The federally-owned Greenbelt that surrounds Ottawa is off-limits to developers.

And that includes Mer Bleue. 

"The 20,600 hectare Greenbelt belongs to the people of Canada. Compared to other Greenbelts that tend to have more privately owned than public land, the opportunities are vast to build upon the progress of the past 60 years that led to Canada's Capital Greenbelt of today." (Canada's Capital Greenbelt Master Plan, National Capital Commission, November 2013, page 38/196.) (20,600 hectares of land equals 50,903.709 acres.)

House of Commons Ottawa June 22, 1992. Mrs. Beryl Gaffney (Nepean, Liberal.) "Mr. Speaker, in the 1960's the federal government had the foresight to protect environmentally sensitive land in the nation's capital with the establishment of the greenbelt lands. The NCC is the federal agency responsible for these lands. 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 the government plan on continuing the status quo with the Nepean lands, or does the government plan on putting these lands up for sale?"

House of Commons Ottawa June 23, 1992. Mrs. Beryl Gaffney (Nepean, Liberal.) "Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Public Works. The greenbelt lands here in the nation's capital were created in the 1960's by the federal government to protect environmentally sensitive lands, to limit urban sprawl, and enhance the nation's capital."

"Recent actions by the National Capital Commission have Nepean and other area municipalities concerned that there is a movement away from the original objective for these lands. Does the government plan on maintaining the status quo on all the greenbelt lands or are these lands in fact up for sale piece by piece?"

The Hon. Elmer M. MacKay (Minister of Public Works, PC.) "Mr. Speaker, I am glad to inform the member for Nepean, whose interest I greatly appreciate in these matters, that the NCC as she probably knows is conducting a major review on the greenbelt to re-examine and redefine the use of the lands, and to ensure these lands continue to enhance the quality of life of the national capital into the next century. Any changes that will be made on a case to case basis will be looked at closely and all levels of government and affected residents will be consulted. I can assure her there is no drastic change contemplated. We continue to exercise the most careful stewardship over these lands."

House of Commons Ottawa November 26, 2007. Mr. Marcel Proulx (Hull-Aylmer, Lib.) "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 promote opportunities for recreational and outdoor activities as well as learning. The value of greenbelts in large urban areas has been appreciated in Europe for a long time. Now the new president of the NCC wants to promote urban development in the greenbelt. Does the government plan on letting (the president) do what he wants and permanently destroy our precious greenbelt?"

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