a recall mechanism. Section 10 (2) of the (National Capital) act, which gives the power to the National Capital Commission to sell lands held in trust, could be amended by Parliament to provide for a review mechanism by Parliament or a parliamentary committee upon the receipt, for example, of 1,000 signatures of citizens from any part of Canada."
"As well, the section of the act that gives the authority to the Cabinet to overturn any decision by the NCC to not sell land should also apply to any decision to sell land. There is a provision in the act which provides that Cabinet can overide a decision of the NCC to not sell land, and I would suggest that the same provision should apply to the sale of land. Should the NCC, indeed should any agency of the Crown, in order to make ends meet, be out there negotiating away assets---in this instance assets that are held in trust for all Canadians?"
MILE CIRCLE near Rockcliffe.
An Embassy Row near Rockcliffe was never constructed, thanks to federal Members of Parliament Barry Turner, Don Boudria, Jean-Robert Gauthier, Nelson Andrew Riis and many petitions:
House of Commons Ottawa. April 9, 1986. Proposed development of NCC parkland: MP Barry Turner (Ottawa-Carleton) Progressive Conservative: "Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present another petition signed by 34 residents of the National Capital Region(al) who are very much opposed to the National Capital Commission's proposal to turn the Mile Circle into an embassy row. They indicate that the Mile Circle was designated in 1925 by the Ottawa Improvement Commission as a national park and they are very much opposed to this change."
House of Commons Ottawa. April 16, 1986: MP Nelson A. Riis, N.D.P. Caucus Chair (Kamloops-Shuswap.) NDP: "Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition on behalf of nearly 100 residents expressing strong opposition to convert the National Capital Commission greenspace north of Sandridge Road into an embassy enclave and call upon Parliament to reject the proposal to build an embassy on the Mile Circle."
House of Commons Ottawa. February 7, 1986: MP Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell). Liberal: "Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has embarked on a policy of selling the Crown jewels. First it was the threat of logging national parks, then selling our national aircraft manufacturer, then the possibility of privatizing Air Canada, and, finally, the potential sale of part of Mile Circle Park right here in the city of Ottawa to build a U.S. Embassy."
"This park is bordered by a residential neighbourhood. Hundreds of average Canadians live there and hundreds of children go to school there. It is the worst possible site for such a building. In the past American embassies have been the targets of very unforunate events. Could the safety of innocent people living in the area be affected by the potential construction of such a structure in their neighbourhood?"
"As the opposition critic for the Department of Public Works, I call upon the Government to send a clear signal that Canadian parklands, our national treasures, are not for sale. I call upon the Government to state clearly that it will not act improperly by selling Mile Circle Park or locating an embassy in it."
House of Commons Ottawa. March 24, 1986: MP Jean-Robert Gauthier (Ottawa-Vanier) Chief Opposition Whip; Whip of the Liberal Party: "...I said my question is directed to the Deputy Prime Minister. Will he tell the House if it is federal policy to sell federally owned parkland? NCC Chairman Jean Pigott recently said that she wants to sell part of an Ottawa riverfront park known as Mile Circle to the United States Of America for an embassy compound. Is the Government in favour of selling our natural parklands?...Mr. Speaker, could the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House whether he intends to act responsibly and give clear and precise instructions to all those who are responsible for our national parks indicating clearly that none of our national parks are for sale?"
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| A flock of geese at Lazy Bay. |
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