The Future
The original transformation of Parliament Hill into a seat of government
was an outstanding achievement. It is an inheritance received by each
generation and passed on to the next. Our generation must do its part
to preserve and enhance that legacy. There are cracks in the edifice.
There are weaknesses in the supporting infrastructure. There are pressures
and demands that the original designers could never have imagined. We
must contribute our own experience and know-how to the work of the architects,
designers and craftspeople who came before us.
We cannot afford to let this central symbol of Canadian nationhood slip
away. It is our duty to our ancestors, our children, and ourselves to
take substantial measures to restore this special domain with its magnificent
architectural heritage. We must act boldly, to restore its historic and
functional integrity. If we fail, Canadians will wonder what value we
have assigned to one of our critical sources of collective identity.
The measures we must take are many, but they are interrelated. They all
flow from a vision that is similar to the vision of those who created
this special site in the middle of the 19th Century. That vision was a
special place, a sacred ground to provide a complete and integrated setting
for our central institutions of Parliamentary democracy. That vision requires
repairing the damage to existing components of the site, embracing new
functional requirements in ways that are sensitive to its historic character,
and adding new components that will fulfill the site's ability to be a
complete and welcoming home for all core Parliamentary functions.
The members of the Parliamentary Buildings Advisory Council have reviewed
the Long-Term Vision and Plan prepared by the Department of Public Works
and Government Services. Based on our review and our consultations with
stakeholders, we are prepared to make recommendations to the Minister
and to all the people of Canada who have a vested interest in the integrity
and the future of the buildings of Parliament.
The PWGSC 'Vision' report identifies three options for new accommodation
within the Parliamentary Precinct. While all three options include a new
building at the corner of Bank and Wellington Streets (on land that is
currently vacant), and infill (additions) to existing buildings, they
differ on where offices and Committee rooms for the Senate and House of
Commons should be located.
We acknowledge that the entire process of restoring and modernizing the
buildings of Parliament will take more than 20 years to complete. The
members of the Council believe that Option C is the most desirable,
and recommend that appropriate authority be sought by the Minister to
commence the activities required by this option.
Essentially, Option C would create 28,000 square metres of new floor
space. A new building to be constructed at Bank and Wellington Streets
would be used for House of Commons Committee rooms and Senate offices.
The House of Commons would use the infill between the Confederation and
Justice buildings for new parliamentary accommodations. The East Block
infill would be used for new Committee rooms for the Senate and the temporary
Senate chamber2.
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SCENARIO
1 |
Phase 1
(2001-2007)
Construction & renovation of core projects
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- Library of Parliament
- East Block, 1867 Wing Masonry
- Wellington Building
- of core projects
- La Promenade Building
- Bank Street Building
- Site Infrastructure
- Preplanning **
- Site development
Cost: $591M
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Phase 2
(2008-2011)
Construction of new accommodation projects
to provide swing space for the Centre Block renovation
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- Confederation Justice Infill
- East Block Infill
- Confederation Building Masonry
- West Block
- Preplanning
- Site development
Cost: $317M
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Phase 3
(2012-2016)
Renovation of the Centre Block *
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- Centre Block, One Phase
- Preplanning
- Site development
Cost: $485M
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Phase 4
(2017-2020)
Completion of renovations of existing buildings
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- East Block, 1867 Wing
- Confederation Building
- Preplanning
- Site development
Cost: $148M
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Phase 5
(2021-2023)
Completion of new accommodation
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- Centre Block Underground Services (CBUS)
South
- Preplanning
- Site development
Cost: $19M
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*Studies identify that the Centre Block as the building
in the most critical need of repair, and at the same time the building
in the Precinct that supports the most important functions - the two Chambers,
as well as com-mittee rooms and offices for both the Senate and the House.
As a result, the Centre Block cannot be vacated for renovation until alternate
locations are found for these functions. As such, renovation of other
buildings and new construction has to be done prior to closure of the
Centre Block. Engineering studies indicate that the Centre Block - while
in poor repair - can continue in operation for the 10-12 years it will
take to complete projects that must proceed first. It should be noted
that the costs of operating and maintaining the building will be higher,
due to its deteriorated condition.
**Preplanning includes expenditures occurring during
the phase, but related to projects which will be implemented in subsequent
phases.3
Taking into account the expressed needs of stakeholders and health and
safety concerns necessary for responsible risk management, as well as
the independent advice of outside consultants on the costs involved, the
Advisory Council believes that the Government should focus on the first
seven-year phase of recommended renovation and construction projects.
Due to the magnitude of these projects and the long time frames involved,
we suggest that PWGSC implement and keep current a fully comprehensive
cost management system allowing for public accountability throughout the
process.
We are already on record as favouring early action on the renovation
plan for the Library of Parliament. The Council recommends that Implementation
Scenario 1 for Option C be pursued. This scenario responds to the House
of Commons' first priority to have a new permanent Committee room building.
That would be accomplished by construction of the required building on
Bank Street. This scenario would, however, delay the West Block renovation
until completion of the new Committee room structure. Having studied the
various cost scenarios, we believe that the costs of additional temporary
Committee rooms cannot be justified. The projected cost of all required
work is about $591 million over the seven years. This cost encompasses
landscape and associated work that would be carried out in conjunction
with the renovation and construction projects that take place.
The Long Term Vision developed by the Department of Public Works and
Government Services is built (to use the Department's words) on a delicate
balance of varied and at times competing objectives. The balance can only
be achieved through open communications with all stakeholders, rigorous
planning and analysis, creative and sensitive urban design and a commitment
to periodic and timely review of the requirements and strategies to achieve
them. 4
The Parliamentary Buildings Advisory Council shares the vision expressed
in the important report of Public Works - that after twenty years of productive
collaboration we will have achieved all that we set out to accomplish
at the beginning of the journey:
- Safe, efficient and secure work environments for Parliamentarians;
- Much improved facilities to accommodate public hearings, Committee
deliberations, and national forums;
- Excellent services within the Precinct for Canadian and foreign visitors;
and, above all,
- The preservation and enhancement of the symbolic presence of the Parliamentary
Precinct for us all. 5
Not included in the specific details of the various options articulated
by PWGSC is the need for a Visitors' Centre. The issue remains unresolved
but we consider that the need for such a centre is real. Accordingly we
wish to go on record as supporting the need for a Visitors' Centre and
suggest that the National Capital Commission be requested to take the
lead on finding a solution to its future. Ideally, the Visitors' Centre
should be situated at the front of the Parliamentary Precinct, on Wellington
Street, adjacent to the Portrait Gallery.
2. The Long Term Vision... PWGSC, p. 34-35
3. The Long Term Vision... PWGSC, p. IV.
4. Ibid., p. 44.
5. Loc.Cit.
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