Agriculture Canada refused to give a botanical garden society 108 acres of the Farm in 2002.

 Why did Agriculture Canada abandon their land use policy, in order to benefit a mega hospital and another botanical garden? MP Yasir Naqvi promised that he would save what was left of the Farm after the medical centre decimated 700 trees and built their towers. 

 The letter to OBGS: "Please be advised that on May 8, 2002 Agriculture Canada wrote to Mr. Ian Efford of the Ottawa Botanical Garden Society informing him that AAFC would not consider their application for a garden at the Central Experimental Farm as a number of conditions had not been met in their application. These conditions were as follows:

1.) It must not include any use of land 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 Drive 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 lock station but also navigation in general.

3.) The Arboretum, if included, must remain free and open to the public.

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 (NILM) of the Central Experimental Farm and

7.) It must clearly demonstrate financial viability/self sufficiency.

(Greenbelt Alliance of Canada's Capital General Meeting June 12, 2002.)

Commemorative Integrity Statement  The boundaries of the designated place are:

• bounded on the north by Carling Avenue
• on the west by Fisher Avenue as far as Kingston Avenue, excluding the complex of Fisher Heights
• by Merivale Road as far as Baseline Road and
• on the south by Baseline Road north to Prince of Wales Drive (Highway 16) and on the east by Prince of Wales Drive as far as the bend in the road
• by the western edge of the Rideau Canal property as far as Queen Elizabeth Drive.