Modernization of parliament (Parliamentary Precinct): Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—June 10, 2022

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Status of the Long Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct

Key messages

Centre Block Rehabilitation Program

Block 2 redevelopment

Future of Wellington Street

Construction industry strikes impacts

Parliamentary engagement, governance and key decisions

Indigenous Peoples Space

Key data points

Background

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.

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, Public Services and Procurement Canada has established agreements with organizations such as the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, and others, 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, 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.

Wellington Street

The Parliamentary Precinct, including Wellington Street and its environs (for example, Sparks Street) is a complex environment involving many stakeholders with varying and overlapping areas of accountability. The illegal protests in Ottawa brought to the fore 3 key longstanding issues of multiple actors and jurisdictional barriers, regarding:

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 restoration and modernization efforts in the parliamentary and judicial precincts are increasingly shifting operations to the south side of Wellington Street. Within the next decade, approximately 50% of parliamentarians will be permanently accommodated on the south side of Wellington Street. In addition, the Société de transport de l'Outaouais also plans to use Wellington Street as the route for its public tram project.

The immediate priority for ensuring clear accountability within the precinct is removing jurisdictional barriers that prevent a clear and coordinated response to emergent and ongoing security matters. At this point, there is emerging consensus amongst stakeholders on core issues and some recommended paths forward. However, without coordination amongst the many actors, there is a significant risk that this alignment will not be harvested to produce broad-based recommendations for clear action.

Centre Block rehabilitation project

The Centre Block work is the largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation ever undertaken in Canada. Construction work is progressing well, in tandem with the careful removal or in situ protection of the more than 20,000 heritage assets. The selective interior demolition and the removal of hazardous materials is approximately 70% complete, which includes the removal of approximately 16 million pounds of asbestos containing material to date. Excavation work for the new Parliament Welcome Centre is also progressing well and is approximately 65% complete with over 27,000 truckloads of rock removed from the site. Design work is also well advanced, with the final schematic design submitted to the National Capital Commission in April 2022. The project cost is estimated at $4.5 to $5 billion, with substantial completion of construction targeted for 2030 to 2031 and the re-opening of the building targeted for 2032.

Masonry rehabilitation of the north facade of the Centre Block is now approximately 25% complete, which represents approximately 5% of the overall masonry work. Masonry rehabilitation includes the repair and repointing of the entire building, including the Peace Tower. This work will involve the removal of approximately 35% of the stones to conduct repairs and in some cases the replacement of damaged stone.

A tarp is required to create a climate-controlled and safe environment for this important work. The Parliamentary Precinct is a key driver for the National Capital Region’s tourism industry which attracts approximately 3 million visitors each year. A decorative tarp will be installed that replicates the image of the Centre Block, known as a trompe-l’oeil. Both the House of Commons and the Senate approved its installation. This will mitigate the visual impact of construction activities and 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 support for this initiative.

The trompe l’oeil installation began on June 1, starting with the north façade and eventually extending around the sides and the front of the building as the masonry rehabilitation program progresses. The Peace Tower clock image on the trompe l’oeil will be set to 11:45 am, which represents the start time of the 1927 inauguration of the Peace Tower and Carillion. The cost for a standard tarp on all façades of the building is approximately $1.5 million. The incremental costs associated with the trompe l'oeil is approximately $2.4 million.

Impacts of work stoppages

The 2022 truck protests stopped work on the Centre Block and Parliament Welcome Centre from January 28 to February 21. The cost of the delay is estimated at $3 million and was absorbed as part of the risk envelope.

Since May 2, several construction industry unions have gone on strike including crane, equipment and elevator operators, demolition labourers, and carpenters. These strikes are having significant impacts on construction projects across the province of Ontario, including the Centre Block rehabilitation. This strike action has halted all major construction activity on-site with the exception of the masonry rehabilitation on the Centre Block, which is continuing to progress but at a much slower pace. Schedule and cost impacts are currently under review and will be largely dependent on the length of the work stoppage, and increases in labour rates.

PSPC is monitoring the situation closely and will continue to work with the construction manager, a joint venture of PCL/Ellis Don, to mitigate impacts and regain construction momentum as soon as strike action ceases.

Block 2 redevelopment

The rehabilitation and modernization of Block 2—the city 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 2 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. Over the coming year, PSPC will work with the Senate and House of Commons to finalize the sequence for the next tranche of the LTVP.

As part of the Block 2 redevelopment, the Terry Fox Memorial Sculpture will need to be relocated. In anticipation of the redevelopment, Public Services and Procurement Canada has been working closely with the Fox family, the National Capital Commission and the City of Ottawa to find an appropriate and dignified location for the sculpture that will continue to honour this national hero.

Design competition

On May 16, the minister announced the winning design for Block 2: competition laureate and winning design: Zeidler Architecture Inc. (Toronto, Canada) in association with David Chipperfield Architects (London, United Kingdom)

Engagement is ongoing with the competition laureate to negotiate an architectural and engineering services contract. A cost estimate will be determined after these negotiations, and when the full scope of project is determined in partnership with parliament (targeted for fall 2022).

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.

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 the former CIBC building located at 119 Sparks Street and an infill space between the 2 buildings. These are both federally designated heritage buildings.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNA) is the project lead on the development of the space. PSPC will continue to support CIRNA as it works with the Algonquin Nation and the National Indigenous Organizations to develop this national space for Indigenous Peoples in the Parliamentary Precinct.

The Indigenous Peoples Space is not part of the Block 2 redevelopment project at this time, but there is flexibility to on-board it if desired by Indigenous partners.

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 80% by 2030 and 95% by 2040, while also currently diverting more than 90% of demolition materials from landfills.

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