Who owned the Dominion Observatory in 1992?

• Research Laboratory (Central Experimental Farm) Ottawa Centre. 1 building. (Owned or Leased by) Other. Dominion Observatory #1.
• Research Laboratory (Central Experimental Farm) Ottawa Centre. 1 building. Other. Astronomer's House.
• Seismographic Station Ottawa Centre. 0.0405 ha. 1 building. Lat. 45.39 N. Long. 75.72 W.
• Research Laboratory (Central Experimental Farm) Ottawa Centre, 1 building. Other. Geophysical #3.
• Research Laboratory (Central Experimental Farm); Ottawa Centre, 1 building. Other. Machine Shop #4.
• Research Laboratory (Central Experimental Farm);Ottawa Centre. 1 building. Other. Geodetic Survey, #5.
• Research Laboratory (Central Experimental Farm)  Ottawa Centre. 1 building. Other. Seismology Survey #7.
• Research Laboratory (Central Experimental Farm) Ottawa Centre, 1 building. Other. Azimuth #8.

(Note: The South Azimuth #8 will be removed because it is interfering with the "realignment" of Maple Drive. The Ottawa Hospital is restricting Maple Drive to emergency vehicles, more than 100 trips a day. How can people access the Observatory Campus, if individuals and vehicles are banned from the gateway to this National Historic Site and Parliamentary Precinct?)

• Research Laboratory (Central Experimental Farm) Ottawa Centre, 1 building. Other. Photo Equatorial #9.

Demolition Plans

The Sir John Carling location---Extensive demolition or relocation of buildings is required for the new build to proceed. On the Sir John Carling site we have at least 24 buildings,. Heritage buildings include Buildings 1 to 9, part of the Natural Resources Campus including the Dominion Observatory. The William Saunders Building #49 is vacant. (Information is from: The New Civic Campus: A 21st Century Hospital in the Heart of Canada's Capital, page 10/76, April of 2016.)

Federal properties that were protected as of June 19, 2023:

• K.W. Neatby #20.
• Laboratory Services #22
• Nutrition Building # 59
• Arboretum Horticulture Centre #24
• Swine Barn # 91
• Engineering Research #94
• Carpenter Shop #98  (Google: Federal Directory of Real Property website, Agriculture Canada No. 08625; Land Area 409.8200 (ha). Building count-87

Protected land and waterways in the National Capital Region:

• Airbase Lands - Federal, Private
• Arboretum Woods (Central Experimental Farm) - Federal
• Aviation Parkway North - Federal, City
• Brittania Conservation Area - Federal, City
• By-Pass Woods East - Federal
• Carlington Woods - Federal, City, Private
• Central Experimental Farm Woods(Central Experimental Farm) - Federal
• Champlain Bridge Woods - Federal
• Champlain Bridge Islands - Federal 
• Del Zotto Woods - Federal
• Dechenes Lookout - Federal

• Hampton Park Woods - Federal, City
• Hog's Back Woods - Federal, Private
• Lemieux Island - Federal, City
• Leopold Woodlot - Federal, Private
• McCarthy Woods and Southern Corridor - Federal
• Montfort Woods - Federal, Private
• NRC Woods North - Federal, Private
• Parliament Hill - Federal
• Pinecrest Woods - Federal
• Prince of Wales Woods (Central Experimental Farm) - Federal, City

• RA Centre Woods - Federal
• Rideau River Islands - Federal
• Rideau River Park Woods - Federal
• Riverside Park - Federal
• Rockcliffe Park East - Federal
• Rockcliffe Park West - Federal
• Rockcliffe Shores - Federal   (Google: "urban natural features strategy" City of Ottawa, April 11, 2006)

Federal properties in Ottawa-1992.

•  AEC Unused Land Ottawa Centre. 1.9800 ha; 1 building, Owned. Tunney's Pasture.
• Office Space Ottawa Centre; 1 building; leased. 344 Slater Street, Minto Place.
• AGR Experimental Farm (Central Experimental Farm); Ottawa Centre, 423.0100 ha., 88 buildings. Owned. Prince of Wales Drive.
• CBC Storage Space Ottawa West, Leased. 1568-1570 Carling Ave.
• CBC Office Building (CBOT, CBOFT) Ottawa West; 3.1600 ha. 2 buildings. Owned. 250 Lanark Ave.
• CBC Office Building Ottawa Centre, 6.0700 ha. 1 building. Owned. 1500 Bronson Ave.
• CBC Office Space (Chateau Laurier, Ottawa Centre) Leased. 1 Rideau St.
• CBC Office Space Ottawa Centre, Leased, 885 Meadowlands Dr.
• CBC Office Space Ottawa Centre, Leased, 150 Wellington St.
• CBC Office Space Ottawa Centre, Leased, 165 Sparks St.

CCC Office Space Ottawa Centre, Leased. 50 O'Connor Street, 11th Floor, Metropolitan Life Building.

CDIC Office Space Ottawa Centre, Leased. 50 O'Connor St., 17th Floor, Metropolitan Centre.

CMHC Office Space Ottawa Centre, Leased. 250 Albert St.

CMHC Office Space Ottawa West, Leased. 1320 Carling Ave.

CMHC Office Building Ottawa-Vanier, 8.0000 ha., 2 buildings. Owned. 700 Montreal Road, CMHC National Office.

CMHC Unused Land Carleton-Gloucester, 107.4000 ha; Owned. North-eastern corner of Aviation Pkwy & Ogilvie Rd. CMHC National Office Lands.

CMHC Warehouse Space Ottawa South, Leased, 767 Belfast Rd.

CMHC Warehouse Space Ottawa South, Leased. 1551 Michael St.

CMHC Office Space Ottawa Centre, Leased, 255 Albert St.

CNR Railway Lands and Facilities Ottawa-Vanier. 4.4500 ha. Owned. Terminal Ave.

CP Office Building Ottawa West, 1 building, Leased. 1400 Merivale Rd.

Office Space Ottawa Centre, 1 building, 99 Bank Street, Leased, OFC Customer Interface.

Restaurant Ottawa South, 1 building. Owned. 720 Heron Road.

Storage Space Ottawa South, 1 building, Leased.1230 Old Innes Road

Storage Space Ottawa South 1 building. Leased. 1280 Old Innes Road. Franchising Centre.

Canada Post Post Office Ottawa West, 1 building, Leased, 1365 Richmond Road. 

Canada Post Post Office Ottawa-Vanier. Leased. Stewart Street.

Canada Post Post Office Ottawa Centre, 1 building. Owned. 409 Parkdale Ave.

Office Building Ottawa South, 1 building. Owned. 720 Heron Road.

Garage(s) Ottawa South. 1 building. Owned. 355 Industrial Ave. Minto Auto Service Centre.

Office Building Ottawa South, 1 building. Owned. 720 Heron Rd. 

Parking Area Ottawa South. Owned 10.0500 ha. 720 Heron Rd.

Canada Post Post Office Ottawa Centre, 0.180 ha. 1 building. 99 4th Ave.

Canada Post Post Office, Ottawa South; 2.9000 ha. 1 building. Owned. 1424 Caledon Ave.

Parking Area(s) Ottawa South, 0.3484 ha., leased. Walkley Subdivision.

Canada Post Post Office Ottawa South, 1 building. Leased. 1250 Leeds Ave. Parcel Plant WG.

Canada Post Post Office Ottawa South, 0.0002 ha. 1 building, Owned.770 Brookfield Rd.

CPS Office Space, Ottawa Centre. Leased. 360 Albert Street.

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

COM Communications Research Facility, Ottawa West. 3.7900 ha. 2 buildings. Owned. 1241 Clyde Avenue Laboratory.

(Note: The Communications Research Facility was demolished after the government of Canada sold 91 acres of the Central Experimental Farm to the Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. '1987-1988 - On July 8th 1987, Regional Council approved the purchase of approximately 91 acres of vacant land on the west side of Merivale Road north of Baseline Road, formerly part of the Central Experimental Farm'. Later, the Laurentian High School was demolished.

 Agriculture Minister John Wise never wanted Experimental Farm land to be sold: 

House of Commons Ottawa May 13, 1988 MP David 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 any 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): "Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Hon. Member's continuing interest in the future of the Experimental Farm here in Ottawa. I want to indicate to him that Agriculture Canada, my Department, has no plans or thoughts whatsoever concerning disposing of any potion of that property at any time. There is no question about that."

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

Every government of Canada property that Canadians own is being transferred to a National Land Bank so that developers can build a hospital, housing and commercial facilities. We are losing The Experimental Farm; 250 Lanark Ave., 1500 Bronson; the Greenbelt Research Farm; post offices, armouries, the National Defence Medical Centre... Member of Parliament Dennis Mills told the House of Commons that within a year, with the help of Bill C-3 there will not be any Crown property left. Why were so many government of Canada buildings rented and not owned in 1992? The answer is revealed below:

House of Commons Ottawa November 22, 1991: Liberal MP for Broadview-Greenwood, Dennis Mills: "Madam Speaker, when I got up this morning and headed to the House I actually had no intention of speaking. Then in my office I read part of Bill C-3, an act respecting the acquisition, administration and disposition of real property by the Government of Canada. As I started to reflect on what is really going on in this bill I became concerned. It concerns me that in one year, with the help of this bill, it is possible that there will be no Crown land assets left...I think of Toronto, my own city of Toronto, and the way this government has disposed of Harbourfront land. And the disposition of the CBC lands. This is a bill that is going to make the developers of every region and every city of Canada ecstatic."

Government buildings potentially on the auction block.

• The National Film Board building in Montreal
• Library and Archives Canada on 395 Wellington Street Ottawa.
• The Gatineau Film Preservation Centre (information is from-OGGO ((39-2) No. 3-Febrary 14, 2008 (0935). The Film Preservation Centre is an annex of Library and Archives Canada. And the Lebreton Flats are the western extension of the Parliamentary Precinct. The Greenbelt Research Farm on 1740 Woodroffe Avenue in Nepean is part of the Carling Avenue Experimental Farm.

"Ottawa may sell off billions in real estate." CBC News, September 21, 2004.

• The entire portfolio of Public Works and Government Services-350 buildings.
• The northern half of the Sparks Street Mall.
• Library and Archives on 395 Wellington.

The Parliament Buildings, Library of Parliament and Supreme Court of Canada were not on the list.

"Parliament Hill is not a National Historic Site."

"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." Senator Serge Joyal, December 12, 2019. 

Senate of Canada Debates, Issue 4, December 12, 2019  NATIONAL CAPITAL ACT-Second Reading of Bill S-203, an Act to amend the National Capital Act (buildings or works of national significance.)

Senator Joyal: "...I have been witness, as have all of you, to the expansion project of 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." According to Senators Forest, Munson, Bovey and Joyal there is no Canadian statute in which Parliament Hill is protected by the status of being a national historic site. The NCC does not have the power to review any alteration, construction, demolition, any work that could change the immediate landscape of the Hill.

Senator Joyal: "The Parliament of Canada Act defines what Parliament Hill is. I will read it": The grounds in the City of Ottawa bounded by Wellington Street, the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa River and Kent Street known as Parliament Hill, and any buildings or works located on those grounds.

"The Senate of Canada Building located at 2 Rideau Street.. that is us, here. The building located at 1 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa. That's where we have two committee meeting rooms, which are almost in the basement of the Chateau Laurier. The Victoria Building at 140 Wellington. That's where many of you have offices. The Sir John A. Macdonald Building, located at 144 Wellington, where we have parliamentary gatherings. The Confederation Building, the Justice Building which is immediately adjacent, and the Supreme Court of Canada". 

"That is what the (Parliament of Canada Act) defines as Parliament Hill, and that's where the protection area would be defined." 

House of Commons Ottawa July 20, 1973 The Hon. Jean Eudes Dube, Minister of Public Works: "...Concern has been expressed about the danger of visual encroachment on the beauty of the present parliamentary precinct, which is one of the great symbols of Canada. We have a duty to protect its dignity, grace and beauty for the years ahead."

Reasons to protect the Greenbelt.

Google: "Greenbelt NCC Boy Scouts." December 2009. 107 pages. "The 1950 plan for the National Capital, The Greber Report." and "The NCC Annual Report" on December 28, 2022. 

•  Decisions made about the future of the Greenbelt directly affect livelihoods and the day-to-day living of residents of Ottawa and beyond. (page 5)
• The Greenbelt is a crescent shaped band of publicly owned land including farms, forests, wetlands and federal campuses supporting research and defence initiatives. Approximately 30% is comprised of agricultural lands in close proximity to the urban centre of Ottawa and its satellite communities. 
• Half of the Greenbelt consists of a system of significant features that provide ecological functions that are important to the long-term health of the National Capital Region and beyond. These lands and their associated views also provide numerous scenic gateways into the Nation's Capital, an abundance of passive recreational opportunities, and represent a network of the rural landscapes of which Canadians can be  proud. (page 6)
• Recognize the role of this greenspace in psychological health and stress reduction. (page 14)
• Protect the Greenbelt for future generations.
• The top three places identified were Green's Creek, Mer Bleue and Stony Swamp, while the three favourite activities were walking and hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing. (page 19)
• Do not permit development on the property. (page 19)
• Protect the Green's Creek Conservation Area.
• 2067 Greenbelt Vision Statement: "The Greenbelt will forever protect natural systems, agriculture and opportunities for outdoor recreation and will inspire Canadians and contribute to the sustainability and quality of life in Canada's Capital Region." (The 1950 Plan for the National Capital-The Greber Report- Page 53/196)
• One of the mandates of the National Capital Commission: "Managing, conserving and protecting NCC assets (including Gatineau Park, the Greenbelt, urban parks, real property and other assets including bridges, pathways and parkways." (NCC Annual Report, December 28, 2022, page 39/116.)   

 House of Commons Ottawa November 3, 1981 Mr. Jean-Robert Gauthier, Ottawa-Vanier, Liberal: "Madame Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Public Works who is responsible for the National Capital Commission. Last week, Ottawa newspapers headlined that the NCC was prepared to give up NCC land in the Greenbelt, the untouchable zone surrounding the National Capital." 

• Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre: "Canada can build more homes without getting rid of Greenbelts." From an interview with Josh Pringle and Bill Carroll, CFRA Morning Rush, August 23, 2023. 
• The Greenbelt's greatest asset is that it is there. Urbanization is the greatest long-term threat. The focus should be more towards the property being national treasure. (page 51/107)

Valued Natural Ecosystems & Habitats:

1.Shirleys Bay - Connaught, Crystal Bay

2.Stoney Swamp

3. Pinhey Forest

4. Black Rapids Creek

5. Lester Wetland

6. Pine Grove Forest

7. Mer Bleue Bog

8. Chapel Hill's North Forest

9. Green's Creek (the information is from "Canada's Capital Greenbelt Master Plan" NCC, November 2013, page 72/196)

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

Threats to the greenspace:

• Government of Canada departments, for example the National Capital Commission and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The NCC has the power to remove designations that protect federal properties---National Interest Land Mass; Historic Site of Canada; Classified Federal Heritage Building; Recognized Federal Heritage Building; Capital Park; Waterfront Open Space...From 1973 until 1979 Bill Teron was the head of the CMHC. Mr. Teron wanted "a million people" to live on the Greenbelt.
• The City of Ottawa wants 1/4 of the land, or 13,700 acres.
• Misguided generosity.
• Infrastructure-Greenbank Road that runs through the property will be "realigned". Does that mean it will be widened? What is going on near the Wesley Clover Equestrian Park? A boulevard was constructed on Mer Bleue.
• Section 10 (2) of the National Capital Act gives the NCC the right to "sell, grant, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of or make available to any person any property, subject to such conditions and limitations as it considers necessary or desirable." Senator Noel Kinsella believed that the National Capital Act is outdated (it was created during the John Diefenbaker era); and Senator Kinsella felt that federal public land should be owned by the citizens of Canada. (The Senate investigated the Moffat Farm sale in 2002.)