Question Period Note: Rideau Hall construction

Media have reported on construction costs, and their associated studies for the official residence of the Governor General of Canada. The National Capital Commission (NCC) works with the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG) to implement building works at Rideau Hall.

• The NCC recognizes the historic and symbolic importance of Canada’s official residences and is committed to working with its partners to ensure that issues related to security, heritage preservation, sustainability, and accessibility are addressed
  • As an independent Crown corporation responsible for year-round maintenance and operations of Canada’s 6 official residences, the NCC works with the officials residing at these sites, and their offices, to ensure the residences meet their needs
  • All NCC projects that are planned or underway at an official residence are important to ensure its continued operation and to safeguard its national heritage

If pressed on Rideau Hall cost discrepancies:

• As an independent Crown Corporation led by its Board of Directors, the NCC plans, initiates and implements the works and investments related to Rideau Hall
• The NCC works in close collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General to ensure the effective implementation of planned projects
• The NCC’s work at Rideau Hall is part of a broader program to preserve, maintain and restore all official residences under NCC management
• Any discrepancy in reported costs is based on the differences in the scope of the information cited. The higher amount includes both NCC and OSGG-funded projects

Since 1986 the buildings and grounds of Rideau Hall have been managed by the NCC, which is implementing a long-term rehabilitation project to ensure that the valuable heritage buildings on the estate remain in optimal condition.

The NCC assists the OSGG in delivering their program of work at Rideau Hall, recognizing that it is an official residence, a public destination, and a workplace for over 200 federal public servants, including employees of the OSGG and the NCC, the RCMP and other agencies.

The NCC does also complete projects on behalf of the OSGG in support of its programming at Rideau Hall. Some projects undertaken at Rideau Hall fall outside NCC’s scope to furnish, maintain and rehabilitate the property. These are commissioned and paid for by the OSGG, including the current feasibility study examining multimedia options for the Ballroom and installing an access control gate in the Monck Wing.

All NCC projects that are planned or underway at Rideau Hall are communicated with the OSGG in order to ensure effective implementation.

A walkthrough visit with the Governor General of the Private Quarters at Rideau Hall took place on October 4, 2017. At this time, an initial request was made for a private entrance to the garden. The NCC subsequently prepared and made ready the Private Quarters to accommodate the Governor General as of March 2018. The request for a private entrance was being considered as a future improvement.

In October 2018, the OSGG requested:

• the expansion of central air conditioning, that includes the rear rooms of the Private Quarters
• the design and installation of a staircase from the Private Quarters to the garden

On November 22, 2018, the air conditioning project was discontinued at the request of the OSGG.

On February 19, 2019, the NCC and the OSGG agree on 2 projects:

• Installation of a staircase from the Private Quarters to the garden
• Improvements to the existing emergency egress from the Private Quarters

The costs for studies and design for the Private Quarters egress was $139,000, funded by the NCC. On April 11th, 2019, the staircase project was discontinued prior to construction at the request of the OSGG. Improvements to the existing emergency egress were completed.

A fire safety study for the Private Quarters was also requested by the OSGG in March 2019 and completed for $17,000, funded by the NCC.

Additionally, in June 2019, the NCC’s Board of Directors approved the “Rideau Hall Operations Zone – Service, Maintenance and Storage Garage Building” reconstruction project. The OSGG had been kept regularly informed of the project and the planned start date. The reconstruction project (replacing a number of smaller storage buildings) was scheduled to begin on July 2, 2019 and was delayed at the request of the OSGG. The NCC initiated construction in May 2020, resulting in additional costs estimated at $215,000 due to the delay in the project start date. This capital project is also funded by the NCC.

An article published by the CBC on August 6, 2020, cites costs based on information disclosed by the NCC in line with the scope of CBC’s request that pertained to NCC funded projects

An article published by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation on November 3, 2020, cites additional costs associated with projects at Rideau Hall. This discrepancy results from the Canadian Taxpayer Foundation obtaining information via an ATIP request which discloses costs associated with projects funded by both the NCC and OSGG.

It should be noted that the Mission Control Boardroom and the Space Exhibit projects mentioned in the article by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation on November 3, 2020, were funded by the OSGG and therefore the NCC cannot provide comment or information on these expenses.

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