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 – 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 3 city blocks directly facing it.

The Department is also supporting Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to develop a national space for Indigenous Peoples within the Parliamentary Precinct. The project includes the re-development of the former United States 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 a national space for Indigenous Peoples (100 Wellington, 119 Sparks and a dedicated Algonquin space) should be directed to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs as the overall lead for a national space for Indigenous Peoples
• Questions related to funding announced in Budget 2024 to bolster the Ottawa Police Services’ presence around the Parliamentary campus should be directed to the Minister of Public Safety 

• PSPC is restoring the Parliamentary Precinct for future generations of Canadians, making it more modern, safe, green and accessible. We are working with Parliament to ensure that their requirements are being met
• Work is advancing on track to restore and modernize the Centre Block and construct Canada’s new Parliament Welcome Centre, the largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation project in Canada’s history
• Work on redeveloping Block 2 for Parliament will commence in 2024. Contracts have now been awarded for both design and construction management services. Construction activities are targeted to begin in fall 2024

If pressed on Wellington Street:

• As committed to in March 2023, my department has launched discussions with the City of Ottawa on acquiring Wellington Street as a critical first step to addressing longstanding security challenges in the Parliamentary Precinct
• Through this collaborative engagement, we aim to create a plan for Wellington Street that preserves the Parliamentary Precinct as a safe, open and accessible place in a manner that works for local residents, supports vibrant business activity and creates an improved visitor experience in the capital 
• If a transfer occurs, any future plans for Wellington Street would ensure it is an accessible and engaging space and planning would be made in consultation with the City, residents and businesses, as well as Indigenous partners
• The Mayor of Ottawa met with the Prime Minister on April 18, 2024, to discuss key areas of federal-municipal cooperation – both leaders reiterated their shared interest in creating a vibrant capital city and commitment to work together on a plan for Wellington Street and the revitalization of the capital

If pressed on the transportation study:

• To support discussions and informed decision-making around Wellington Street, PSPC has funded and undertaken a joint transportation study with the City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission to understand the impact of reinstating vehicle restrictions on the street to the City’s transportation network
• I am encouraged by the results of the study, which underlined that the street would offer an exceptional environment to pedestrians. The study also found that, should traffic volumes increase, the implementation of mitigation measures would be sufficient for the transportation network to meet the City’s Level of Service
• PSPC is committed to working collaboratively with the City to ensure the surrounding area remains usable and safe for all, including vehicles and public transit users, pedestrians, as well as cyclists
  

If pressed on the purchase of 181 Queen Street:

• Following the completion of much due diligence and [Redacted], PSPC has purchased the building located at 181 Queen Street in Ottawa, to provide long-term accommodations for the House of Commons as part of the Long Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct
• This building space has been leased for use by the House of Commons since 2004. This is a critical space for the House and a sound investment to support future parliamentary operations that will result in long-term cost savings

If pressed on the semi-annual update to Parliament:

• PSPC works with Parliament to plan and deliver the Long Term Vision and Plan. As part of this collaborative process, each House of Parliament is responsible for establishing requirements and priorities to support their parliamentary operations
• As recommended by the Auditor General, my department is submitting a progress update to the Speakers of the Senate and House of Commons twice a year. This report is focused on updating Parliament, as well as identifying and prioritizing the key decisions required from Parliament to maintain momentum
• I will soon submit the second update, following the first update sent in October 2023. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our institutions, significant progress was made since the fall, and we are well positioned for continued success if the pace of decision-making is maintained

If pressed on the Centre Block Rehabilitation Program:

• The project continues to advance within estimated costs and schedule. Design work continues to mature to support the construction work, which is well underway
• Detailed excavation work for the new Parliament Welcome Centre is approximately 75% complete and the interior demolition and removal of hazardous materials is completed. Other ongoing work includes masonry rehabilitation, and replacement of the Level 1 floor slab
• The rehabilitated Centre Block will provide modern infrastructure to support Parliament, be significantly more accessible, and will be carbon neutral

If pressed on the Auditor General’s report 3 – rehabilitation of Parliament’s Centre Block:

• In March 2023, the Auditor General of Canada published an audit on the Centre Block Rehabilitation Program and I was encouraged by her positive observations on the management of this historic project
• The Audit found that PSPC has successfully managed cost and scope of the project and kept work within targeted timelines despite challenges brought on by the pandemic. It also recognizes our effort to collaborate and engage with Indigenous partners and stakeholders, including Parliamentarians and experts
• PSPC has completed the 3 recommendations. The first semi-annual update was submitted in October 2023, the 2022-2023 LTVP Annual Report was publicly released in December 2023, and a gender-based analysis plus for the Centre Block Rehabilitation Program was completed in 2023

If pressed on parking garage:

• At the request of Parliament, the current landscape design for the Centre Block includes 109 surface parking spots
• PSPC, in collaboration with Parliament, remains committed to reducing parking, over time, in alignment with Parliamentary requirements
• We will continue to work hand-in-hand with Parliament and the National Capital Commission to find solutions that support parliamentary operations and preserve Parliament Hill’s heritage landscape

If pressed on the redevelopment of Block 2:

• The redevelopment of Block 2 will transform a mix of functionally obsolete heritage buildings and two vacant lots into a modern, sustainable and accessible facility to meet the needs of a 21st century Parliament
• The design contract was awarded to the winner of the Block 2 Design Competition, Zeidler Architecture, in May 2023. In December 2023, my department also awarded the construction management services contract for this project to Pomerleau Inc.
• Next steps include establishing detailed requirements with Parliament to create a baseline project budget and schedule, continue advancing the design, and begin construction

If pressed on a national space for Indigenous Peoples (100 Wellington, 119 Sparks and a dedicated Algonquin space):

• PSPC continues to support Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Indigenous partners in developing a national space for Indigenous Peoples’ in the Parliamentary Precinct
• As the overall lead for a national space for Indigenous Peoples, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is best positioned to answer questions on the status of space and about a dedicated Algonquin space

The Long Term Vision and Plan (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. Key priorities underway include the rehabilitation of the Centre Block and the construction of a new Parliament Welcome Centre, the redevelopment of Block 2 (the city block directly south of Parliament Hill), and finalizing the next update to the LTVP. All major projects continue to track on time and budget, including the rehabilitation of Centre Block.

In 2017, the LTVP began shifting from a building-by-building strategy to a campus-based approach, for which the redevelopment of Block 2 is a crucial first step. Approved by all Parliamentary Partners, this approach 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 an update to transform the Precinct into an integrated campus beyond Parliament Hill which will be ready for consideration by Parliament and Government in 2024. As part of this update and the ongoing landscape design for the Centre Block, PSPC is working with Parliament and the National Capital Commission to resolve misaligned expectations with respect to parking as a top priority.

Since the Library of Parliament in 2006, PSPC has successfully delivered 26 major capital LTVP projects, including the restored West Block and Senate of Canada Building and the new Parliament Welcome Centre (Phase 1), which were transferred to Parliament in fall 2018. These projects followed the completion of the 180 Wellington Building (2016) and the Sir John A Macdonald Building (2015).

Wellington Street

Discussions with the City of Ottawa on the future of Wellington Street were launched in April 2023 and remain ongoing. PSPC has undertaken a number of due diligence activities in support of a possible transfer of the street to federal jurisdiction, including a land survey and independent appraisal of the portion of the street in question, as well as a now completed joint transportation study with the City and the National Capital Commission.

The study shows that reinstating vehicle restrictions on Wellington Street will have negligible impacts on City operations and traffic flows in the downtown core. It estimates the cost of potential mitigation measures from $0 to $26 million based on 3 traffic volume scenarios: low (no change in traffic conditions, which are currently 75% of pre-pandemic levels – zero cost); medium (auto demand growth returns to 2019 peak traffic volumes – $4.6 million to $10.6 million); and high (110% of 2019 peak traffic volumes by 2046 – $10.1 million to $26 million). City officials briefed the Transportation Committee on February 22, 2024, on the results of the study. In March 2024, the government published its response to the Public Order Emergency Commission, in which it renewed its commitment to work with the City on a transfer of Wellington Street into federal control. A meeting between the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Ottawa took place on April 18, 2024, in which both leaders reiterated their commitment to building a vibrant capital city and working together on the future of Wellington.

181 Queen Street

The building located at 181 Queen Street was purpose-built for use by the House of Commons in 2004 and has been in use by House administration ever since (leased space). The House has confirmed its long term requirement for the space, and its desire to remain in-situ upon the expiry of the lease.

In February 2023, following much due diligence [Redacted] the purchase of the building located at 181 Queen Street, as per an Option to Purchase included in the lease for the building. This purchase closed on February 29, 2024, and has secured long-term accommodations for the House of Commons administration. This will yield millions of dollars in cost savings for Canadians and contribute to making the Precinct more sustainable and accessible.

Centre Block Rehabilitation Program

Work is underway to restore and modernize the Centre Block, which is the largest, most complex heritage rehabilitation project ever seen in Canada. 50% design development milestones were achieved for the Centre Block and landscape design in fall 2023, with the Parliament Welcome Centre following in March 2024. On the inside of Centre Block, demolition and abatement has been substantially completed, setting the stage for re-building efforts to begin, starting with structural upgrades. Detailed excavation for the Parliamentary Welcome Centre is approximately 75% complete.

In March 2023, the Auditor General of Canada released her report on the Centre Block, finding that PSPC had effectively managed the scope, schedule and costs through its flexible management approaches, and that it had collaborated with stakeholders and experts, including Parliamentarians and Indigenous partners. 3 recommendations were made: to conduct a GBA+ assessment specifically for the Centre Block; to submit a semi-annual report to the Speakers of the Senate of Canada and House of Commons outlining key risks and mitigations, and key decisions required, in order to address complex governance challenges; and to publish the LTVP annual report within the calendar year. The recommendations have since been addressed and implemented.

Block 2 Redevelopment

The rehabilitation and modernization of Block 2, the city block across from the Centre Block, is a keystone LTVP project that will transform functionally obsolete heritage buildings into modern, sustainable, and accessible facilities for Parliament, while also playing a key role in the transformation of the Parliamentary Precinct into an integrated campus. In the short term, the redevelopment of Block 2 will enable key buildings, such as the East Block and Confederation buildings, to be emptied and proceed with their restoration. In the long term, Block 2 will provide permanent parliamentary accommodations, and enable the consolidation of Parliament into a campus centered around Wellington Street.

Following the completion of an international design competition, the architectural and engineering contract for the project was awarded to Zeidler Architecture Inc. (Toronto, Canada), in association with David Chipperfield Architects (London, United Kingdom) in 2023. In December 2023, PSPC awarded the construction management services contract to Pomerleau Inc.

The project has achieved the 20% schematic design milestone – which realigns the design competition concept design with the current project scope and requirements – and is targeting the 50% milestone for summer 2024. The on-site investigation program advanced to support the understanding of the existing building conditions. The commencement of construction activities is targeted for fall 2024.

Indigenous Procurement

With a goal of reaching of 5% of procurement with Indigenous businesses, Public Services and Procurement Canada has established agreements with organizations, such as the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers, the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario and the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council to assist with fulfilling that target as it pertains to the Parliamentary Precinct. To date, $6.8 million has been awarded to Indigenous businesses through the Centre Block Rehabilitation Program.

• PSPC has invested approximately $4.9 billion in the Parliamentary Precinct to date. This has created approximately 70,000 jobs (person-years of employment) to date
• Over 200 projects have been completed, including 26 major projects such as West Block, Wellington Building and the Senate of Canada Building
• The Centre Block Rehabilitation Program remains on track to complete main construction in the 2030-31 timeframe and within the estimated $4.5 to 5 billion budget
• $6.8 million has been awarded to Indigenous businesses through the Centre Block Rehabilitation Program
• The Parliamentary Precinct Greenhouse Gas Emissions have already been reduced by 63% below 2005 levels and are on track to meet net zero carbon targets