The Rideau Canal cannot be sold.

Despite the fact that Parks Canada, the NCC, World Economic Forum and federal ministers want to privatize the National Historic Site of Canada. Now the federal government is planning to build a bridge between the Hartwell Locks and Carleton University. A 104-acre Botanical Garden was abandoned because of the negative impact it would have on the Farm and the Hartwell Locks. The Botanical Garden:

1.)  Must not include any use of land or facilities on the west side of Prince of Wales Drive.

2.) The use of any land or facilities on the east side of Prince of Wales must meet the Canadian Heritage (Parks Canada) criteria (e.g.) it must not have a negative impact on the heritage values of the Canal nor impede the operation of the Canal, specifically at Hartwells lockstation but also navigation in general.

3.) The Arboretum, if included, must remain free and open to the public. (Note: A fence that is surrounding Queen Juliana Park is preventing pedestrian and bicycle access from Carling Avenue to the Arboretum--- a recent comment on Skyscraper.com forum-savecfbrockcliffe.)

4.) The Fletcher Wildlife Garden must remain as it is.

5.) The Commemorative Integrity Statement must be observed.

6.) The land use must be compatible with other jurisdictions (e.g. NCC, Parks, City of Ottawa, etc.) and designations (National Interest Land Mass of the Central Experimental Farm) and,

7.) It must clearly demonstrate financial viability/self-sufficiency. (Google: General Meeting 12 June 2002-Greenspace Alliance.)

Don't change the Arboretum The Ottawa Botanical Garden Society has been wanting to put a botanical garden on the site of the Arboretum in the Central Experimental Farm for some time. This would be a commercial venture including fencing of the Arboretum and the adjacent land South. That would mean everyone would pay to use the property for running, tobogganing, walking (dogs or otherwise) even if those activities are allowed at all.

I am writing to inform as many people as possible who use the Farm to please write to Agriculture Canada to put a stop to any changes to this heritage property. I think there is a great need to let Agriculture Canada know how people feel about the grounds being changed and fenced. Even if not fenced (which I feel it would be), there would be many changes to the site that I think would affect all runners and walkers to this wonderful space. (Google: The Glebe Report, August 17, 2001.)

Federal laws ban inappropriate construction near the Rideau Canal. In 2019 the United Nations agency UNESCO sent a letter to the federal government, regarding inappropriate development adjacent to the Rideau Canal. The Environment Minister and Parks Canada Minister told  UNESCO that the federal government does not have enough money or staff to monitor developments along the Rideau Canal: Parks Canada "has a limited capacity to participate in the review and comment on municipal plans and selected waterfront land...As well, resource constraints do not allow for full follow-up or monitoring of developments to ensure that commitments and agreements have been addressed..." (From: "Save Our Rideau" UNESCO Letter of Concern, page 5/16)

Projects that should not proceed because of concerns by the United Nations/UNESCO:

• Chateau Laurier proposed expansion (Ottawa)
• Third Bridge Crossing (Kingston)
• Rideau Marina (Kingston) - rejected by the City of Kingston
• Former Davis Tannery (Kingston) - rejected by the City of Kingston
• New Ottawa Civic Campus (Ottawa)

A July 23, 1965 article in the Ottawa Journal.

"In 1995-96, the (National Capital) Commission signed an agreement to sell the Laurier and Mackenzie Bridges to the Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton for the consideration of one dollar." (NCC 1995-96 Annual Report, page 45/111.) House of Commons Ottawa June 1, 1950 George Taylor Fulford (Leeds): "There was a rather quaint treaty signed between Great Britain and Canada when the canal was turned over to Canada. One of the clauses stated that Canada would maintain the canal system as long as the grass was green and the sky was blue."

In the year 2018 Environment Minister McKenna planned to sell $8 billion dollars worth of infrastructure in Canada's National Parks and Historic Sites. Including dams, bridges, roads, highways, weirs etc. The Rideau Canal has 24 lock stations, 52 dams, 42 bridges and weirs.

A 4-hour documentary on YouTube. From the year 2020.

I am trying to find the rest of the letter-savecfbrockcliffe.

The Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa was a National Interest Land Mass, National Historic Site of Canada and part of a 900 square mile memorial, dedicated to Canadian soldiers by Prime Minister Mackenzie King and Jacques Greber. House of Commons Ottawa May 13, 1988 Progressive Conservative. Mr. David Bruce Daubney (Ottawa West): "Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture. He will agree that the Central Experimental Farm partly located in my riding is the flagship of Agriculture Canada's excellent research effort and contributes greatly to the unique beauty and character of the nation's capital. Will he confirm for the House that the Government has no intention of disposing of any part of the Experimental Farm proper, and in particular that part bordered by Merivale and Fisher Avenues in the city of Ottawa?"

Hon. John Wise (Minister of Agriculture) Progressive Conservative. "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 to 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."

"I appreciate also the complementary remarks that the Hon. Member made with reference to that very unique facility. It has made a tremendous contribution to Canadian agriculture . It is one of the four original experimental farms established across Canada over 100 years ago."

"In fact, next to the Parliament Buildings, the Experimental Farm is the second most popular tourist attraction here in Ottawa."

Some Hon. Members: "Hear, hear!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over the objections of Agriculture Minister John Wise and members of Parliament, 91 acres of the Farm were sold to the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton in 1988. The land was sold by the city of Ottawa to Walmart, a housing developer and strip malls.

The duty of the Minister of the Environment (Parks Canada) is to protect the National Parks, National Historic Sites and the Rideau Canal. Minister McKenna:

• handed over 50 acres of the Farm to a hospital for $1 dollar a year.
•  700 trees will be sacrificed.
• the $4 million dollar Dows Lake parking lot.
• the Dominion Observatory and South Azimuth may be demolished.
• the people of Canada are losing park land, Maple Drive and Birch Drive, the DARA Tennis Club, Historic Hedge Collection, laboratories and greenhouses, William Saunders Garden, views of the Rideau Canal and pedestrian and bicycle pathways.

Affected Visual Presentations if a medical centre is built on the Farm:

• views of Prince of Wales Scenic Entry---include views toward proposed loading docks.
• view from entrance to Queen Elizabeth Drive/Dows Lake (at Preston/Prince of Wales.)
• views from Dows Lake to main hospital buildings.
• views from Carling Avenue both east and west of the main hospital building.
• views identified in the Commemorative Integrity Statement for the Central Experimental Farm.
• views from adjacent CEF heritage buildings (e.g. Dominion Observatory Complex, Saunders Building), along Commissioners Drive and/or Maple Drive.
• view identified in the NCC Visual Assessment Views Analysis (2009 and 2013).
• view from/along the Rideau Canal including from Commissioners Park, Hartwells Lockstation and Colonel By Drive (that were assessed for the Campus Master Plan and parking garage applications.)  (Google: City of Ottawa Development application Search - Cultural Impact Statement - Addendum 2 - D07-12-22-0168. Date Received: 2022-12-07. Addresses: 930 Carling, 520 Preston.)