How to destroy a major landmark and tourist attraction in Ottawa.

•  Sell 91 acres of the Experimental Farm to the City of Ottawa in 1987, the Baseline-Clyde-Merivale property. Agriculture Minister John Wise never wanted the land sold.
• Let the National Capital Commission expropriate 60 acres of the Farm and give it to a hospital. This is just the beginning. They will eventually claim the 700 acres they wanted in 1973.
• Who knows what happened to the $4 million dollar Dows Lake parking lot.
• Remove the designations National Interest Land Mass, National Historic Site of Canada, Classified Federal Heritage Building, Recognized Federal Heritage Building and Part 1V of the Ontario Heritage Act. Now the Booth Barn, Agriculture Museum, greenhouses, William Saunders Building, Observatory campus and at least 40 other buildings can be pulverized. Apparently "Extensive demolition or relocation of buildings is required for the new build to proceed."
• Obliterate Queen Juliana Park, a memorial to the 7,600 Canadian soldiers who died during the liberation of the Netherlands in World War 11.
• Lie to us---tell us that the Sir John Carling Building cafeteria will be preserved. Tell us that the 700 trees will be replaced. Where?
• Place "Do not enter" and "Private Property" signs at the entrance to Maple Drive/ Carling Avenue and Prince of Wales Drive. 
• Do not invite King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to the Tulip Festival when they were visiting Canada. Dutch royalty always visited the Tulip Festival---Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard, Princess Margriet. I inherited photos of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard at Dows Lake in 1968.
• Turn Commissioners Park into a parking lot or a condo village.

Federal land.

"Waterfront Open Space is land intended to be in public ownership and intended for public recreation and environmental conservation uses." The Hon. Anne Cools, the Senate of Canada, April 23, 2002. Moffat Farm near Mooney's Bay was an 84-acre park owned by Veterans Affairs Canada. The park was part of the Greenbelt and it was untouchable:

"It was confirmed that the land in question was acquired by the federal government to commemorate World War 11 veterans and became NCC property in 1960. Mr. Lindsay indicated Moffat Farm was designated in the Regional Official Plan of 1977 and in subsequent amendments in 1988 and 1997 as Waterfront Open Space which precluded residential development. The property was designated for federal land use as a capital park of National Interest." (City of Ottawa Planning and Development, Moffat Farm February 28, 2002.) 

As I mentioned before, National Interest Land Mass holdings cannot be sold and they will be owned by the NCC/the people of Canada in perpetuity. The NILM  includes Gatineau Park, the Ottawa Greenbelt, the Experimental Farm on Carling Avenue, scenic parkways, land beside the parkways, 24 Sussex Drive, Rideau Hall, etc (Google: 1988-09-15-TB-re-NCC.) 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Senator Anne Cools:"Honourable Senators, this inquiry is about the destiny of our national capital city's parklands, the vocation of parkland to serve Canadian mothers, fathers and children's needs to interact with nature, Ottawa's greenspace and the historic Rideau Canal. The Rideau Canal, its waterfront parklands, greenspaces, historic locks, bridges and stonework are part of the heritage and beauty of our capital city."

"... This inquiry is about the National Capital Commission and its endeavors to sell a national capital parkland. These are public lands. They are not the private land holdings of a private developer...There is burgeoning public unhappiness about the destiny of the national capital parklands and historic land sites. The public has great affection for Moffat Farm and the other parklands, like Vincent Massey Park and Hog's Back Park, which are similarly zoned and similarly at risk. The public fears that many other public parklands, like the Experimental Farm and the Arboretum are on the NCC's list for sale." (From: Proposal to sell Moffat Farm - Inquiry, Senate Debate, April 23, 2002.)

"Some of the city's tallest and finest mixed-use buildings will cluster around the Carling Avenue O-Train/future LRT."

 Planning Area - This chapter applies to the Preston-Carling District, bounded

• on the north by Highway 417
• on the east by Rochester Street
• on the south by Carling Avenue, Prince of Wales Drive and the Central Experimental Farm
• on the west by Bayswater Avenue, Sherwood Drive, Breezehill Avenue South, Hickory Street, Loretta Avenue South, Beech Street and Railway Street.

Station Area - page 3/16 - Centred around the Carling Avenue O-Train/ future LRT Station along Carling and Champagne Avenues, the Station Area will see the tallest buildings and the highest densities in the entire district. A gradual reduction in height and density from the centre towards the surrounding neighbourhoods as well as Dows Lake and the Central Experimental Farm will be necessary. Opportunities for a nationally significant building will be explored on land owned by the National Capital Commission south of Carling Avenue east of the O-Train/future LRT. (Information is from the Preston-Carling District Secondary Plan, March 14, 2016.)

"Keep developers off the Farm."

"A 1998 survey found that 74% of Ottawa-Carleton residents wanted to keep housing subdivisions off the Central Experimental Farm land; and even more (78%) did not want major office or commercial buildings there. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson was not surprised by the results, saying "I think the Central Experimental Farm is a real gem in the city and I don't think the public wants to take open and green space and have it developed." (The survey by COMPAS was published in the Ottawa Citizen on August 3, 1998. The comment by Mayor Jim Watson can be found in the friendsofthefarm newsletter, summer of 2013, page 10/12.) 

House of Commons Ottawa May 13, 1960 The Hon. Douglas Harkness (Minister of Agriculture) Progressive Conservative: "I think my views with respect to the experimental farm are well known and have been very well publicized in the local Ottawa papers. I have stated on numerous occasions that I am opposed to any of this land being alienated for building purposes. Greenhouses, barns, scientific laboratories, etc. are permitted.

"Threats to the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site."

1.) An attempt to sell the Rideau Canal.

2.) "Parks Canada to look at divesting highways, bridges and dams. Cash-strapped agency examines whether to sell or divest non-heritage assets worth $8.3 Billion dollars." by Dean Beeby, CBC News, August 26, 2017. The highways, roads, bridges, dams, culverts and railway tracks are located in Canada's National Parks.

Parks Canada believes that the Rideau, Chambly, Lachine and Trent Severn canals do not have any heritage value. The United Nations would disagree with that assessment---the Rideau Canal was honoured by a UN agency called UNESCO. Parks Canada was willing to sell all the infrastructure on the waterway, including bridges, dams, locks, etc.

3.) Redevelopment on land that is adjacent to the site.

4.) The designation UNESCO World Heritage Site will be removed from the waterway if the following projects go ahead:

• The new Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus.
• The Chateau Laurier proposed expansion. (Ottawa)
• The Rideau Marina redevelopment. (Kingston)  
• Highway 417 bridge rehabilitation (Ottawa)
• Rideau Canal Crossing pedestrian bridge (Ottawa)
• Third Bridge Crossing (Kingston) (Note: it proceeded.)
• Former Davis Tannery Brownfield Site Redevelopment (Kingston)
• Various Federal Infrastructure Investment Program projects along the length of the Rideau Canal World Heritage property. (Google: "State of Conservation Report, Rideau Canal, May 2018.)

House of Commons Ottawa February 19, 2007 Mr. Gord Brown (Leeds-Grenville) CPC: "Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that I am speaking about the Rideau Canal on Heritage Day...It encompasses many communities, all with unique heritage: Seeley's Bay, Newboro, Westport, Portland, Perth, Rideau Ferry, Smiths Falls, Merrickville. Kemptville and Manotick. It is a heritage river, a national historic site and hopefully, will soon be a World Heritage Site."

House of Commons Ottawa June 1, 1994 Mr. Jim Jordan (Leeds-Grenville): "...The Canal offers 202 kilometers of clear, pristine waters through a total of 47 locks."

The 125-acre Hog's Back Park

"Desirous of providing a park in the southern part of Ottawa comparable to the Rockcliffe Park in the eastern part of Ottawa, the Commission continued, in 1957, the progressive development of Hog's Back Park. Located as it is in the new government group of office buildings where thousands of employees will be housed within the next 5 years, this park in addition to its use by the general public will be used for picnics on a large scale."

"The plans for the additional service buildings at Hog's Back picnic area have been approved by the Commission. These plans comprise a refreshment pavilion, a general shelter, a bus stop and rest rooms. Among its main features will be a parking area for a total of 540 cars and a bus terminal; two softball diamonds; 400 picnic tables; several overlooks and 30 outdoor fireplaces and drinking fountains. The formal opening of the 125-acre Hog's Back Park picnic grounds are scheduled to take place early next summer." Location - the east side of the Rideau River, north of Hog's Back Falls. (Information is from the 1957 Annual Report of the Federal District Commission, page 17/49).

Traffic

How the new Ottawa Hospital will affect traffic "An average of 100 ambulance trips are expected every day, with 75% of the trips on Maple Drive and 25% on Prince of Wales." (Note: Maple Drive, Prince of Wales and all of the other highways on the Farm are being widened. Maple Drive is being "realigned" to create more space for emergency vehicles.  The City of Ottawa owns Prince of Wales Drive within the Farm. I would not be surprised if the Agricultural Museum is demolished or if  nearby land is removed. Prince of Wales will not only be an ambulance route but a major trucking route for suppliers of hospital equipment. The road was a  scenic entryway to the Experimental Farm. Plans are now underway to destroy another scenic highway, the Queen Elizabeth Driveway along the Rideau Canal.

 Maple Drive was the gateway to the Dominion Observatory campus, DARA Tennis Club and the William Saunders Building. The Dominion Observatory is in the path of destruction, the danger zone. The South Azimuth on Maple Drive is endangered. In 1973 the National Capital Commission wanted 700 acres of the Experimental Farm. Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan said the land would be transferred "over my dead body." A few days ago I saw the massive parking garage--- I wonder how many acres of the Farm are really being taken from Canadians in 2024/2025.) 

Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site Management Plan Part 7. Existing conditions in the year 2019:

Road Name and Section  Baseline Road Merivale to Prince of Wales. Divided arterial. 4 lanes. Peak Directional Volume (veh/hr) - 2,000 

Road Name and Section Carling Ave. Hwy 417 to Booth. Divided arterial.6 travel lanes. Peak Directional Volume (veh/hr) - 2,000.

Road Name and Section Merivale Rd. Clyde to Baseline. Undivided arterial. 4 travel lanes. Peak Directional Volume - (veh/hr) - 900

Road Name and Section  Merivale Rd Baseline to Kingston.  Divided arterial. 4 travel lanes. Peak Directional Volume - (veh/hr) - 1,200 

Road Name and Section Merivale Rd. Kingston to Carling. Undivided arterial. 4 traffic lanes - (veh/hr) - 1,200

Road Name and Section Merivale Rd. Carling to Hwy. 417. Undivided arterial. 2 traffic lanes - (veh/hr) -n/a.

Road Name and Section Fisher Ave Dynes to Carling. Undivided arterial. (veh/hr) - 1,000

Road Name and Section Prince of Wales Dynes to Preston Undivided arterial. 2 lanes - (veh/hr) 1,500

Road Name and Section Preston Ave. Prince of Wales to Carling Undivided arterial. 4 lanes (veh/hr) 1,100

Road Name and Section Preston Ave. Carling to Hwy 417. Undivided arterial. 4 lanes - (veh/hr) 800

Road Name and Section Parkdale Ave. Carling to Hwy 417. Undivided arterial. 2 lanes - (veh/hr) 600

Road Name and Section Holland Ave. Carling to Hwy 417. Undivided arterial. 2 lanes - (veh/hr) 800

Road Capacity "Arterial road capacity typically ranges from 800 veh/hr and 1,500 veh/hr per lane. The results of the analysis suggest that Baseline Road and Prince of Wales Drive are currently at capacity during the peak commuter hour and there is spare capacity on the balance of the arterial road network within the study area." 

Parks and Parkways Proposed by The Ottawa Improvement Commission.

• Rockcliffe Park
• Rideau Hall Boulevard
• Anglesea Square
• Strathcona Park
• Rideau Park
• Rideau River Parkway
• Metcalfe Street Square
• Patterson Creek Park
• Gladstone Avenue Square
• Rideau Canal Parkway
• Central Experimental Farm
• Preston Street Square
• Victoria Parkway
• Hull Park
• Chaudiere Park
• Chaudiere Parkway
• Somerset Square
• Gatineau Parkway (the information is from: "The Ottawa Improvement Commission" Frederick G.  Todd, 1903.)

NCC Parkland in 1992. Reposting. All of the land was federally owned.

• Confederation Park, Ottawa Centre, Laurier Avenue West, 2.5473 ha. 
• Bronson Ave & Sparks St., Ottawa Centre. 0.4000 ha. 
• LeBreton Flats, Ottawa Centre. 70.0900 ha. 
• Vincent Massey Park, Ottawa South. Riverside Drive & Heron Road. 29.5600 ha. (Note: PWGSC gave Riverside Dr. and Heron Rd. to the City of Ottawa. "City Council shall support the ownership transfer from Public Works and Government Services Canada to the City those portions of Heron Rd. and Riverside Dr. that traverse the Confederation Heights area to have them formally integrated as part of the arterial road network." Vincent Massey Park will probably be demoted to a parkette or pocket park, less than 1 ha. Regional Land Strategy for Ottawa 2006-2031. 4.4.2 Parks and Open Spaces - "The City's requirements for parks and open spaces may have to be revisited to ensure that the types of spaces required of developers reflect the need for quality spaces...The City should accept parkettes as part of the 5% parkland dedication.")
• The Greenbelt, Ottawa South. Hwy 417 and Walkley Rd. (land reserve) 47.6300 ha. 

• River Rd. Park, Ottawa-Vanier. 14.0500 ha. 
• Dow's Lake Park, Rideau Canal. Ottawa Centre. 4.000 ha. 
• Rideau Canoe Club, Ottawa Centre. 1.67 ha. 
• Commissioners Park, Rideau Canal. Ottawa Centre. 6.800 ha. 
• Hog's Back Park, Ottawa South. Hog's Back Rd. & Riverside Dr. 3 buildings. 24.2300 ha. 
• Moffat Farm, Ottawa Centre. Prince of Wales Dr. & Melfa Cr. 2 buildings. 2.0900 ha. Gone.
• Nepean Point Park, Ottawa-Vanier. St. Patrick St. & Sussex Dr. 1.4600 ha. 
• Victoria Island, Ottawa Centre. Middle Street, 4 buildings. 7.9120 ha.
• Stanley Ave. Park, Ottawa-Vanier. Minto Bridge, Maple & Green Islands. 5.0400 ha.
• Riverside Dr. Park, Ottawa South. Queensway to Bronson Ave. 22.14 ha.

I believe that many powerful entities have their sights on Ottawa's Greenbelt; land beside the parkways and a de paved Sir John A. and Queen Elizabeth parkway; and the 1,000 acre Experimental Farm. They want to "animate" the Sparks Street Mall by building more residential towers. 

"Why I love Ottawa."

Former Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson's favourite places in the National Capital are:

• the Central Experimental Farm on Carling Avenue
• 277 Sussex Street
• Rideau Hall
• the National Arts Centre
• the Precinct of the War Memorial (The information is from "Ottawa Magazine" June 20, 2017.)

"Canadian parklands are not for sale."

 House of Commons Ottawa February 7, 1986 Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell) Liberal: "Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has embarked on a policy of selling the Crown jewels. First it was the threat of logging national parks, then selling our national aircraft manufacturer, then the possibility of privatizing Air Canada, and finally the potential sale of Mile Circle Park right here in the city of Ottawa to build a U.S. embassy."

"As the opposition critic for the Department of Public Works, I call upon the Government to reject any American offers to buy or lease Mile Circle Park. I call on  the Government to send a clear signal that Canadian parklands, our national treasures, are not for sale. I call upon the Government to state clearly that it will not act improperly by selling Mile Circle Park or locating an embassy on it."

House of Commons Ottawa February 25, 1986 Mr. Barry Turner (Ottawa-Carleton): "Mr. Speaker, I have the honour and privilege to present another petition signed by over 900 people who live in the National Capital Region, and in particular residents who live near Mile Circle Park...who are strongly opposed to the potential destruction of the parkland within the Mile Circle for commercial use by foreign embassies."

House of Commons Ottawa August 11, 1987 Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell) Liberal: "It is the responsibility of the NCC to protect and maintain the Greenbelt."

"Under no conditions whatever should the ground now occupied by the Experimental Farm be used for other than park purposes, should its present use as a farm be abandoned." (From: Report of the Ottawa Improvement Commission, 1915, page 126/238. The OIC became the Federal District Commission in 1927 and the National Capital Commission in 1959.)

____________________________________________________

June 19, 2021, the Rockcliffe Park News: "Mile Circle and Aviation Museum Area Lands to be Preserved from Development." "The following response was received to a request seeking confirmation that Mile Circle and lands to the east of Birch Street and lands around the Aviation Museum and the Rockcliffe Airport, whose designations have been changed to allow for development, will be preserved as green space."

 February 11, 2023, the Manor Park Chronicle: "NCC plan for George-Etienne park includes Mile Circle "A 'medium scale facility' could be built on Mile Circle...a 13-kilometer stretch of the park has been identified as falling within the scope of the plan."

The pending destruction of Canada's Parliamentary Precinct. Ottawa is not Manhattan North.

MEASURES TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT - STATEMENT BY MINISTER

House of Commons Ottawa July 20, 1973 The Hon. Jean-Charles Dube (Minister of Public Works): "...Concern has been expressed about the danger of visual encroachment on the beauty of the parliamentary precinct, which is one of the great symbols of Canada. We must ensure that nearby developments do not adversely affect it."

"We have all been aware that to properly house the expanded requirements of Parliament for the generations ahead in a way that would both complement and preserve the existing architectural beauty of the Parliament Buildings we must enlarge the present parliamentary grounds. I wish therefore to announce, Mr. Speaker, that I have today, on behalf of the government, filed a notice of intent to expropriate all the land and buildings in the area bounded by Wellington Street, Elgin Street, Sparks Street and Bank Street. The purpose of this expropriation as I have indicated is to protect the environment of Parliament from any development which could adversely affect it, and simultaneously provide the land for an appropriate expansion of parliamentary facilities and other government requirements. The property of the United States Embassy has been excluded from this expropriation but discussions are well advanced for its acquisition."

"I should like to add a few words, Mr. Speaker, with respect to the existing properties and especially the Sparks Street Mall. It is the government's intention that until Parliaments needs have been fully defined, there will be no disturbances whatsoever of the existing properties. The present character of the Mall will be preserved and enhanced." (emphasis mine.)

Some hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr. Walter Baker, Progressive Conservative (Grenville-Carleton): "Mr. Speaker, let me say on behalf of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition we welcome this announcement today and commend the government for taking this important step..The most significant aspect of this announcement is the aspect of control. Parliament Hill is recognized as a place unparalleled in architectural beauty. More than that it is the symbol and centre of our national life. As such it deserves protection from the conflicts and differences in points of view that arise between municipalities and developers on land use, even though they may be well intentioned. This announcement today will ensure that the people of Canada, whose national capital this city is will have a part in the development of its centre."

Some hon. Members: Hear, hear! 

Mr. Stanley Knowles, NDP (Winnipeg North Centre):

Mr. Real Caouette, Social Credit (Temiscamingue): "Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for sending me a copy of that statement which should have been made to Parliament some 20 years ago, I think, in order to protect the environment of Parliament. We must acknowledge that the most important structure in Canada is the Parliament of Canada, our institution. The thousands of visitors who come to Ottawa do not come here to see the City Hall, but to visit the Parliament Buildings. For one who comes from my region, the first thing they do is to visit Parliament."

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Senate of Canada (Issue 12) Ottawa - December 12, 2019 Senator Serge Joyal: "...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."

Land is being removed from Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Canada for a Gatineau-Ottawa tram project. Cars will be banned on Wellington Street and eventually from all of downtown Ottawa and the scenic parkways: House of Commons Ottawa June 1, 1970. Mr. Skoberg (New Democratic Party): "Is the Government of Canada, through the National Capital Commission, giving favorable consideration to a plan which would eliminate automobiles from down-town Ottawa?"            

Mr. Abram Epp; Mr. Martin O'Connell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Regional Economic Expansion): "At present, no plan exists for the elimination of automobiles from down-town Ottawa."

House of Commons Ottawa May 15, 1970. Mr. Duncan Gordon Blair (Grenville-Carleton) Liberal: "Is the government aware of a statement or statements to the press by the Chairman of the National Capital Commission to the effect that he might close the national capital parkways in this region for a week, for the strange inquiries of proving their importance in carrying traffic? The second part of my question is whether the Acting Prime Minister can assure the House that the government will not permit the people of this area this inconvenience, the disruption that this extraordinary and senseless experiment will cause."  

 The Hon. George McIlraith (Acting Prime Minister; Solicitor-General of Canada): "The statement has caused concern. I am very doubtful that the Chairman has any such authority under the National Capital Act passed by this Parliament."