Parliamentary Precinct overview: Committee of the Whole—May 19, 2022
Document navigation for "Committee of the Whole: May 19, 2022"
Parliamentary Precinct
In this section
Key data points
- The Long Term Vision and Plan (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
- Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has invested approximately $4.2 billion in the Parliamentary Precinct to date, creating over 60,000 jobs in engineering, architecture, construction, manufacturing and skilled trades sectors
- It is expected to create 70,000 jobs, approximately 4,000 of those jobs are attributed to the Centre Block rehabilitation project
Redevelopment of Block 2
- The decision to empty the Victoria Building earlier and include it in the redevelopment of Block 2 will reduce the overall costs of our efforts to restore and modernize Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct by $65 million
- The redevelopment of Block 2 is a critical step in our collective plan, because it will enable us to empty and then restore both the East Block and the Confederation Building. This redeveloped space will then enable us to consolidate parliamentary operations into a consolidated campus
- Within Block 2, the Victoria Building was the only parliamentary space requiring rehabilitation that was not already included in the Block 2 scope
- Public Services and Procurement Canada, in partnership with parliament, is leading a design competition to transform this 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 best design so that we can advance this important work with confidence
- The recent decision by the Senate of Canada to empty the Victoria Building earlier and include it in the redevelopment of Block 2 will reduce the overall costs of our efforts to restore and modernize Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct by $65 million
Trompe-l’oeil tarp on Centre Block
- As one of Canada's most recognizable landmarks, the Parliamentary Precinct is a key driver for the National Capital Region’s tourism industry which attracts approximately 3 million visitors each year
- Working hand-in-hand with parliament, Public Services and Procurement Canada will be installing a decorative tarp that replicates the image of the Centre Block, known as a trompe-l’oeil. Both the House of Commons and the Senate approved the installation of the Trompe-l’oeil
- The trompe-l'oeil will mitigate the visual impact of construction activities on the Centre Block to provide a positive visitor experience from both sides of the Ottawa River
- 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
Centre Block construction site shutdown due to protests
- Safety and security is the top priority for Public Services and Procurement Canada
- Working with the partners in parliament, after a 3 week pause in construction, we were able to safely resume operations on the Centre Block construction site on February 14
Indigenous involvement in the precinct and 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
- 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, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers, the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario and the Algonquin Anisishinabeg Nation Tribal Council to assist with fulfilling that target as it pertains to the 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 5% of procurements to Indigenous businesses
- PSPC is also working with stakeholders on incorporating Indigenous elements into the design process as well as the transfer of Indigenous artifacts 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 66% from 2005 levels and is on track for reductions of 95% by 2040 while also diverting more than 90% of demolition materials from landfills
Document navigation for "Committee of the Whole: May 19, 2022"
- Date modified: