Question Period Note: The Ottawa Hospital – Civic Campus

A 20-hectare property at the eastern edge of the Central Experimental Farm along Carling Avenue has been approved by The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), the Government of Canada, the National Capital Commission (NCC) and the City of Ottawa for the future Civic Campus of TOH.

• After many consultations with all levels of government, including an extensive review by the National Capital Commission, this location was identified as a suitable building site for the new Civic Hospital Campus
  • Ongoing work to ensure the protection of green space in the project will continue

In 2014, the NCC approved the Tunney’s Pasture Master Plan that planned a mixed‑use development for Tunney’s Pasture. Later that year, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TOH and a federal cabinet minister announced that a new campus would be built on a western portion of the Central Experimental Farm adjacent to the existing Civic Campus. Some stakeholders opposed that location citing the anticipated impacts on the farm.

In 2016, responding to these concerns, the Minister of Canadian Heritage tasked the NCC with reviewing potential federal sites for the new campus. The NCC reviewed 12 locations and, following research and consultations, recommended Tunney’s Pasture. TOH rejected that recommendation citing the cost of demolishing existing buildings, inadequate road access and the project’s timeline.

In December 2016, the Government of Canada announced the proposed transfer of a property at the eastern edge of the Central Experimental Farm to TOH for the new campus. This site was the second-ranked site from the NCC’s review process. Some stakeholders have communicated concerns about the potential adverse impacts on the farm, mature trees that will be removed, traffic and surrounding landmarks such as the Rideau Canal.

In reviewing and approving TOH’s concept plans, the Government of Canada, the NCC and the City of Ottawa have recommended design refinements. The Liberal member for Ottawa Centre has advocated for continuing to improve the designs, while proposing to introduce legislated protections for the remainder of the Central Experimental Farm.

The initial phase of the new Civic Campus is currently scheduled to open in 2028 with a floorspace of 2.5 million square feet (232,250 m2), 6,600 onsite staff, 641 in-patient beds and 3,933 patient visits per day.

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