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.)