The federal park is now "Private Property" according to a sign on the tall fence surrounding the land. Chainsaws and heavy equipment are now defacing the property:
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| "Tree cutting permits for new Civic Hospital issued." All of the trees along Preston Street facing the parking lot will be clear cut. |
A quote from a person at the NCC after the 84-acre Moffatt Farm was privatized: "I don't think NCC has any responsibility whatsoever to the citizens of Ottawa concerning local parks...We manage: Hampton Park, Confederation ", Major's Hill ", Commissioners ", Hog's Back ", Rockcliffe Park; Vincent Massey ", Kingsview " and Riverain Park." ( From: Chairman Beaudry testifies-NCC Watch" June 11, 2002.)
Minister of Public Works Erik Nielsen wanted to see the National Capital Commission dismantled and all of the properties transferred to PWGSC: House of Commons Ottawa: Mr. Jean-Robert Gauthier (Ottawa-Vanier) Liberal: "Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Public Works as the spokesman in the House for the National Capital Commission. I would like to ask the minister if it is to be concluded that he might be considering changing or abolishing the National Capital Commission...I would like to ask him if Bill C-13 which would terminate the National Capital Fund would prevent the commission from using those funds for public work in Ottawa and the national capital region?"
Hon. Erik Nielsen (Minister of PublicWorks): "Mr. Speaker, the replacement of the commissioners is under consideration. With respect to the change in the structure of the NCC, that too is under review."
A quote from Senator Anne Cools in the Senate of Canada: "The public fears that many other parklands like the Experimental Farm and the Arboretum are on the National Capital Commission's list for sale." (April 23, 2002.)
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| The people of Canada never wanted a mega-hospital on this land. (The document is from "INTERIM REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ON THE FUTURE OF THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM" Ottawa, May 1998.) |
People who never wanted to see the Farm privatized or given away:
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
Prime Minister Louis St-Laurent
Prime Minister Mackenzie King
Agriculture Minister Douglas Harkness: House of Commons Ottawa August 1, 1958: "I am very glad to tell the hon. member for Assiniboia that the central experimental farm is going to be not only retained but expanded...We expect to secure from the federal district commission something in the neighbourhood of 4,000 acres of land in the green belt, and the animal husbandry activities of the experimental farm will be established there."
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz
Agriculture Minister Bud Olson
Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan
Agriculture Minister Sydney Arthur Fisher
Agriculture Minister John Wise House of Commons Ottawa May 13, 1988: "Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Hon. Member's continuing interest in the future of the Experimental Farm here in Ottawa. I want to take this opportunity to indicate him that Agriculture Canada, my Department, has no plans or thoughts whatsoever concerning disposing of any portion of that property at any time. There is no question about that...Next to the Parliament Buildings the Experimental Farm is the second most popular tourist attraction here in Ottawa."
Agriculture Minister James Garfield Gardiner: House of Commons Ottawa June 18, 1954:
Member of Parliament Marlene Catterall (Ottawa West-Nepean, Lib.) House of Commons Ottawa February 9 1998: "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 historical 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...The people of this region are proud of the nation's capital and its national institutions."
Member of Parliament Elizabeth May - See the YouTube video "Elizabeth May presents a petition to save Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm from destruction."
Musician Bruce Cockburn
Member of Parliament Pierre De Bane (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of State for Urban Affairs) House of Commons Ottawa November 4, 1974:
Ms. Maude Barlow, Honourary Chairperson of the Council of Canadians.
Mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson: "I think the Central Experimental Farm is a real gem in the city and I don't think the public wants to take open and green space and have it developed." (From: friendsofthefarm newsletter, summer of 2013, page 10/12.)
Member of Parliament Hazen Robert Argue, Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (C.C.F.): House of Commons Ottawa August 1, 1958: "I would express the hope that the central experimental farm may be kept in its present form and its present location...I think it is doing tremendous work and is, amongst other things, a most valuable tourist attraction in the capital city."
Senator Anne Cools
Mr. Walter David Baker, Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposition, Progressive Conservative Party Deputy House Leader (Grenville-Carleton): House of Commons Ottawa November 4, 1974: "...There really is no open or green space available for those who live in high-rise housing, row housing, in condominiums or in densely populated areas. That green and open space which normally is provided by one's backyard, or by the neighbourhood park, must be provided in those areas by green belt areas such as the Experimental Farm."
Minister of Public Works Howard Charles Green (Vancouver) PC House Leader, Secretary of State for External Affairs: House of Commons Ottawa August 1, 1958:
The Hon. George James McIlraith, House of Commons Ottawa August 1, 1958.
Politician and writer Clive Doucet - The Reimagine Ottawa petition has more than 8,000 signatures, from individuals who want to see a public inquiry into why the Experimental Farm was chosen for the site of a mega-hospital. And they are calling for a moratorium on the redevelopment of the site. Senator Noel Kinsella recommended a recall mechanism, whereby the National Capital Commission cannot immediately sell or donate a property if the government of Canada receives a petition with 1,000 signatures opposing the transaction:
Senate of Canada Ottawa May 8, 2002: Senator Noel Kinsella: "It seems to me, we require a provision for a recall mechanism. Section 10 (2) of the act, which gives the power to the National Capital Commission to sell lands 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." (Google: Debates - Issue 114 - May 8, 2002.)
Ottawa City Councillor Katherine Hobbs
Ottawa City Councillor Catherine McKenney
Ottawa City Councillor Jeff Leiper
Ottawa City Councillor Rawlson King
Ottawa City Councillor Shawn Menard
Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden
Member of Parliament David Bruce Daubney (Ottawa West) House of Commons Ottawa May 13, 1998:
Organizations that tried to save the Farm:
Protect the Farm-Home|Facebook
Save the Central Experimental Farm - Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital
Saving the Central Experimental Farm - Heritage Ottawa
Save the Farm - Protest to save our trees and greenspace
Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association
The National Trust for Canada
Friends of the Farm
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| Whoever decided to chop down trees on the Experimental Farm/Queen Juliana Park yesterday, shame on you. The same tall blue fence surrounded Lansdowne Park when 165 trees were removed. The photo is from the Reimagine Ottawa website. |
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| The Sir John Carling Building and QJP. |
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| The photo and this map are from the Federal Directory of Real Property website. |
The Experimental Farm is a National Institution, according to the NCC:
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I am an older woman and I don't have many years left on this planet. How dare you, National Capital Commission, put up barriers in Gatineau Park; sell Greenbelt property to developers; remove 40 trees on the Maplelawn Garden; prevent us from visiting Commissioners Park during the Tulip Festival; close the gates to land on Rideau Hall; close the Westboro Beach for the entire summer of 2022..the Crown corporation seems to have animosity for ordinary people. Their mandate is to preserve and protect the greenspaces in the capital. But parkland should be accessible to all Canadians.
The public will be prohibited from using Experimental Farm gateways: "Emergency Vehicles Only" signs will be posted at the Carling Avenue and Maple Drive intersection; Maple Drive and the Site entrance; and Prince of Wales Drive and the Site entrance." (Google: 2021-05-10 Design Brief and Planning Rationale-DO7 - 12-21-0059---friendsofthefarm.ca page 25/76.)
The video "Ottawa prepares to hand over historic federal farm land to corporate developers" can be seen on Vimeo:
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| The video was filmed at Carling Avenue and Maple Drive-- Maple Drive and Prince of Wales Drive are being taken over by the Civic Hospital. |
Photos of my Dad at Bergen op Zoom:
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