Question Period Note: Joint facility by Library and Archives Canada and the Ottawa Public Library

A new joint facility to be shared by Library and Archives Canada and the Ottawa Public Library is expected to open in 2024 in Ottawa.

• This innovative and unprecedented collaboration between Library and Archives Canada and the Ottawa Public Library will improve visibility and access for Canadians to their cultural heritage.
• The project is one of the first federal-municipal partnerships of its kind.
• Our Government is proud to support this project, a new building that will be an iconic community hub, a single door to the national library and archives, and a world-class public library in Canada's capital city.

• On February 27, 2018, the Minister of Finance announced that the Government will invest $73.3 million over six years and $4.0 million per year ongoing, to support the construction and ongoing operations of a new joint facility that will house Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and the Ottawa Public Library (OPL).
• On June 13, 2018, the City of Ottawa Council approved the implementation plan for the new Ottawa Central Library.
• The City will contribute $104.2 million to the $174.8-million facility and the costs for the 200-space parking garage.
• Visitors to the new joint facility will benefit from the resources of both a public library and national library, as well as the unique access to the national archival collection and specialized services including LAC’s Genealogy Centre.
• This world-class public library in Canada's capital city will increase citizen participation in the community and improve access to Canada's history, culture and collective knowledge.
• Expected to open in 2024, the joint facility will be built to LEED® Gold certification standards and be accessible by light rail transit and multi-use pathways for cyclists and pedestrians.
• The consortium of architectural firms Diamond Schmitt and KWC has been awarded the contract to design the joint facility. The announcement was made on December 19, 2018.
• The national commitment process on the architectural design of the facility is called "Inspire555 series", to recall the address of the facility, 555 Albert Street, located on the western edge of downtown Ottawa.
• The detailed design is on track to be complete by March 2020. More public design workshops are scheduled for the end of November 2019, specifically on the topic of iconic features and finishing touches.

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