The NCC cannot sell land beside the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway to foreign embassies.

Read: 

"The Greber Report of 1950."Federal parkways and green spaces in the National Capital are memorials in perpetuity, to Canadians who died fighting in foreign wars. "The Master Plan is dedicated as a National War Memorial (page 11/396). "The Master Plan herein set forth organizes and protects a vast area of urban, rural and wooded territories." (page 7/395.) The National War Memorial encompasses 900 square miles.

"The Policy for Parkways and Driveways" an NCC document published in July of 1984.

"The Official Plan of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton" as approved by the Province of Ontario, November 1983.

"The Official Plan of Land Use of the City of Ottawa" June 1984.

"The National Interest Land Mass" document, Google: 1988-09-15-tb-re-ncc.

"The National Capital Act of 1958" Section 10 (1).

House of Commons Ottawa March 10, 1986. Member of Parliament Barry Turner (Ottawa-Carleton) Progressive Conservative. Mr. Turner: "Mr. Speaker, this is my first experience with an adjournment debate as a follow-up to my question on February 24 to the Acting Minister of Public Works and I intend to get to the heart of an extremely serious concern quite quickly."

"The National Capital Commission will be making a fundamental planning and policy error if it recommends to the Government that the Mile Circle be used to house embassies. The local, regional and indeed national outcry of total opposition to this proposal should in itself be a proper, clear, concise message to the Commission that it is making a serious mistake. The duly-elected representatives of the four levels of Government directly affected are unanimously opposed to the proposal. Those representatives are myself at the federal level, Mr. Gilles Morin, the local alderman, and the Reeve of Rockcliffe Village which borders on the site, Mr. Pat Murray."

"There is no political will for the project, why should there be a bureaucratic administrative one? The Mile Circle land has been held in trust since 1904 by the federal Government as parkland. I cannot believe that today, in 1986, with all of our collective knowledge and experience, that the Commission is actually threatening to destroy these parklands. I cannot accept the arguments that any development will be done in such a way as to maintain open spaces and a parkland setting. That is impossible since thousands of tons of concrete and steel will be sewn together by architects, engineers and construction workers to build embassies on the Mile Circle."

"My professional background is in conservation and tourism development. I know what impact infrastructures can have on parkland. If parks are for people, and I truly believe they are, then you put any and all development outside of them. Thomas Keefer meant for the Mile Circle to be used by people-people of all ages and from all places, not just from the National Capital region."

"...I have received letters from across Canada opposed to this proposal from Canadians who feel that the Commission is compromising one of its fundamental philosophies, namely to conserve many of the natural parkland settings of our great capital. I am very proud of our magnificent city, and I credit the Commission with making it that way."

"The Policy for Parkways and Driveways, published by the NCC as approved in July 1984, the official plan of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton as approved by the Province of Ontario in November, 1983, and the official plan of land use in the City of Ottawa, published in June 1984, all state their commitment to the public open space corridor along the Ottawa River, with the Mile Circle as part of this landscape conservation. These are commitments by three levels of Government. If the federal government places embassy offices on this land, it would be an expression of contempt for the due process of planning."

(The Mile Circle is adjacent to the Sir George-Etienne Cartier Parkway. The NCC and City of Ottawa want to "Put the Park back in the Parkway" and eventually ban motor vehicles from the Sir George-Etienne Cartier,  Queen Elizabeth and Sir John A. Macdonald Parkways; the National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway and Gatineau Park highways, etc. Depaving the roads will prevent older and disabled individuals from accessing federal green spaces. That is a form of discrimination. We have just as much right to enjoy parkland as people riding bicycles and walking. savecfbrockcliffe.)

Opposition to the American Embassy location next to Major's Hill Park and the Connaught Building. There were concerns about placing the embassy in a densely populated area and the loss of important views.

Government-owned parkland.

House of Commons Ottawa March 24, 1986  MP Jean-Robert Gauthier (Chief Opposition Whip, Whip of the Liberal Party) Ottawa-Vanier. "...My question is directed to the Deputy Prime Minister. Will he tell the House if it is federal policy to sell federally owned parkland? The NCC Chairman Jean Pigott recently said she wants to sell part of a riverfront park known as Mile Circle to the United States of America for an embassy compound.""...Mr. Speaker, could the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House whether he intends to act responsibly and give clear and precise instructions to all those who are responsible for our national parks, indicating clearly that none of our national parks are for sale." (Note: In the year 1925 the Ottawa Improvement Commission designated Mile Circle near Rockcliffe a federal park.---MP Barry Turner (Ottawa-Carleton) House of Commons, April 9, 1986.)

Parks Canada wants to sell $8 billion dollars worth of infrastructure in the federal parks, including highways, bridges, culverts, tunnels and dams. The Rideau Canal has 52 dams and 45 locks. And the 142-mile Icefields Parkway runs through the Banff and Jasper National Parks.Read: "Parks Canada to look at divesting highways, bridges, dams..." by Dean Beeby,CBC News.

The Rideau Canal was built to protect Canada from an American invasion. After the War of 1812, Colonel John By and thousands of workers built the waterway. The British government refused to transfer the Rideau Canal to the government of Canada before a treaty was signed:

House of Commons Ottawa June 1,1950.  Member of Parliament George Taylor Fulford (Leeds,Ontario) Liberal. Mr. Fulford: "...There was a rather quaint treaty signed between Great Britain and Canada when the canal was handed over to Canada. One of the clauses said that Canada would maintain the canal system as long as the grass was green and the skies were blue."

Loopholes.

The National Capital Act (1985)-The NCC is a commercial Crown corporation that operates at arms-length from the government of Canada, from the people. The Crown corporation has the power to sell, grant, lease, or otherwise dispose of any property to any person.  The NCC also has the power to remove "restrictive" designations that would impede the sale or donation of properties---Classified Federal Heritage Building; Recognized Federal Heritage Building; National Historic Site of Canada and National Interest Land Mass.

1.) The Central Experimental Farm is a National Interest Land Mass and a National Historic Site of Canada, two of the reasons why the Civic cannot build a medical centre on the land. The other reasons are:

 a.) A March 19,1954 document signed by Prime Minister Louis St-Laurent stated that the Farm would always be an open space.

 b.) Minister of Public Works Charles Howard Green told the Hon. George McIlraith that no buildings would be constructed on the Farm when Temporary Buildings 5 and 8 were removed--House of Commons, June 16,1958.

 c.) The Director of Gatineau Park Eldon Eady convinced Public Works to give Queen Juliana Park to the people of Canada in 1976.

 d.) Ottawa City Councillor Katherine Hobbs promised that QJP would remain a green space.

 e.) Federal Minister of Agriculture John Wise told the House of Commons that the Farm would always be a Crown asset, May 13, 1988.

 f.) The Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site Management Plan (7 out of 20) confirmed that the Farm will remain a National Interest Land Mass in perpetuity:

"The CEF National Historic Site is designated in its entirety as part of the National Interest Land Mass. These lands are essential for the long-term symbolism, functions, physical structure, and natural and cultural landscape qualities of the Capital. Implicit in a NILM designation is a formal designation of the Federal Government's interest in the long-term use of these lands. Most NILM lands are, or should be, under the custody of the federal government to ensure they are protected and enhanced. Generally, the majority of these lands are, or will be owned by the NCC, while some NILM land will also be under the custody of other federal custodians or departments."

2.) Earnscliffe, 140 Sussex Drive- The British High Commission is building a new embassy on the 140 Sussex Drive property. The National Capital Commission either gave or sold part of Lady Grey Drive to the foreign embassy: "The individual lots that make up the property include sections that were formerly streets-namely McKay Street (also called Earnscliffe Avenue), Lady Grey Drive and Bellevue Terrace." (From: Cultural Heritage Impact Statement-Earnscliffe, City of Ottawa, page 5/49, January 6, 2020.)

Lady Grey Drive. The Royal Canadian Mint can be seen in the background.

3.) 1 and 19 Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard-a park adjacent to the boulevard may be converted into an embassy row. 

The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act- The loophole- "This Act applies to lighthouses that are the property of Her Majesty in right of Canada." A few years ago the Department of Fisheries and Oceans privatized 1,000 federal lighthouses.

The Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act (1985)-The loophole- "Only designated heritage railway stations that are still owned by a railway company under federal jurisdiction are subject to the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act." The Canadian National Railway is a multinational corporation owned by Bill Gates and international investors. Toronto's Union Station was sold to the city. Plans were underway to demolish Ottawa's Union Station in 1966.

Federal government heritage laws supersede provincial and municipal heritage laws.

The 125-acre Hog's Back Park.

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 five 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 the 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; 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 is scheduled to take place early next summer." Location-the east side of the Rideau River, north of Hog's Back Falls. The park merges with the new Rideau Heights Federal Government buildings site where new department buildings are being constructed for the Department of Public Works, the Post Office Department, etc. (From:1957 Annual Report of the Federal District Commission (Now called the National Capital Commission.) Page 17/49.

The Hog's Back Park now encompasses 50 acres, and the Woods are federal and privately owned, Google: "urban natural features strategy, city of ottawa April 11, 2006."

The uncertain future of Kingston Penitentiary.

A scene from the television program "Murdoch Mysteries." The South Workshop, C-1 to C-6 (pictured) may not be preserved. 

The purple and pink areas are the focus of much of the redevelopment. At least 11 buildings are slated for demolition. Buildings C-1;2;3;4;5;6;7;9;13; 23 and 24 are within the purple and pink areas. TOTAL: 11.

Parks Canada-The South Workshop Recognized Federal Heritage Building-Constructed from 1842-1849. Description of Historic Place-"The South Workshop, also known as Building C-1 to C-6 at Kingston Penitentiary is an impressive 19th century, industrial building with a temple facade and a Greek Cross plan. This solid, stone building is made up of four large wings radiating from a central rotunda."

The Main Cellblock is a Classified Federal Heritage Building and is being preserved. (From:(PDF) Opportunities and Constraints Report-City of Kingston-Page 9/140.)

Corrections Canada prohibited the construction of any buildings within the red lines:

All of the land within the red lines will be park land accessible to the public.

Correctional Service of Canada-Kingston Harbourfront Property-Environmental Assessment Result. Update-After the environmental site assessment and risk assessment were completed, clean up options were presented to CSC. The option chosen was to excavate and replace the impacted soil so that the land would be revitalized and restored to green space. The re mediated area will no longer be leased for boat slips or long-term boat storage, so the refreshed space will be open for the public to have access to and enjoy! 2015-16-29.

April Fool's.

Disneyland North.

The Old Toronto courthouse, located on 60 Queen Street West, Toronto.The building is featured in the television program "Street Legal"; and I was a witness when friends of mine were married at the courthouse during the late 1970's.

The following suggestions were not made in jest: Demolish the entire Rideau Canal from Ottawa to Kingston.Transfer Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia to the City of Vancouver. Transfer all of the BC national parks to the provincial government.Convert the Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario into an apartment for seniors. Convert the Saint Vincent-de-Paul Penitentiary into the ultimate gated community. 

The architecture of national symbols.

 A glossary of terms that pertain to the Bytown Museum, the Chateau Laurier, Parliamentary Precinct, the Sparks Street Mall and buildings along Sussex Drive, Ottawa.

Blanket Height Control. A view protection tool that establishes a single and broadly applicable maximum permitted height of any new development within a designated area. 

Buffer Zone. An area of land designated for view protection achieved by utilizing various planning tools such as height limits, zoning and/or development restriction.

Central Capital Landscape. The symbolic centre of the Capital Core, including the Parliament Buildings as well as the Supreme Court, Major's Hill Park and green space on the Gatineau waterfront.

Cultural Landscape. A geographic area including both cultural and natural resources exhibiting cultural or aesthetic values.

National Symbols. The Parliament Buildings and other major public buildings and physical landforms within the Parliamentary Precinct and around Confederation Boulevard.

View Controls.  A set of policies and/or guidelines that aim to protect views of national symbols, natural features or other landmarks.( Information is from "New Tools for View Controls in Canada's Capital-2016" page 28/76.)

The Rideau Canal lands from downtown Ottawa to Hog's Back Road are protected by the designation "National Interest Land Mass." Google: 1988-09-15-TB-re-NCC.

Parks Canada has guidelines that apply to buildings adjacent to the waterway, the "Rideau Canal National Historic Site-Principles for good waterfront development":

2.)  Conserve historic buildings and cultural heritage features. It is particularily important to conserve and reuse historic houses and cottages, lodges, mills, barns, fences and other cultural heritage features, to preserve the landscape character of the Rideau corridor. 

5.)  Locate development back from the shoreline. Generally, new development must be set back a minimum of 30 metres from the shoreline.This aligns with the 30 metre buffer zone extending from the boundary of the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site. 

7.)  Design buildings to complement the site:

Downtown Merrickville, Ontario adjacent to the Canal.

The Bytown Museum and the hotel were built on Parliament Hill, read "Parliament Hill Legal Title" House of Commons,Ottawa,December 21,1963.