Parliament of Canada Petition 441-00162 (Infrastructure)

 Keywords - Government lands.  Local development plans.  National Capital Commission.   The Ottawa Hospital.

PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

Whereas:

• The National Capital Commission (NCC) recommended the release of 53 acres of surplus federal office land at Tunney's Pasture for the new Ottawa Hospital.

• NCC ran a six-month public consultation, worked with the current hospital on 21 site criteria, and evaluated 12 different sites, in reaching their recommendation;

• The City of Ottawa seemed to accept the recommendation but 72 hours later switched the site to a pristine green space that is popular for outdoor activities;

• The decision to switch sites was made without any studies on the environmental, transportation or health impacts of the switch;

• The proposed private/public development plan contains 17 acres of parking, including a four-storey parking structure on what is now Queen Juliana Park.

• Queen Juliana Park was established to honour the 7,600 Canadians who died liberating the Netherlands, and serves as the site of popular Algonquin Pow Wows during the summer.

• The sudden switch to the farm made available three to four billion dollars worth of developable land at the NCC recommended site;

• A panel of Ottawa residents convened themselves to review the decision;

• The panel included a former Ontario Superior Court judge, Mme Monique Metivier, an internationally celebrated Canadian medical physicist, Dr. David W.O. Rogers, a distinguished Canadian environmental engineer, Dr. Frank Johnson, and an award winning investigative journalist, Dr. Declan Hill;

• The panel sought answers from the City of Ottawa but did not receive any.

• The panel unanimously resolved to call for a public inquiry; and

• More than 8,000 Canadians have signed a Change.org petition calling for a public inquiry.

We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:

• Restore the National Capital Commission's recommendation of Tunney's Pasture as the ideal site for the new Ottawa hospital;

• Preserve Queen Juliana Park and the entire Central Experimental Farm as green spaces; and

• Support the panel's request for a public inquiry, led by the Province of Ontario, into why the NCC's site recommendation was set aside so quickly and summarily.

Government response tabled. Response by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Marie-Claire Bibeau, PC, MP. 

• The Central Experimental Farm (CEF) is an important cultural landscape contributing scientifically and culturally to the legacy of Canadian agriculture.

• AAFC takes its role as the custodian of the CEF very seriously.

• The CEF was designated a National Historic Site in 1998. As part of its obligation with respect to this designation, AAFC developed a National Historic Site Management Plan (Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site Management Plan (1-20)-agriculture.canada.ca) to guide future development on the site and to ensure that the Farm maintains its historical and cultural significance.

• AAFC works with partners such as Parks Canada in support of protecting the CEF's heritage and historic value, including both the site and the structures/buildings found within its its boundaries.

• Development on the site is subject to the National Capital Commission Federal Land Use Design and Transaction Approvals process, where all elements of any development are considered including the national historic components. These elements complement the consultative nature of the process, including heritage impact assessments and engagement with key stakeholders.

• Through the Central Experimental Farm Advisory Council, AAFC representatives work with community stakeholders in the interest of preserving the site. Membership includes Friends of the Central Experimental Farm, the Canadian Agriculture Museum, the 4H Council of Canada, Heritage Ottawa, the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, Federation of Citizen's Associations of Ottawa, the National Trust for Canada, and the Canadian Institute of Planners.

• Although AAFC is no longer the owner of the land on which the new Civic Campus will be located, we continue to work with federal partners and the Ottawa Hospital in the interest of respecting the historic value of the property as a whole including the ongoing operation of the Central Experimental Farm and the Ottawa Research and Development Centre.

Response by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement. Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Anthony Housefather. The Government acknowledges its receipt of Petition 441-00162 regarding the proposed site for the Ottawa Hospital (TOH).

The National Capital Commission does not have responsibility for the Ottawa Hospital or any decisions regarding location of a new site. The Government remains committed to the important research that the Central Experimental Farm undertakes, which provides benefits to farmers and the agricultural industry across Canada.

Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULT. 

Under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) every authority that exercises a power, performs a duty or function conferred to it under an Act of Parliament, provides financial assistance, or is the proponent of a proposed project on federal lands is required to make an environmental effects determination unless the project is designated by Ministerial Order under section 88 of the IAA.

There may be multiple authorities required to make an environmental effects determination for an individual project. Both the National Capital Commission and Public Services and Procurement Canada are required to undertake an environmental effects determination for the new Ottawa Hospital project proposed on federal lands. As part of these obligations, public notices are posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (the Registry) to invite comments and announce their environmental effects determination decision.

Information related to the Ottawa Hospital's new Civic development Phase 2 parking garage, green roof and various supporting projects was posted on the Registry on November 15, 2021 (https://iaac - aeic.gc.ca/050/ evaluations/proj/83161.)

The scope of the determination must include a consideration of impacts to indigenous rights, indigenous and community knowledge (if provided), public comments, and mitigation measures. The IAA does not prescribe how an authority must conduct these environmental effects determinations. The responsibility for conducting the effects determination rests with the relevant authorities. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada has issued a public guidance to authorities to assist them in meeting their obligations under the IAA, shares best practices, and hosts the Registry site, but does not review determinations nor the analysis conducted by authorities.

Parks Canada is the federal government's lead on the protection and presentation of national significant examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage, and the lead for Canada's participation in the World Heritage Convention. Parks Canada's interest in the Ottawa Hospital project relates to its impact on the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site and the neighbouring Rideau Canada National Historic Site and World Heritage Site.

The City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission are responsible for review and approval processes related to development of the new Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital. Parks Canada is providing comments to both the City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission in the context of their approval processes on the development of the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital and its potential impacts on the heritage values of the national historic sites and world heritage site.

HISTORY - PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS - Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands) February 9, 2022 (Petition No. 441-00162.)

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TABLED - March 25, 2022.