Leave the Experimental Farm where it is.

A Timeline

Late 1940's and early 1950's - Prime Minister Mackenzie King and Jacques Greber dedicate 900 square miles of land in the National Capital Region to the memory of fallen Canadian soldiers.

1954 - The city of Ottawa wants Experimental Farm land for a new city hall.Prime Minister Louis St-Laurent refuses the request and states that the Experimental Farm "will be an open space in perpetuity."

House of Commons Ottawa July 13, 1956. Hayden Stanton (Progressive Conservative). Mr. Stanton: "In view of the fact that the central experimental farm cannot expand any farther on account of the building projects surrounding it, has the minister given any consideration to expanding the farm by way of an annex say 50 or 75 miles away from the central farm?"

Hon. James Garfield Gardiner (Minister of Agriculture) Liberal: Mr. Gardiner: "This question, of course, as to what will become of the experimental farm in Ottawa comes up nearly every year. The department is of the opinion that it ought to remain just where it is. We do not think it is going to help agriculture or anyone who comes here to get an idea of what is going on in Canada to have an experimental farm 20 miles away from Ottawa or even 10 miles away."

"We think one of the chief assets of our experimental farm system as well as one of the chief assets of Ottawa in general is the central experimental farm right where it is."

"The question came up recently when the city wanted to take a piece of it to make a highway, and we insisted on its being just as small a piece as they could get along with and still have a highway. We intend to continue that policy, we are not making any preparations to take anything away from the present experimental farm and we hope the farm will remain just where it is."

House of Commons Ottawa October 10, 1974. SPEECH FROM THE THRONE-CONTINUATION OF DEBATE: Mr. Francis (Ottawa West) Liberal: "I wish to pay tribute to Mr. Fullerton for his imaginative and innovative use of public funds and public lands. However, I wish to take issue with him on one score and express quiet but firm disagreement with him."

"He may have been right on a number of things, but I do not think he was right when he proposed that part of the Experimental Farm should be used for housing. Despite the fact that there is a serious housing shortage I do not think that my constituents would choose to sacrifice an open space which is such a precious thing for the community."

1988 - Agriculture Minister Doug Wise tells the House of Commons that CEF land will never be privatized under his watch.

1988 - Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Deputy Prime Minister Erik Nielsen introduce the National Interest Land Mass designation to protect hundreds of properties in the National Capita Region. That includes Gatineau Park, the Greenbelt, national parkland, the Experimental Farm, Greenbelt Farm; scenic highways, the banks of the Rideau River and Ottawa River, 24 Sussex Drive, the Royal Canadian Mint. NILM land will be protected in perpetuity.

1991 - Bill C-3, the Federal Real Property Act - House of Commons Ottawa November 22, 1991: MP Dennis Mills (Broadview-Greenwood,Liberal) "In one year, with the support of this bill, it is possible that there will be no Crown land assets left."

1995 - "The government is getting out of the business of running experimental farms." 50 historic buildings on the CEF are slated for demolition, Google: "The fight for the Farm goes on". Heritage Ottawa newsletter, Spring of 1997. The buildings, especially the Dominion Observatory buildings were untouched.

1998 - The Department of Agriculture transfers the Greenbelt Research Farm at 1740 Woodroffe Avenue

"Parks Canada to look at divesting highways, bridges, dams" by Dean Beeby, CBC News, August 26, 2017. "Parks Canada is considering whether to give up as much as $8.3 billion of its highways, bridges and dams." Parks Canada operates 46 national parks, a national urban park, 4 national marine conservation areas and 171 national historic sites including historic canals.

1.) The United Nations Agency UNESCO told Parks Canada that the designation UNESCO World Heritage Site will be removed from the Rideau Canal and the Kingston Fortifications---- if a hospital is built near Dow's Lake.

2.) The Rideau Canal has 52 dams and 45 locks.

3.) The Rideau Canal cannot be sold. House of Commons Ottawa June 1, 1950. MP George Taylor Fulford (Leeds) Liberal: "...There was a rather quaint treaty signed between Great Britain and Canada when the canal was handed over to Canada. One of the clauses said that Canada would maintain the canal system as long as the grass was green and the skies were blue."

 "Federal, scenic highways in the National Capital Region are dedicated to the memory of Canadian soldiers who died fighting in foreign wars. They will be owned by the citizens of Canada in perpetuity" (From: The Greber Report of 1950, page 228/395.)

Scenic Parkways Ottawa River Parkway - now called the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway - Wellington Street to Carling Avenue, 254 ha.  Airport Parkway.  Queen Elizabeth Drive. Sir George Etienne Cartier Parkway. NCC Experimental Farm Parkway. Gatineau Parkway.

 

"The Central Experimental Farm should not be encroached upon."

House of Commons Ottawa April 12, 1961 Hazen Robert Argue (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation-CCF): Mr. Argue: "There has been a good deal of discussion in the House regarding the government's policy in respect of construction of buildings on the experimental farm and I think it has been accepted, at least it was by the minister's predecessor and by ministers of the Department of Agriculture particularly the Right Hon. J.G. Gardiner, that the CEF should not be encroached upon by the construction of buildings---it is considered to be a valuable piece of property with historical records built up over many decades."

"It was felt that any reversion or change of this land to some other use would destroy the continuity of these records, and that the experimental farm should remain intact at its present location. I think the present minister has been modifying the policy as set out by his predecessor. He appears to be on record as in favour of the construction of an administrative building at the location of the central experimental farm but I would express the hope that such a building will not be constructed at that location, and that the farm situated at this very strategic and valuable location will not be sacrificed to commercial interests, so that the valuable records will be maintained."

The Greenbelt - "Together the City of Ottawa and the NCC could do what they like with it."

 A quote from Member of Parliament Marcel Proulx.House of Commons Ottawa May 25, 2010: Marcel Proulx (Hull-Aylmer, Lib.) "...The Liberal members from the National Capital Region, the member for Ottawa-Vanier and I as Liberal members of Parliament, have good reason to call for enhanced protection of the greenbelt. There are, as a matter of fact, no major regulations protecting this area. Together the City of Ottawa and the NCC could do what they like with it. We believe this greenspace must be protected from developers."

Greenbelt properties

Commissioners Park at Carling Avenue and Preston Street. (MP Steven Blaney, Levis) "...Other properties found in the greenbelt are Commissioners Park where there is a display of over 100,000 tulips." House of Commons Ottawa, September 16, 2009.

The Greenbelt Research Farm, 1740 Woodroffe Avenue, Nepean.

 Agriculture Canada research farms.

Green's Creek Conservation Area

Hornets Nest soccer fields

Pine View Golf Course

Mer Bleue Conservation Area

Hylands Golf Club

The Log Farm

Bruce Pit

Conroy Pit

Lime Kiln (Trail)

Stony Swamp Conservation Area

Wesley Clover Park - the former Nepean National Equestrian Park and Ottawa Municipal Campground.

The 19th Tee Driving Range

Airport land 

The Connaught National Army Cadet Summer Training Centre

Shirley's Bay (The information is from Wikipedia.)

The Greenbelt.

BEYOND OTTAWA 20/20: TABLING OF THE OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW WHITE PAPER ON DEVELOPMENT IN THE GREENBELT-27 May 2008.

It should be noted that any and all views expressed in this White Paper are those of the City of Ottawa and not those of the National Capital Commission.

The Greenbelt occupies an area of approximately 20,000 hectares (51,397.919 acres), nearly identical to the size of the urban area confined within its inner limits and just less than half the size of Gatineau Park. Undeveloped portions (comprising wetlands, agricultural land, forests, shrubs and idle lands) account for approximately 85% of the total area.

Background The completion of the 1950 Plan for the National Capital (often referred to as the Greber Plan) was followed by a period of land acquisition through the 1950's and 1960's including lands for Gatineau Park, the Greenbelt, federal office sites, parkway development and railway relocation. ...Approved by the Treasury Board in 1988, the National Interest Land Mass designation included the Greenbelt lands."

"...It is estimated that of the 20,800 ha. (51,397.919 acres) in the Greenbelt, at least one quarter, 5,560 ha. (13,739 acres) might be eligible for development consideration if the Greenbelt designation was removed."

The problem with that scenario is, the Greenbelt designation cannot be removed. As I mentioned several times before--- Prime Minister Mackenzie King and Jacques Greber created the Greenbelt as a living memorial to honour Canadian soldiers who were killed fighting in foreign wars. Canadian soldiers are buried in foreign graves - in Normandy (Beny sur Mer); the Netherlands (Bergen op Zoom) and many other cemeteries. 

The Greenbelt is protected by the designation National Interest Land Mass.

The government of Canada cannot criticise France for planning to build condominiums on the beaches of Normandy, and at the same time permit residential and commercial construction on a National Capital war memorial.

Prime Minister Mackenzie King and Mr. Greber wanted the land to be accessible--- for playgrounds, fundraising events, Canada Day celebrations, farmers markets, tourism, sports activities, riding bicycles, enjoying the flowers and trees, quiet contemplation. However,  the properties held by DND, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, a film production company, farms and the land protected by heritage conservation laws, etc. are off-limits.

The 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 the 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.)

The Greenbelt.

"Greenbelt land should have clearly defined boundaries protected by federal statutes, preventing commercial and residential development and other incompatible activities." (Greenbelt Coalition of Canada's Capital Region - Position Paper for the NCC's Master Plan Review, September 2010. Legal protection, part 4.5.) 

The City will permit residential development on Greenbelt land. "The City of Ottawa recently released its discussion paper '5 Big Moves' as part of its Official Plan Review. Much of it is laudible, but Policy 3 is not. The policy states "Where urban expansion may be required in the future...consider the potential to expand into the Greenbelt." Whoa! Ottawa is already at one million people and is expected to grow more, but nowhere are they manufacturing any more greenspace. Once you permit urban development in the Greenbelt that greenspace is gone forever. In short, don't bother considering this option." Alex Cullen, former City Councillor, in a letter to the Ottawa Citizen on August 24, 2019. Policy 3 is from City of Ottawa Official Plan, Volume 2A, Urban Secondary Plans, November 20, 2020.)

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REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT POLICY IN RESPECT OF GREEN SPACES IN CITIES - October 7, 1974.

House of Commons Ottawa, October 7, 1974: Walter David Baker (Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposition; Progressive Conservative Party Deputy House Leader) Progressive Conservative. Mr. Walter Baker (Grenville-Carleton): "Mr. Speaker, in view of the statement yesterday by the Minister of State for Urban Affairs about trade-offs in respect of green space in Canadian cities, will he inform the House how this trade-off principle will affect specifically the experimental farm in the city of Ottawa and the greenbelt surrounding it, and indicate whether the government is now actively planning to intrude development in these areas?"

Hon. Barnett Jerome Danson (Minister of State for Urban Affairs) Liberal: "Mr. Speaker, I was just speaking about the general picture in Canada, trying to make people aware of the necessary considerations we have in attempting to deal with growth in our cities. Certainly, the city of Ottawa in particular has to be treated with special sensitivity. There will be further discussions on this subject before the special joint committee of the House and Senate announced in the Speech from the Throne, and in respect of other reports which are forthcoming. This will give us ample opportunity to deal with the member's concerns, which I share."

Mr. Baker (Grenville-Carleton): "Mr. Speaker, in view of the importance of the matter, as recognized by the Minister, would he be prepared to make a statement on motions at the earliest opportunity to clarify what he and the government mean in respect of the diminution of the very precious green spaces in the urban areas of this country?"

Mr. Danson: "First of all, Mr. Speaker, this government means business. There will be ample opportunity to discuss the area of the national capital before the committee. I do not think it necessary to make a statement on motions. This is an ongoing discussion with provincial and municipal officials as well as other people in Canada. Certainly, we have to treat this with special sensitivity, and I put as high a priority on parks and recreation as on any other element in the housing field."

Debates of the Senate of Canada, December 12, 2019.

 Protection of the Parliamentary Precinct, Chateau Laurier Hotel, 24 Sussex Drive and Experimental Farm. NATIONAL CAPITAL ACT - Bill to Amend - Second Reading.

Senate of Canada Ottawa December 12, 2019. A Speech by the Hon. Senator Serge Joyal:"...I would like to talk about the issue addressed in Bill S-203, which amends the National Capital Act. That question is directly linked to the question that my colleague Senator Mercer asked the Government Representative, which is essentially to protect Parliament Hill, its archeological resources and its heritage character."

"I had the privilege to sit on the subcommittee of Internal Economy that was overseeing the renovation of Parliament Hill and singularily the Centre Block and this very building. I have also been a witness, as have all of you, to the expansion project of the Chateau Laurier at the end of the tunnel. I would not even say "across the street" because we have an organic link to the Chateau Laurier building. I have seen the architectural horror that has been proposed, especially the first plan that led the Mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson to state that it was equivalent to a container but, of course, of monumental proportion."

"There is, in my opinion, a way to approach this issue. In the course of our study at the subcommittee, so ably chaired by Senator Tannas of Internal Economy, we asked - Senator Forest, Senator Munson, Senator Bovey and myself - about the status of Parliament Hill in terms of a national historic site. The answer we received was: There is no Canadian statute in which Parliament Hill is protected by the status of being a national historic site."

"Of course, a Public Works representative informed us that Public Works follows the standards and guidelines for conservation of historical places in Canada, but Parliament Hill does not enjoy any legal protection. Not only does it not benefit from that protection, but the immediate area is a jungle for development. So that means that anything on the Hill that doesn't belong to the government, outside of that precinct, any developmental initiative can take place. We have heard the Chateau Laurier argument that this is a private hotel; as a private enterprise we can do whatever we want. We will do whatever we want, unless, of course, maybe the City of Ottawa refuses the building permit. Or maybe the City of Ottawa will impose some restrictions. But in the National Capital Act there is no power granted to the National Capital Commission to review any proposal of alteration, construction, demolition, any works - they are mentioned in here - that could change the immediate landscape of the Hill."

"I was amazed because, being from Quebec and being quite active on the issue of protection of heritage - and my colleague Senator Massicotte could testify to that - Phyllis Lambert from the Canadian Centre for Architecture and I have opposed over the years a lot of demolition in the downtown area because we thought that it would totally change the heritage value of the downtown core. A city cannot lose its identity from one generation to the other without recognizing that there is some value to protecting the heritage of a site or of a building that has been closely linked to the historical and cultural evolution of a city."

"In Quebec legislation, in Quebec's Cultural Heritage Act, section 40 - and I can quote it for you. It's very short. Section 40 of Quebec's Cultural Heritage Act states that the minister can, after having gotten advice from the commission, determine an area of protection around a building that has been classified as heritage or a national historical site."

"In other words, there is a capacity for a provincial minister to determine that if a building has been recognized as a historical site, the minister can determine an area of protection. That area of protection must not exceed a distance of 152 metres. In other words, if someone, anyone, wants to demolish a building in the close vicinity of the building being protected, that project could be submitted for evaluation and restriction." 

"You may say to me "Well, it's an impingement on property rights because if I happen to be the owner of the Chateau Laurier, I will decide how I want to do any expansion, even though it would drastically change the immediate landscape around Parliament Hill."

"Hence the bill that is in front of you. It aims to give power to the National Capital Commission to adopt regulations and determine within a radius around Parliament Hill or around a national historic site the limits or the condition through which the permit would be granted."

"You may ask "Well, does the federal Parliament have the capacity to give this power to the National Capital Commission, which would limit the right of building, changing, erecting or demolishing anything around Parliament Hill?"

Save the Greenbelt and Experimental Farm - Senator Mike Duffy.

The Hon. Acting Speaker: Senator Duffy?

Senator Duffy: "Thank you Your Honour. Congratulations, Senator Joyal, on your two pieces of legislation today. I join everyone else here in expressing our gratitude on behalf of all Canadians for your amazing contributions to building a better Canada over your entire political career, and I feel confident that will continue."

"Do you think it would be a good idea to expand your bill, or would it require another piece of legislation, to preserve the unique nature of the capital so that the Greenbelt will be protected and that places like the Experimental Farm, which is in the middle of the city of Ottawa, will also be protected."

"Because of this pressure for urban development, we have developers looking at this land, saying, "Hey, there's millions of dollars to be made here." So far as I can tell, they are not in a much better position than we are with the Chateau Laurier in that those lands are quite valuable."

"I do not think that my constituents would choose to sacrifice an open space."

A quote from the Hon. Lloyd Francis, a future Speaker of the House of Commons.

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE- CONTINUATION OF DEBATE:

House of Commons Ottawa October 10, 1974 Mr. Francis (Ottawa West) Liberal: "...The hon. member for Grenville-Carleton (Mr. Baker) raised a whole series of points concerning the functioning of the National Capital Commission and its relationship to the federal government structure in this area. I understand that a special committee will be dealing with this matter and, as one member of this House, I certainly intend to take a concientious interest in the work of that committee. The report of the former Chairman of the Commission Mr. Douglas Fullerton, will no doubt, be the basis of the examination which is to be carried out."

"I wish to pay tribute to Mr. Fullerton for his imaginative and innovative use of public funds and public lands. However, I wish to take issue with him on one score and express quiet but firm disagreement with him. He may have been right on a number of things, but I do not think he was right when he proposed that part of the Experimental Farm should be used for housing. Despite the fact that there is a serious housing shortage in this area I do not think that my constituents would choose to sacrifice an open space which is such a precious thing for the community."

Some hon. Members: "Hear, hear!"

The straws that broke the camel's back.

•  Planning to remove 680 trees from the Experimental Farm and giving the land away to a hospital. 
•  Permitting the loss of more Farm land when Carling Avenue, Maple Drive and Prince of Wales Drive are widened."Carling Avenue will be a prominent, beautiful and comfortable multi-modal 'great street' with wide sidewalks and bicycle lanes|tracks separated from vehicular movements." (Preston-Carling Secondary Plan.) And the City of Ottawa needs Baseline Road property for a transit project.
• Banishing vehicles from Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill.
• Permitting foreign architectural companies to redevelop the Parliamentary Precinct in Ottawa.
• Putting up road barriers in Gatineau Park especially near the Mackenzie King Estate. Prime Minister King gave his property to the people of Canada.
• Eventually banning private vehicles and OC Transpo buses from the scenic driveways that were created by Prime Minister King and Jacques Greber: "The parks and driveways are and will be located along the banks of the Rideau and Ottawa rivers, the Rideau Canal system and Dow's Lake...The areas were acquired by the Commission to ensure their retention and protection." I enjoyed travelling on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway on OC Transpo buses and seeing the Ottawa River, Gatineau Hills and government buildings in Quebec. I do not enjoy travelling on subways or fast trains. I would rather see trees, waterways and people walking their dogs, than cement walls.
• The encroachment on the Greenbelt---for example Mer Bleue.

House of Commons Ottawa January 30, 1978 Mrs. Jean E. Pigott (Ottawa-Carleton) moved:

"That, in the opinion of this House, the National Capital Commission is not sufficiently accountable to those who live in the national capital region or the people of Canada, and exercises its powers in an arbitrary manner without adequate consultation with other levels of government and that, as a just step, there should be a permanent standing joint committee on the the national capital region."

"Mr. Speaker, sometimes it is said that it is the last straw that breaks the camel's back, and I am certain that the government is wondering at the the rash of editorials over the weekend and at the press coverage of the appointment of the new chairman of the National Capital Commission, the former hon. member for Westmount. I think it is the straw that breaks the camel's back, because of the things that the people who live and work in this city and who pay taxes have felt, that the NCC has become a political football to this government and has not taken in the cares and concerns of those who live and work in this whole region."

"It was Harold L. Ickes who said "I am against government by crony". Public office is a public trust, not a political prize. The recent appointments to the National Capital Commission suggest that the job qualifications for that position have more to do with partisan public relations and assembly of land than the long-range development of the national capital region. It seems that candidates for this position have to be former politicians who are closely linked with the present government."

"The future of this city and important relations involving many levels of government across provincial jurisdictions need strong and enlightened relationships. The federal government however, has completely ignored any but the most partisan considerations in the appointment of the NCC chairman. The ability of the former member for Westmount and of Mr. Juneau is not the issue. At a time when the NCC is at the centre of serious problems in this region, its whole operation must be an example of justice and accountability, both in fact and in appearance."

"The NCC has now become what is really a national capital corporation  in which the "capital" is represented in the dollars and cents of land management and powerplays, redirecting millions of dollars worth of buildings without the consultation of local elected people, and not in the creation of a meaningful symbol for our country."

"The National Capital Act passed in 1958 states that the purpose of the NCC is to prepare plans and to assist in the development of the national capital region "in accordance with its national significance." Is there national significance in the fact that no elected official of any of the regional or local municipalities of the national capital region sits on the NCC?"

"In April of 1977 Mr. Pierre Juneau said: "It is the duty of the NCC to nurture and expand the spirit of co-operation and good will which characterizes its relationship with the community of which it is an inseparable part."

"But in its 1975-76 annual report, the NCC maintained that municipal responsibilities "cannot be construed as representing the national interest." It is tragic. How is this statement expected, again in the words of Mr. Juneau, to "expand the spirit of co-operation and goodwill."

"For most of its history the NCC and its predecessors concerned themselves with the beautification of the capital area. During the 1950's the commission began to assume the job of over-all planning. As the owner of upwards of 40 per cent of the land in the national capital region, the NCC has exerted a strong influence here and has been able to build whatever it wanted on its own land without even getting a building permit."

"Local groups and politicians have faced a deaf ear when they tried to become involved in their own planning and decision making in their city. There are many examples. The situation at Carlsbad Springs is just one of them, and it is in a corner of my wonderful constituency of Ottawa-Carleton."

National Capital Commission expropriation of private farmland.

"In 1974 farmers at Carlsbad Springs who wished to discuss expropriation plans involving their lands were told to report their complaints to a tape recorder since no authorized person was available to answer questions. It is no wonder that people at Carlsbad Springs were prompted to say: "We are just not happy with the NCC's behaviour. Poor communication with the area residents was the standard pattern and often we would learn of events through press reports."

The great giveaway of public land.

 A few years ago the National Capital Commission donated 50 acres of publicly-owned land to a hospital.The Dow's Lake parking lot alone is worth $4,021,000 dollars---MP Pierre Poilievre discovered this information. The property is being rezoned to Mixed-Use and not Institutional. 

The Federal District Commission is now called the National Capital Commission:

House of Commons Ottawa February 21, 1928 Mr. Thomas Langton Church (Toronto Northwest) Conservative. Mr. Church: "...The Federal District Commission, headed by the Hon. Thomas Ahearn, proposed the other day to give away eleven acres of land at Rockcliffe for an American embassy. Did anyone ever hear of the Right Hon. Uncle Sam giving away anything for nothing, or giving anything away down at Washington for Mr. Massey's embassy, for which we had to pay nearly half a million dollars and $120,000 for the maintenance of this magnificent minister in the city of Washington?"

"I never heard of Mr. Ahearn giving away any of his own money in this way but he is ready, through the Federal District Commission, to give away this splendid public site for an American embassy. The government should have a house cleaning in connection with the Federal District Commission if that is the way they conduct business. If that is the kind of commission it is, ready to give away public property in that way, the sooner the government gets rid of the Federal District Commission the better it will be for the so-called Washington of the north."

The land mass allocated to the Ottawa Hospital Corporation in the year 2016:

North Boundary - Carling Avenue between Bayswater and Preston Street.

East Boundary - From Preston Street to Prince of Wales Drive.

South Boundary - From Prince of Wales Drive (600 metres) to 90 degrees west to Birch Drive.

West Boundary - From Birch Drive /Maple Drive up to Winding Lane and back to Carling Avenue  at Bayswater,quarter of a circle around the Dominion Observatory. ( The Department of Public Services and Procurement Canada gave this information to Member of Parliament Pierre Poilievre.)

Agriculture Canada employees will have to dig up the Historic Hedge Collection.

Federal land in Canada.

The DARA Tennis Club was recently evicted by the Ottawa Hospital Corporation. Tennis star Carling Bassett played at the club. DARA was the Department of Agriculture Recreation Association.

Why the Lebreton Flats cannot be privatized and taken over by high rise condos: The Flats are known as the Western Annex of the Parliamentary Precinct and buildings on the precinct cannot be any taller than the Peace Tower, which is 296 feet. One condo is projected to be 656 feet tall or 50 storeys high:

House of Commons Ottawa March 30, 1966 Hon. G.J. McIlraith (Minister of Public Works) "Proposals and recommendations which have been made with respect to the redevelopment of the LeBreton Flats are that: In order to improve the foreground to Parliament Hill, the area which can generally be described as those lands bounded by Wellington Street, Bronson Avenue extended northerly, Nepean Bay, the Ottawa river and Bronson channel, is to be used to provide for the construction of government buildings which need to be located in the central part of Ottawa. It is planned that the first building to be located in the area will be the new headquarters for the Department of National Defence."

"In addition to providing sites for government buildings, part of the area will be used to provide the connection of the Ottawa river parkway to Wellington street. Part of the area will be required to provide rights of way for new internal streets and traffic arteries necessary to provide access for the large number of employees that will eventually work in the LeBreton Flats area. These will also serve the central part of the national capital and, the internal streets will provide better access to the proposed historic park on Victoria Island. Other uses, such as a small commercial area, office buildings and some apartment or similar residential uses are being studied. ( Any residential housing units would be constructed, operated and owned by the federal Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.)

House of Commons Ottawa November 23, 1967 Hon. G.J. McIlraith (Minister of Public Works) "Mr. Speaker, all members who think much of the development of the national capital agree on the importance of the subject of height controls in the central part of the city. The city of Ottawa has a by-law governing the height control and the federal authority tries to work within it."

"The whole subject of height control is of such concern that I expect it will be dealt with by the committee that will be examining the operations of the National Capital Commission."

"I should add that the question of height of buildings is also related to distance from the Peace Tower. The concept of height cannot be (in) absolute terms across the whole city. Heights of buildings in close proximity to the Peace Tower are lower than for buildings farther away from the Peace Tower. The particular building under discussion will be some 4,450 feet from the Peace Tower, which is close to a mile."

The Lebreton Flats are protected by the designation National Interest Land Mass. NILM properties are reserved for national museums, Library and Archives Canada, statues, Canada's First Nations, gardens, Canada Day festivities, Bluesfest, government of Canada office buildings, CMHC holdings, parks and playgrounds.

The Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa was part of the National Capital Commission's designated green space. "In the 1990's the former city of Ottawa incorporated a Greenway System into its official plan and zoning by-law, identifying a network of natural and open space maps. 

  Section 2: Identifying Ottawa's Greenspaces and the Urban Greenspace Network. "In the 1997 Regional Official Plan, this pathway system formed part of a regional open space network that connected land in the Greenbelt, Central Experimental Farm and large public parks with scenic corridors and over 300 kms of recreational pathways." "The open spaces are intended for public use, leisure and enjoyment."

PRIMARY GREENSPACES includes:

• public parks
• sports fields
• river access points
• major pathway corridors
• children's play areas, and
• civic squares owned by municipal, provincial and federal agencies.

SUPPORTING GREENSPACES includes:

• municipal forests
• school grounds
• grounds of public facilities and institutions.

The Canada National Parks Act of 1988 - "The national parks of Canada are hereby dedicated to the people of Canada for their benefit, education and enjoyment, subject to this Act and the regulations, and the parks shall be maintained and made use of so as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

The Parliamentary Precinct in Ottawa cannot be privatized.

 Properties in the Precinct:

• The Parliament Buildings including the Library of Parliament.
• Supreme Court of Canada.
• Senate of Canada - the former Union Station.
• Library and Archives Canada on Wellington Street.
• the heritage buildings across from Parliament Hill.
• the northern half of the Sparks Street Mall.
• the Lebreton Flats are the Western Annex of the Parliamentary Precinct: House of Commons Ottawa, February 23, 1965: The Hon. Mr. Cardin (Minister of Public Works) Liberal: "...Some time ago a decision was reached to construct the Department of National Defence Headquarters in the Lebreton Flats area. At that time it was also decided that other government buildings should be located in the same area, forming a government complex of office buildings from Parliament Hill to Lebreton Flats."
•   House of Commons Ottawa, November 23, 1967: The Hon. George McIlraith (Minister of Public Works) "The Lebreton Flats were envisioned as a western extension to the Parliamentary Precinct. Buildings on or near the Parliamentary Precinct cannot be any taller than the Peace Tower."
• Major's Hill Park. House of Commons Ottawa, July 6, 1908: The Hon. Robert Laird Borden (Conservative) "...The park is a portion of the national domain, and a portion of the grounds of Parliament."
• The Dominion Observatory campus on the Experimental Farm. "The popularity of the Observatory occurred when it opened in 1905, due to the support of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Laurier's advocation reinforced the idea that this Observatory was to be considered an arm of the parliamentary precinct. At the time it was recognized as a national achievement, where the nation's time would be kept." "(the buildings) would be symbols of Canada's progress in astronomical science." ("Astronomer Mary Grey and the Architecture of Canada's Dominion Observatory" Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Sharon Odell, page 10/67.) (The Ottawa Hospital does not plan to preserve the Dominion Observatory for several reasons:

1.)  The hospital does not want irregular parcels of land. 2.) The South Azimuth is interfering with plans to widen Maple Drive. The North Azimuth was demolished when Carling Avenue was widened. 3.) Access to Maple Drive/the Observatory will be restricted to vehicles that serve the Ottawa Hospital.)