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 it.

PSPC is also supporting Crown-Indigenous Relations (CIRNA) to develop a national space for Indigenous Peoples within the Parliamentary Precinct. The project includes the re-development of the former US Embassy (located at 100 Wellington Street), the CIBC building (located at 119 Sparks Street) and an infill space between the two buildings.

Note: Questions related to the Indigenous Peoples’ Space (100 Wellington) should be directed to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. CIRNA has an overall lead responsibility for the Indigenous Peoples’ Space with active support from PSPC

• We are restoring the Parliamentary Precinct for future generations of Canadians, and making it modern, safer, greener and more accessible
  • Public Services and Procurement Canada is working with each House of Parliament to ensure that their parliamentary requirements are being met
  • Work is progressing to restore and modernize the Centre Block, the largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation project in Canada’s history
  • In addition, in partnership with Parliament, Public Services and Procurement Canada successfully completed an architectural design competition for the redevelopment of Block 2, the urban block directly opposite the Centre Block

If pressed on the creation and costs of the Parliamentary tunnel network:

• In June 2022, Parliament approved a concept for an underground tunnel network that would connect buildings of the Parliamentary Precinct and ensure the safe and efficient movement of parliamentarians and materials in support of Parliamentary operations
• The tunnel network will be built in phases. A portion of the tunnel infrastructure was already completed during the West Block and Visitor Welcome Centre Phase 1 construction. The remaining portion of the loop will integrate the Centre, East and West Blocks via the new Parliament Welcome Centre. The loop will also connect to parliamentary accommodations on the south side of Wellington Street
• Design is still under development and will inform cost estimates and schedule. Public Services and Procurement Canada continues to work with Parliament to ensure that the project can be completed in a way that enhances the security of the Parliamentary Precinct, while remaining cost effective

If pressed on the future of Wellington Street:

• The Parliamentary Precinct is a complex environment involving many actors with overlapping accountabilities, including Parliament, Public Services and Procurement Canada, several other federal departments and agencies, the City of Ottawa and security agencies. This creates issues of ownership, security and governance
• The Parliamentary Precinct has changed and is continuing to evolve. Within the next few decades, approximately 50 percent of parliamentary offices will be located on the other side of Wellington Street, which no longer serves as a boundary for the Precinct, but runs right through its core
• We are all watching with interest the work of both the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on its study of the expansion and operational security of the Parliamentary Precinct and the Public Order Emergency Commission
• Public Services and Procurement Canada continues to work with the City of Ottawa, Parliament, Public Safety and other key stakeholders to establish a plan for Wellington Street that works for the City and helps ensure the safe and efficient operations of Canada’s parliamentary institutions

If pressed on the Centre Block Rehabilitation Program:

• The design concept for the Centre Block and Parliament Welcome Centre has been finalized and major construction activities are underway, such as excavation, demolition and abatement, and masonry rehabilitation
• In addition to providing enhanced functionality to Parliament, the restored Centre Block and the new Parliament Welcome Centre will offer an accessible path of travel from the Centennial Flame to the Chamber galleries as well as provide modern building infrastructure to better meet the needs of a broader spectrum of human conditions
• The Centre Block will also transition from the highest energy use per meter-squared and the highest emitter of greenhouse gas in the Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio to being net zero carbon

If pressed on the redevelopment of Block 2:

• The redevelopment of Block 2 will bring a new vitality to Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct and will transform a mix of functionally obsolete buildings into an innovative complex to meet the needs of a 21st century Parliament
• In partnership with Parliament, Public Services and Procurement Canada successfully completed an architectural design competition for the redevelopment of Block 2, the urban Block directly opposite the Centre Block
• The winning design concept by the Zeidler/Chipperfield team that was selected by an independent jury respects the heritage elements of the buildings while providing modern, sustainable and accessible accommodations for Parliament
• We are finalizing negotiations for the design contract and establishing detailed functional requirements with Parliament to create a baseline project budget and begin construction

If pressed on 100 Wellington:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada continues to support Crown-Indigenous Relations, the Algonquin Nation and the National Indigenous Organizations in developing a national space for Indigenous Peoples’ in the Parliamentary Precinct
• As the overall lead for the Indigenous Peoples’ Space, Crown-Indigenous Relations is best positioned to answer questions on the status of the agreement with the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council for a dedicated space for the Algonquin people
• As the lead on the redevelopment of Block 2, which is where 100 Wellington Street is located, Public Services and Procurement Canada will ensure that the design and construction of the entire Block honours and respects the significance of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples and their contributions

If pressed on Parliamentary engagement, Governance and Key Decisions:

• 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, each House of Parliament establishes project requirements and priorities to support their parliamentary operations
• My mandate is to work with each House of Parliament to ensure that parliamentary requirements are being met in a manner that preserves our heritage and ensures value for money
• PSPC continues to work collaboratively with Partners to meet their needs in a cost-efficient manner that respects our heritage buildings

If pressed on Indigenous involvement in the Precinct broadly:

• 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, including an Archaeological Field School to train community members in preserving and managing archaeological findings and agreements with Indigenous business and stakeholders aimed at dedicating five percent of procurements to Indigenous businesses
• Public Services and Procurement Canada is also working with Indigenous Partners to receive input on the proposed architecture and design for the Parliament Welcome Centre and to begin engagement on the redevelopment and expanded Parliamentary Precinct campus through visioning sessions

The LTVP was first approved in 2001 and updated in 2006 for the restoration and modernization of Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct. This program supports the mandate commitment of advancing work to rehabilitate and reinvigorate places and buildings of national significance. 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 approximately 70,000 person-years of employment in local and national economies in, for example, engineering, architecture, construction, manufacturing and skilled trades sectors.

In 2017, the LTVP began shifting from a building-by-building strategy to a campus-based approach, approved by all Parliamentary Partners, that takes into consideration important and interconnected elements including security, the visitor experience, urban design and the landscape, material handling, the movement of people and vehicles, environmental sustainability, and accessibility. The LTVP is currently undergoing a second update to transform the Precinct into an integrated campus beyond Parliament Hill.

With a goal of reaching of 5% of procurement with Indigenous businesses, PSPC has established agreements with organizations, such as the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA), the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando), the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO) and the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council (AANTC) to assist with fulfilling that target as it pertains to the Parliamentary Precinct.

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).

Parliamentary Tunnel Network

In June 2022, Parliament approved a concept for an underground tunnel network that would connect key buildings of the Parliamentary Precinct and ensure the safe and efficient movement of parliamentarians and materials in support of Parliamentary operations.

This tunnel network will be built in phases, leveraging investments already made as part of the restoration and modernization program for the Parliamentary Precinct. A portion of the tunnel infrastructure was already completed during the West Block and Visitor Welcome Centre Phase 1 construction. The remaining portion of the loop will integrate the Centre, East and West Blocks via the new Parliament Welcome Centre. The loop will also connect to parliamentary accommodations, including parliamentary office units and committee rooms on the south side of Wellington Street. This will support the efficient operations for the business of Parliament, link buildings to the Chambers, and provide the unimpeded secure passage required to ensure the safety and security of Parliamentarians.

Planning and design work is underway but needs to be further advanced to better inform cost and schedule.

Future of Wellington Street

The Parliamentary Precinct, including Wellington Street and its environs (e.g., Sparks Street) is a complex environment involving many stakeholders with varying and overlapping areas of accountability. The 2022 illegal protests in Ottawa brought to the forefront the three longstanding issues of ownership and control, security, and governance.

While these issues and risks have long been a focus of attention in the management of the LTVP for the Parliamentary Precinct, the illegal protests clearly demonstrated the elevated risk associated with multiple entities managing a space that plays a central role in the operations of Canada’s democratic institutions.

The future role of Wellington Street is a critical consideration for other reasons as well. There is a need for a clear operational and decision-making framework as the restoration and modernization efforts in the Parliamentary and Judicial Precincts are increasingly shifting operations to the south side of Wellington Street. The scale of the redevelopment happening in the Parliamentary and Judicial Precincts creates an opportunity to establish a well planned and executed approach to making Canada’s democratic institutions both more secure and more accessible to Canadians, and in a manner that works for the City of Ottawa. Additionally, the Société de transport de l'Outaouais is considering Wellington Street as the route for its public tram project.

Discussions have been launched on the future of Wellington Street at the municipal level through a City of Ottawa motion as well as through a study conducted by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC). The outcomes of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and the Public Order Emergency Commission will also be examined and included in a final Government of Canada report on the Future of Wellington Street initiative expected to be completed by the end of March 2023.

Centre Block Rehabilitation Project

PSPC is restoring and modernizing the Centre Block and transforming the entire Parliamentary Precinct to make it safer, greener and more accessible to Canadians. The Centre Block project is the largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation project in Canada’s history. To restore this heritage masterpiece, it needs to be carefully taken apart, undergo an extensive abatement program and be rebuilt to integrate modern standards, including reinforced structure, seismic upgrading, and new building systems including mechanical, electrical and a modern digital backbone and security systems. The construction of a new Parliament Welcome Centre that will provide a safe and secure and accessible entry to Parliament and will enable Parliament to welcome more Canadians and offer enhanced visitor services is also a key component of the project. The project cost is estimated at $4.5 to 5 billion, with substantial completion of construction targeted for 2030-31 and the re-opening of the building targeted for 2032.

Overall status

The design concept for the Centre Block and Parliament Welcome Centre has been finalized and major construction activities are underway, such as excavation, demolition and abatement, masonry rehabilitation, and the careful removal of in situ protection of the more than 20,000 heritage assets. Demolition and the removal of hazardous materials is approximately 80% complete, which includes the removal of approximately 20 million pounds of asbestos containing material to date. Excavation work for the new Parliament Welcome Centre is over 75% complete with over 33,000 truckloads of rock removed from the site.

A key aspect of the Centre Block project is the restoration of the building’s heritage masonry, which includes almost 400,000 stones. Masonry rehabilitation of the north facade of the Centre Block is underway, and is now approximately 35% complete, which represents approximately 7% of the overall masonry work. Masonry rehabilitation includes the repair and repointing of the entire building, including the Peace Tower. Conservation specialists have estimated the removal of approximately 35% of the stones to conduct repairs and in some cases the replacement of damaged stone.

Trompe l’oeil

Public Services and Procurement Canada began installing a decorative tarp, known as a trompe-l’oeil in June 2022, starting with the north façade and will eventually extend around the sides and the front of the building, including the Peace Tower. This creates a climate-controlled and safe environment for the duration of the masonry rehabilitation program over the next several years. As one of Canada’s most recognizable landmarks that attracts approximately 3 million visitors each year, the trompe-l’oeil will mitigate the visual impact of construction activities on the Centre Block and provide a positive visitor experience from both sides of the Ottawa River.

The House of Commons, the Senate, and the Library of Parliament have all approved the installation of the trompe-l’oeil. The City of Ottawa, the City of Gatineau, Ottawa Tourism, Tourisme Outaouais, and the National Capital Commission have all expressed strong support for this initiative. The design of the trompe-l’oeil was coordinated with Parks Canada to accommodate the Sound and Light Show

The cost for a standard tarp on all façades of the building is approximately $1.5M. The incremental costs associated with the trompe l'oeil is approximately $2.4M for a total of almost $4M. The Peace Tower clock image on the trompe-l’oeil will be set to 11:45 a.m., which represents the start time of the 1927 inauguration of the Peace Tower and Carillion.

There are no plans to install a trompe-l’oeil on other buildings within the Parliamentary Precinct at this time.

Job creation

The Centre Block rehabilitation project is expected to create an additional 70,000 jobs in its lifespan in the engineering, construction, architecture and interior design, masonry, and restoration sectors, providing economic benefits for Canadians. In addition, 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. To date, over 500 companies are engaged on the project and 50 initial internships have been created from 10 Canadian colleges and universities to date. At the project’s peak, over 1,500 construction workers will be on site daily working with pride to revitalize Canada’s Parliament Building. Currently, there are 400 workers on site daily.

Work Stoppages

The 2022 truck protests stopped work on the Centre Block and Parliament Welcome Centre from January 28 to February 21. In addition to experiencing schedule delays, the project has incurred costs in the amount of approximately $700,000 in claims from affected sub-trades. No further claims are expected. These claims have been funded by the program’s risk envelope.

For three weeks in May 2022, several construction industry unions went on strike including crane, equipment and elevator operators, demolition labourers, and carpenters. These strikes had significant impacts on construction projects across the province of Ontario, including the Centre Block Rehabilitation. This strike action halted all major construction activity on-site with the exception of the masonry rehabilitation on the Centre Block, which continued to progress but at a much slower pace. While these strikes caused schedule impacts, they did not have significant cost implications.

Block 2 Redevelopment

The rehabilitation and modernization of Block 2 – the urban block bounded by Metcalfe, Wellington, O'Connor and Sparks streets – will transform a mix of functionally-obsolete heritage buildings into a modern, sustainable and accessible facility for Parliament. This project is a critical piece of the shift to an integrated campus, advancing many objectives at the same time. The redevelopment of this block will provide a significant benefit to Canada’s Parliament and our Capital; it will support the consolidation of Parliament into a modern campus; and finally it will enable emptying key buildings such as the East Block and Confederation Buildings to proceed with their restoration.

This work will also create two new infills on each side of the Indigenous Peoples’ Space (the former American Embassy), and see the redevelopment of adjacent buildings, creating large flexible interconnected complexes, all while preserving the overall heritage character of the Block.

An architectural design competition for Block 2 was held and Zeidler Architecture Inc. (Toronto, Canada), in association with David Chipperfield Architects (London, United Kingdom), was selected as the winning team by the independent jury and announced in May 2022.

Engagement is ongoing to negotiate and award the Architectural and Engineering Services contract to Zeidler/Chipperfield. Following contract award, the consultant will begin pre-design services (site investigations, technical studies and gap analysis) followed by design development.

Victoria Building

The Victoria Building was not initially included as part of the Block 2 program because there was no available swing space in the area. Through ongoing planning, additional swing space for Victoria tenants was identified at 40 Elgin, allowing PSPC to advance Victoria to be rehabilitated as part of the Block 2 works. 40 Elgin already accommodates Senator offices. Based on this opportunity, PSPC included this element as part of the design competition parameters, which will require an adjustment to the overall Project Approval authorities.

Advancing work in Victoria results in significant cost savings overall – approximately $65M in cost savings compared to the baseline option, and approximately $200M in cost savings compared to advancing the East Block project schedule instead of Victoria. PSPC acquired the additional space in 40 Elgin by taking over a lease from the NCC for this space, at a cost of $137M over a 20-year period. The end state of 40 Elgin will be 63 Senator offices and related support services and 87 parking spaces.

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 119 Sparks Street (former CIBC building) and an infill space between the two 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.

Access has been provided to the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the Métis National Council through Crown-Indigenous Northern Affairs Canada for the short-term use of 100 Wellington as the Indigenous Peoples’ Space for a 12-month period. Access has also been provided through Crown-Indigenous Northern Affairs Canada to the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council for the use of 119 Sparks as the dedicated Algonquin space, for the same period of time.

Both spaces are expected to be closed in Fall 2023 due to work as part of the Block 2 Redevelopment Project in the Parliamentary Precinct. The Indigenous Peoples Space is not part of the Block 2 redevelopment project at this time, but there is flexibility built-in to the Contracting Authorities to incorporate that responsibility if desired, and in a manner determined by Indigenous partners.

Advancing Accessibility and Sustainability

Public Services and Procurement Canada is committed to making the Parliamentary Precinct a model and a leader for universal accessibility excellence. It will achieve, and where possible exceed, accessibility standards. The recent rehabilitations of 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.

Public Services and Procurement Canada has developed a Parliamentary Precinct Universal Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan (Strategy). The Strategy outlines a broad vision for the future, establishes a comprehensive audit program based on leading Universal Accessibility Best Practices, and sets out a path forward to leverage the extensive rehabilitation and modernization programs underway to deliver a more inclusive and universally accessible Parliamentary Precinct.

The Long Term Vision and Plan is reducing the Government’s carbon footprint. Public Services and Procurement Canada has reduced greenhouse gas levels in the Precinct by 60% from 2005 levels and is on track for reductions of 96% by 2040 while also diverting more than 90% of demolition materials from landfills.

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