The Chateau Laurier Hotel redevelopment.

Reasons why this proposal has to be re-examined:

1.)  The hotel and the American Embassy were built on Parliament Hill:

House of Commons Debates Ottawa July 6, 1908. The Hon. Robert Laird Borden (Leader of the Official Opposition): "...We take this national property immediately contigious to and indeed forming part of the grounds of this parliament, and we propose to build a hotel upon it."

2.)  "I believe all of the properties facing Parliament Hill should be owned and controlled by the government in order to prevent structures being erected thereon which may destroy the harmony and beauty of the buildings on this hill." Prime Minister of Canada William Lyon Mackenzie King, in a speech before the House of Commons, April 24,1928.

3.)  During the year 1969 land was expropriated from Major's Hill Park for the hotel parking garage. In 1995 the American government built an embassy on Major's Hill Park. Now the park will be integrated into the Chateau property:

"Given that the Fairmont Chateau Laurier is on private lands, the National Capital Commission's role is to work with the proponent to integrate the new addition with Major's Hill Park and the Rideau Canal terraces." (From: Proposed addition to the Chateau Laurier-Transparency.) Members of Parliament never wanted federal parkland to be the back yard for a commercial enterprise:

House of Commons  Ottawa July 6, 1908. George Halsey Perley, Conservative: "...The hotel is going to get the benefit of the whole of Major's Hill Park. Even if there is a space left as an entrance, the park really will be the back garden for the hotel."

Haughton Lennox, Conservative: "The people's rights could be interfered with if there is not a fence placed between the hotel and the park."

4.)  The National Capital Commission does not have the power to approve or reject the architectural designs for the landmark because it is privately owned. However, the Grand Trunk Railway was not nationalized until 1918--- and the government had control over the GTR hotel design in 1908:

House of Commons Ottawa July 6, 1908. William Pugsley (Minister of Public Works) Conservative: "Before giving a conveyance, we must have the plans submitted to us and approved by the government...The Governor in Council will not allow any departure from these plans unless, on the advice of our chief architect, we think they should be altered."

5.) Views of the Parliament Buildings will be impacted:

Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton Response to NCC's Draft "Plan for Canada's Capital": 

"...Councillor Legendre also noted in the Urban Design section of the NCC's report, the policy spoke to protecting the views and symbolic primacy of the Parliament Buildings. He said similar words had long been used in the NCC's vision documents, yet he felt when a project or specific proposal came forward, the NCC offered no support. The Councillor said the most recent example of this was the new American Embassy. He recounted he had been on City Council when the proposal came forward, and the NCC had offered no support with regard to protecting the views and vistas of Parliament Hill, particularly from the Byward Market, along Clarence Street looking toward Parliament Hill." (From: Confirmation of minutes, City of Ottawa September 2, 1998.)

6.) The NCC has a duty to protect national historic sites: .One of the key objectives in 1988---to safeguard and preserve national treasures. (From: The National Capital Commission-The Canadian Encyclopedia,)

7.)  New buildings constructed beside the Rideau Canal have to follow the guidelines outlined in "The Rideau Canal National Historic Site-Principles of Good Waterfront Development."

8.)  Buffer zones will be breached. The Connaught Building, Rideau Canal and the Chateau are National Historic Sites of Canada and they are protected by a 500-metre buffer zone. The Connaught Building is located at 555 MacKenzie Avenue. "There will be a space of 120 feet from the hotel to the other side of MacKenzie Avenue". (Sir Wilfred Laurier, Prime Minister and President of the Privy Council, House of Commons, July 6, 1908.)

Parliament Hill 

June 18, 2020, CBC News image. Parliament Hill in Ottawa has already been sold to the Grand Trunk Railway/Chateau Laurier Hotel and American Embassy. Land has now been expropriated for the City of Ottawa's Light Rail Transit and another entity dug a giant crater in front of the Centre Block of Parliament.

Unbelievable.

The Chateau Laurier Hotel.

Former Canadian trademarks.

Winnie the Pooh was a black bear from White River, Ontario adopted by a Canadian World War 1 soldier.

The Smiths Falls,Ontario water tower has been painted over.

My Dad trademarked the phrase "The House Detective."

The House Detective was a television program that was produced from 1962 until 1963.

The RCMP image was reclaimed by the government.

The Chateau Laurier Hotel was built on hallowed ground...

... Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

House of Commons Debates Ottawa July 6, 1908. The Hon. Robert Laird Borden (Leader of the Official Opposition): "...This proposal to thrust a hotel onto the grounds of parliament is so incongruous and unnecessary that I cannot understand how the government ever came to accede to it. I have already said and I repeat it, that it would be just as well for the government to have authorized the building of that hotel on one of the lawns in front of this building...This is national property."

"We take this national property immediately contiguous to and indeed forming part of the grounds of this parliament, and we propose to build a hotel upon it."

A speech presented by Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King to the House of Commons, April 24, 1928:

"...Ottawa is the focal centre of the Dominion; it is the heart of a nation that has grown great not only in its own affairs but in the affairs of the world at large...Nothing could be done which would be more in the future interests of the city than to have the land along both sides of the Ottawa river acquired for public purposes. Similarly, there should be secured the land along both sides of the Rideau river and the Rideau Canal."

"...I believe all the properties facing Parliament Hill should be owned and controlled by this government in order to prevent structures being erected thereon which may destroy the harmony and beauty of the buildings on this hill. More than that - and this does not relate to the present but to the future - I believe there should be acquired in connection with this capital and the sooner the better a great tract of land, in the nature of a national park, which will be a fitting adjunct to the capital of our country."

"This capital is the seat of the government of the country. It should be and it is more than the seat of government. It is here in the capital of Canada that we have the residence of the representative of His Majesty the King.It is here that we have the official residence of the diplomatic representative of the nation to the south, the legation of the United States. It will be the future home of the diplomatic representatives of other countries..."

"We have in the city archives which are second to none in any country in the world. We have a national art gallery with art treasures of great value to this nation. We have a national museum...We are planning at this time the development of important laboratories for scientific research."

"Our public buildings, as far as their architectural merits are concerned, are with few exceptions worthy of our country. In addition to the houses of parliament there are other public buildings which constitute exceptionally beautiful specimens of architecture, such as the Chateau Laurier."

No words....

The City of Ottawa does not have the right to "modernize" the Greber Plan.

 Plan for the National Capital 1950 by Jacques Greber.

"The Master Plan is dedicated as a National War Memorial." (page 11/395). "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 will encompass 900 square miles.

  5 Big Moves|The New Official Plan| Engage Ottawa. Big Move 3: Urban and Community Design.

• This strategy may include renewed partnerships with the NCC on possible diversification of the use of certain federally-owned green spaces in key locations. (from page 14/24, New Official Plan, August 13, 2019.)

"The City has identified more than 13,700 acres of the Greenbelt... that could be developed." (from "Beyond Ottawa 20/20. Tabling of the Official Plan Review-White Paper on Development in the Greenbelt.")

There are several recommendations in the Official Plan that I object to:

• removing any green space that is collectively owned by all Canadians.
• selling the air rights above community centres to condominium developers.
• encouraging the creation of "parkettes" which encompass less than one acre of land. There are vast areas of land in Nepean and Somerset Ward that could be converted into national parks. Why do the royal families own hundreds of thousands of acres of land, while children in Ottawa have to play in parkettes or cement plazas. Not only that, recreational land is off-limits---the Lebreton Flats, Greenbelt Research Farm and the skating rink and grounds at Rideau Hall. The only people who can visit the 2021 Tulip Festival on Commissioners Park are nearby residents.

The following properties are part of Jacques Greber's Greenbelt:

 Greenbelt Research Farm.  Commissioners Park.  Majors Hill Park. 

.Affordable Housing Opportunities-

 1.)Tom Brown Arena, 141 Bayview Road.

• Property Owner-City of Ottawa.
• Location-Site located along the easterly limits of Mechanicsville/Hintonburg south of both Albert and Scott Street at the intersection of the Trillium (O-Train) Corridor and the Bayview Station.
• Site Area-1.8 hectares or 4.4479 acres.
• Zoning - Mature Neighbourhood Overlay - relevant for residential dwellings of four storeys or less.
• Height Limit - 11 metres (12 storeys) but not for residential.
• Official Plan - Schedule B - General Urban Area.

Councillors call on city to reopen park green space. Ottawa closed all city parks and amenities on March 27 amid pandemic. by Hillary Johnstone, CBC News, May 5, 2020.

"Seven Ottawa city councillors have co-signed an open letter calling on the city to reopen green spaces in Ottawa's parks...Many residents have been struggling with physical and mental health without adequate space to physically distance while getting outside. Access to nature, open spaces and room for exercise are important and necessary coping strategies that are well documented to increase well-being and physiological resiliance...For families with small children, and those who have little or no green space on their properties, the closure of parks has been especially difficult..."

The letter was signed by councillors Shawn Menard, Riley Brockington, Catherine McKenney, Carol Anne Meehan, Rawlson King, Jeff Leiper and Theresa Kavanagh.

The City of Ottawa and the Greenbelt.

"In February 2019, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson began the process to develop a modern version of the Greber Plan, a 25-year plan for the city, anticipating breaching a population of 1 million residents, and foreseeing a part of a megaregion to also encompass Toronto and Montreal." (From: The Greber Plan-Wikipedia.)

 The City wants 1/4th of the Greenbelt, which is land that Jacques Greber protected from encroachment. (From: "Beyond Ottawa 20/20. Tabling of the Official Plan Review-White Paper on Development in the Greenbelt.")

"The City of Ottawa is undergoing an Official Plan Review which, among other things, examines the need for additional land for urban purposes...The City has identified more than 13,700 acres of the Greenbelt, worth about $1.6 billion that could be developed in their view without damaging its overall integrity."

Protect the Greenbelt from devastating development. A letter to Mayor Jim Watson from CPAWS, regarding a transit project:  "Dear Mayor Watson: CPAWS Ottawa Valley has long been focused on the preservation of Ottawa and the surrounding area's ecological integrity, natural beauty and diverse species.It is as a CPAWS supporter that I learned of the proposed changes to the Greenbelt."

"As a resident of the National Capital Region, the Greenbelt is important to me. It provides jobs, fresh local food and countless recreation opportunities. More importantly, it provides critical habitat for plants and animals, including many species at risk. Mer Bleue is the most biologically diverse area in Eastern Ontario, an internationally recognized RAMSAR site and living laboratory where scientists from across Canada and around the world come to learn about climate change, bogs and the species which depend on them. We are so fortunate to have that resource within our city!"

A few of the Greenbelt properties:  

Commissioners Park at Preston and Queen Elizabeth Driveway-a major venue for the Tulip Festival. The 22-acre property is very close to the Dow's Lake parking lot where a cluster of 30 to 50 storey condominiums will be constructed.

Wesley Clover Parks - the former National Equestrian Park and Ottawa Municipal Campground.

Bruce Pit - at Hunt Club and Baseline. An off-leash dog park, cross-country trail and toboggan hill.

Conroy Pit - near Hunt Club, an off-leash dog park and toboggan hill.

Hornets Nest soccer field- eleven soccer fields and an air-supported dome.

Agriculture Canada Research Farm- 1740 Woodroffe Avenue. 

The map is from the Archives of Canada on Wellington Street.

Canadian politicians who did not want to see the Greenbelt exploited:

Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King invited Jacques Greber from Paris to create a "living memorial in the National Capital, to honour Canadians who were killed fighting in foreign wars."

Prime Minister John Diefenbaker-House of Commons, June 18, 1958.

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney created the National Interest Land Mass designation in 1988, to rein in the National Capital Commission and to stop the City of Ottawa from using federal property as a land bank. NILM properties cannot be sold or subdivided; will be owned by Canadians in perpetuity, and Treasury Board has little or no involvement with NILM holdings:

  Gatineau Park. 

 The Greenbelt. 

 Land beside the scenic parkways ---Sir John A. Macdonald; Queen Elizabeth Driveway; Sir George Etienne Cartier, etc.

Victoria Island.

Lebreton Flats

Green Island.

Land beside the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River.

Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice.

House of Commons Ottawa  May 25,2010. MP Marcel Proulx (Hull-Aylmer, Liberal): "...The Liberal members from the National Capital Region, the member for Ottawa South,the member for Ottawa-Vanier and myself, are calling for better protection for the greenbelt.There are no serious regulations protecting the greenbelt."

"Together the City of Ottawa and the NCC can do whatever they want with this land. We believe this green space must be protected from developers...Given that the greenbelt is completely unprotected, we firmly believe it must be given the same safeguards as Gatineau Park."

House of Commons  Ottawa November 26, 2007. MP Marcel Proulx (Hull-Aylmer, Liberal): "Mr. Speaker, the Greber Plan gave us the greenbelt to create a green, modern and avant-garde capital. The greenbelt contains farms, forests and wetlands, which provide opportunities for recreational and outdoor activities as well as learning...Now the new president of the NCC....wants to promote urban development in the greenbelt. Does the government plan on letting (him) do what he wants and permanently destroy our precious greenbelt?"

Hon. John Baird (Minister of the Environment, Conservative Party of Canada.): "Mr. Speaker, as a member from the Ottawa region, from the capital region, I am well aware that this was a very good policy. I completely agree with the member."

House of Commons Ottawa September 16, 2009. Hon. Gordon O'Connor: "Mr. Speaker, I am one of the great supporters of the greenbelt. I believe it is part of our heritage and it must last as long in the future as possible...The long-term goal of the NCC would be to try to protect as much of the ecological basis of the greenbelt as possible..."

House of Commons Ottawa June 22, 1992. Mrs. Beryl Gaffney (Nepean) Liberal: "...The greenbelt was established to control urban sprawl, provide beauty to the nation's capital, assist municipalities in local improvements such as the cycling paths, the Stoney Swamp, the Pinhey Forest and the Log Farm. They have all added to the enhancement and beauty of the nation's capital."

"The people of Nepean are most concerned that the NCC is moving away from that premise. Does this government plan on continuing the status quo with the Nepean greenbelt lands or does the government plan on putting these lands up for sale? The majority of us in Nepean clearly do not want the greenbelt chipped away for residential and commercial development. We want and we deserve an answer."

House of Commons Ottawa August 11, 1987. Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell) Liberal: "Mr. Speaker, last night some 500 people protested the proposal to build a garbage incinerator at Walkley Road and Russell Road in Ottawa. I want to take this opportunity to express my disagreement with any plan which could result in the use of National Capital Commission land be turned from the Greenbelt into the garbage belt."

"It is the responsibility of the NCC to protect and maintain the Greenbelt surrounding the National Capital. We are proud of the Greenbelt and we are proud of our city. Therefore I ask the Minister of Public Works (Mr. McInnis) to state clearly that under no circumstances would he allow the Greenbelt lands of the National Capital Commission to be used for a garbage incinerator or any other purpose, like a U.S. embassy." (Note: Major's Hill Park is designated as Greenbelt land, and the U.S. Embassy was built on Major's Hill Park.) 

 Major's Hill Park was part of Parliament Hill before the Rideau Canal was built."The park was cut off from Parliament Hill by the Rideau Canal,from Sussex Drive by the Chateau Laurier, and from the Byward Market by the temporary buildings between Mackenzie and Sussex." When the World War 11 temporary buildings were torn down the land should have been returned to Canadians. (Urbsite photo.)

The National Capital Commission.

1.)  Closed the gates to Rideau Hall on Sussex Drive, Ottawa from 1986-1990 and 2020-?.

2.)  Refers to the Sparks Street Mall as "Public Enemy Number 1." "Sparks Street: The five-block, eastwest pedestrian mall and surrounding area is the NCC's public enemy No.1.(From "Tidying up a mess" Macleans Magazine, September 3,2001.)  "It's Crown against Town and sparks are flying as the National Capital Commission prepares to demolish an entire city block in downtown Ottawa. City officials, businessmen and private citizens alike fear that the NCC's plan to raze Sparks Street and replace it with office towers, apartments, stores and restaurants will destroy rather than revitalize the downtown core." (From: Globe and Mail newspaper, May 2, 2001.)

3.)  Refuses to get involved in the Chateau Laurier controversy, despite the fact that UNESCO may remove the Rideau Canal's designation as a World Heritage Site.

4.)  Refuses to relocate the site of a new medical centre, despite the fact that UNESCO may remove the Rideau Canal's designation as a World Heritage Site, if the centre is built. 

5.)  The Crown corporation is expropriating part of Parliament Hill for a Light Rail Transit project.

6.)  Tried to convince Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan to transfer 600 acres of the Experimental Farm to the City, for the construction of thousands of homes. (Mid-1970's).

7.)  Plans to remove vehicles from Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill, except for a tram. Tourists from all over the world charter buses to transport them to historic venues; in fact the federal Tourist Information Centre was located on 90 Wellington Street.A statue of Terry Fox is located in the plaza.

8.)  Appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board when the Mayor and Council refused to rezone the 88-acre Moffat Farm near Mooney's Bay. (2002.)

9.)  Wanted to create an embassy row on a meadow near Rockcliffe called "The Mile Circle."

10.) Wants to create an embassy row on greenspace in Mechanicsville.

11.)  Refuses to protect the Dominion Observatory campus on Carling Avenue, Ottawa from intentional or accidental demolition. Accidental, from blasting when a medical centre is built nearby. The greenhouses are also at risk.

12.)  Permitted the American government to construct an embassy on land that was destined for Major's Hill Park. A street has been blocked off because it is a buffer zone.

13.)  Land is being removed for a transit endeavour along Baseline Road---land from the Experimental Farm, many private residences and the Pinecrest Cemetery.