The proposed demolition of Canada's history.

A photo that I took of Princess Diana on June 20, 1983. The Langevin Building is in the background.

Block 2

MEASURES TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT - STATEMENT BY MINISTER

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 parliamentary precinct. We must ensure that nearby developments do not adversely affect it...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 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 underway for its acquisition."

Block 1 in the Parliamentary Precinct - Langevin Building, 80 Wellington; Postal Station B, 59 Sparks; Hope Chambers, 63 Sparks; Blackburn, 85 Sparks; House of Norcano, 69 Sparks; O'Brien, 65 Sparks; Saxe (Canada Life), 75 Sparks; Nelms, 67 Sparks; Wellington,180 Wellington; Dover-Brouse-Slater, 181 to 185 Sparks.  (The Langevin Building was created with limestone--- the limestone Great Pyramid of Giza is 2,600 years old.)

Block 2 - Former American Embassy, 100 Wellington; Embassy Annex, 128 Wellington; Victoria, 140 Wellington; Birks, 107 Sparks; Valour, 151 Sparks; Bate, 109 Sparks; Marshall, 14 Metcalfe; Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, 119 Sparks; Fisher, 115 Sparks; Canada's Four Corners, 93 Sparks. "They have reached the end of their life cycle."

Block 3 -  Sir John A. Macdonald Building, 144 Wellington; Wellington Building, 180 Wellington; Dover-Brouse-Slater, 181 to 185 Sparks; Booth, 165 Sparks.

Highrise's were envisioned for Parliament Hill and south of Wellington Street "At least the upper part of the silhouette of the Centre Block will remain unobscured. The Confederation Building and the East and West Block and other Secondary National Symbols are afforded the second level of protection. The silhouette of background buildings may rise above the roofline of the Secondary National Symbols." (Canada's Capital Views Protection, page 96/153.)  

The East Block of Parliament in Ottawa. Wikipedia photo.

The height limit for structures facing Wellington Street is 108 metres or 32 storeys. while the height limitation for buildings facing Sparks Street Mall is 113 metres or 34 storeys. (Parliamentary and Judicial Precinct Area Site Capacity and Long Term Development Plan, page 89/148.) Until 1965 there was a height limit of 13 storeys in downtown Ottawa so that the Peace Tower would dominate the landscape.

34 storey buildings should never be constructed on Parliament Hill, south of Wellington or on the northern half of the Sparks Street Mall.

House of Commons Ottawa December 7, 1984 MP Joseph Gaston Isabelle (Hull-Aylmer) Liberal: "Several years ago you could see Parliament Hill from far away. Today, you have to fly aboard a helicopter to see it, because of a few small skyscrapers that have, for all practical purposes, destroyed the beauty of the majestic Parliament Hill. And the National Capital Commission had to buy some land in order to have control over this area and avoid any undesirable construction. That is what the Commission did among other things to avoid the building of huge skyscrapers which would have practically destroyed the beauty of Parliament Hill."

Posted by Heritage Ottawa in September of 2019 Part of a letter written by Thomas Axworthy regarding the Chateau Laurier addition---it was never built by the way: "Since the Parliament Buildings were constructed in 1866, Canadians have been blessed with beautiful vistas and iconic buildings woven together in a coherent whole in the Parliamentary district of the National Capital. This is an irreplaceable heritage that must be passed down intact to future generations." Sincerely, Thomas S. Axworthy. Copies of the letter were sent to:

• the Government of Canada
• the Government of Ontario
• Parks Canada
• the World Heritage Centre at UNESCO
• the federal minister responsible for Canada's National Historic Sites
• the leaders of Canada's federal political parties
• Larco Inc. of Vancouver
• the Chair and Board of the National Capital Commission
• the Committee of Adjustment