Question Period Note: Status of the Long Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is implementing the Long Term Vision and Plan (LTVP) – a multi-decade strategy to restore and modernize the Parliamentary Precinct. The core of the Parliamentary Precinct includes the grounds and buildings on Parliament Hill and the three city blocks directly facing.

PSPC is also supporting Crown-Indigenous Relations to develop a national space for Indigenous Peoples within the Parliamentary Precinct. The project includes the re-development of the former CIBC building located at 119 Sparks Street and an infill space between the two buildings.

Note: Questions related to the Indigenous People’s Space (100 Wellington) should be directed to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations as the federal lead.

• In partnership with Parliament, we are restoring the Parliamentary Precinct for future generations of Canadians, and making it modern, safer, greener and more accessible
  • Our focus is on restoring the Centre Block and transforming the Parliamentary Precinct into an integrated parliamentary campus
  • The Centre Block is the most iconic heritage building in Canada. We are committed to preserving it for Canadians and modernizing it to support a 21st century Parliament

If pressed on costs and governance for the Centre Block Rehabilitation Program:

• The Centre Block is the largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation ever undertaken in Canada
• To ensure this heritage masterpiece can serve Canadians for another century, it needs to be taken apart carefully and rebuilt to integrate modern standards including a reinforced structure, seismic upgrading, and new building and digital systems
• The restored Centre Block will be more accessible and secure through the addition of a Parliament Welcome Centre. The Centre Block will also be transformed from one of the government’s highest energy users and Greenhouse gas-emitting buildings into a carbon neutral facility

If pressed on Parliamentary engagement:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada works hand in hand with Parliament to plan and deliver the Long Term Vision and Plan
• As part of this collaborative process, Parliament establishes project requirements and priorities to support modern parliamentary operations

If pressed on redevelopment of Block 2:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada, in partnership with Parliament, is leading a design competition to transform an entire city block of aging and underutilized buildings into an integrated and sustainable facility to support the needs of a 21st century Parliament
• An independent jury assembled by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, comprised of design professionals, members of academia, civil society and Parliamentarians, will select the 3 best designs

If pressed on 100 Wellington:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada continues to collaborate with CIRNA, the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis National Council and the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council partners in the ongoing development of the national Indigenous Peoples Space located in the heart of Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct

If pressed on Indigenous Involvement in the Precinct:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada is working collaboratively with the Algonquin Nation, Indigenous-led organizations, and other communities to ensure that Indigenous Peoples are involved in the re-building of Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct
• This collaboration includes skills development, apprenticeship and economic opportunities, incorporating Indigenous elements into the design process as well as the transfer of Indigenous artifacts

If pressed on the Parliament Hill Escarpment:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada is restoring the natural forested landscape of the historic Parliament Hill escarpment to replace invasive species and make the escarpment more climate resilient and a safer environment

The LTVP was first approved in 2001 for the restoration and modernization of Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct. All major projects continue to track on time and budget.

PSPC has invested approximately $4.2 billion in the Parliamentary Precinct to date. This has created over 50,000 jobs in local and national economies in, for example, engineering, architecture, construction, manufacturing and skilled trades sectors.

The restored West Block and Senate of Canada Building and the new Parliament Welcome Centre (Phase 1), were transferred to Parliament in fall 2018. These projects followed the completion of the 21 key projects since the Library of Parliament in 2006, including the 180 Wellington Building (2016) and the Sir John A Macdonald Building (2015).

Efforts are now focused on restoring and modernizing the Centre Block and transforming the Precinct into an integrated parliamentary campus that addresses Parliament’s long-term requirements, including material handling, the movement of people and goods, accessibility, sustainability, and security.

Centre Block Rehabilitation Project

The Centre Block work is the largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation ever undertaken in Canada. Once fully restored it will be sustainable, accessible, secure and equipped with modern amenities. Work is already well underway including careful demolition work on certain components and the abatement of hazardous materials inside the Centre Block, as well as excavation work for the Parliament Welcome Centre. The interior demolition and exterior excavation work is over 50% completed.

Design work is also well advanced. PSPC, in partnership with the National Capital Commission (NCC), engaged the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada who assembled a panel of eminent Canadian architects and design experts as well as the former Architect of the Capitol in Washington to provide independent design advice throughout the design process. The support of the panel has been important in developing consensus on the design concept with Parliament and the NCC.

A technical briefing on the project was provided in June 2021. Both the Centre Block and the Parliament Welcome Centre are targeted for completion in 2030-31 and will cost between $4.5 - $5 billion. This historic project will create over 70,000 jobs with economic benefits for companies across Canada. To date, over 500 companies are engaged on the project and over 5,000 jobs have been created. At the project’s peak, over 1,500 construction workers will be on site daily working with pride to revitalize Canada’s Parliament Building. PSPC is also targeting 90% of the work delivered will flow to small and medium enterprises across Canada, with 5% of work to be carried out by Indigenous firms.

Block 2 Redevelopment

PSPC is redeveloping the three city blocks (Blocks 1, 2 and 3) facing Parliament Hill to establish a modern integrated campus that serves the immediate and long-term accommodation needs of Parliament. The redesigned block will provide office space for the Senate and the House of Commons and will allow for the future consolidation of parliamentary accommodations, including space for the Library of Parliament. It will also include renovated retail space on the Sparks Street Mall. The decade-long transformation will begin with Block 2 and is a key priority of the LTVP.

The Block 2 Redevelopment includes: redeveloping existing buildings at the end of their lifecycle, constructing new infill developments to maximize site capacity, conservation of the heritage character of the Block, providing renewed public and retail spaces along Sparks Street, and advancing environmental sustainability initiatives.

In May 2021, PSPC launched an international design competition for the site. In Fall 2021, an independent jury selected 6 out of 12 prequalified teams to move onto the next phase of the international design competition for the redevelopment of Block 2. These teams will present their advanced design and the jury will select a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner. The design competition is expected to be completed in 2022.

Indigenous Peoples Space at 100 Wellington

As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to renew relationships with Indigenous Peoples and advance Reconciliation, in 2017 the Prime Minister announced that 100 Wellington Street (the former United States Embassy) would be transformed into a national space for Indigenous Peoples. The project also includes the re-development of the former CIBC building located at 119 Sparks Street and an infill space between the 2 buildings. 100 Wellington and 119 Sparks are federally designated heritage buildings.

100 Wellington and 119 Sparks are both situated in Block 2, the city block facing Parliament Hill that is bounded by Wellington and Sparks Streets to the north and south, and Metcalfe and O’Connor Streets to the east and west.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) worked with Indigenous partners to develop a three step strategy for the space’s development:

1. Development and implementation of a short-term use concept
2. Short-term use while working with Indigenous groups to establish a governance structure and establish a vision for long-term use; and
3. Long-term use development and implementation (design, construction and operation)

To date, the project has not advanced as planned due to a lack of consensus on the short-term use of the spaces. PSPC continues to support CIRNAC, the Algonquin Nation and the National Indigenous Organizations in developing this national space for Indigenous Peoples’ in the Parliamentary Precinct.

Advancing Accessibility and Sustainability

PSPC is committed to making the Parliamentary Precinct a model for universal accessibility excellence. It will achieve, and in some cases exceed, accessibility standards. The West Block and Senate of Canada Building include barrier-free access and improved accessibility features in the Chambers, public galleries, offices, meeting places, washrooms and corridors.

The LTVP is reducing the Government’s carbon footprint. PSPC has reduced greenhouse gas levels in the Precinct by 60% from 2005 levels and is on track for reductions of 80% by 2030 while also diverting more than 90% of demolition materials from landfills.

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