Procedure and House Affairs Committee on June 9th, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Good morning. I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 26 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

The committee is meeting today, in the first hour, to continue its work on the operational security of the parliamentary precinct along Wellington Street and Spark Street. In the second hour, the committee will move to clause-by-clause on Bill C-14.

Before we proceed, I would like to propose to committee members a way forward for today, considering that there are votes in the House of Commons this morning.

I would like to propose that during the half-hour bells, which should start in about 15 minutes, we spend 20 to 25 minutes continuing with the witnesses, so that we don't have to call them back. That would also provide you with 5 to 10 minutes to get to the House to be there for the question to be called and to vote.

As for the current rules, after the vote, you would have up to 10 minutes to come back to committee. That would probably bring us to about 12:05, if everything is on time, as I hope it will be. We could then proceed with clause-by-clause, as we had anticipated.

That is the proposal I would like to put forward.

Is there anyone concerned with this proposal?

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Madam Chair, we were just working out our speaking order.

Can you clarify your proposed approach again, really briefly?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

We would continue with our meeting this morning and spend about 20 to 25 minutes max of the 30-minute bells with witnesses. We can then leave, go to vote, and come back. When we all return, up to 10 minutes after the vote is complete, we would proceed with clause-by-clause.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

That's a reasonable approach, giving us time to go to the chamber to vote and to return.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Is there agreement?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Excellent. Thank you so much.

I would like to welcome the following witnesses for the first hour.

We have Steve Kanellakos, city manager, City of Ottawa; and Renée Amilcar, general manager, transit services department. From the National Capital Commission, we have Tobi Nussbaum, chief executive officer. He is accompanied by Alain Miguelez.

And last, we have Patrick Leclerc, from the Société de transport de l'Outaouais. Mr. Leclerc is accompanied by Alain Tremblay.

I'm going to ask all the witnesses to keep their presentations to three minutes or less, if possible.

We will start with Mr. Kanellakos.

Welcome, Mr. Kanellakos.

The floor is yours.

[Steve Kanellakos, City Manager, City of Ottawa]

Good morning, committee members.

Thank you for the opportunity to share a perspective on city facilities around the parliamentary precinct.

With me today is Ms. Renée Amilcar, the City of Ottawa's general manager of transit services, who will deliver remarks specifically on the transit operations in this area.

I'd like to begin my remarks with some background facts.

As you know, Wellington Street is a highly recognizable and iconic street in the city of Ottawa. It's a very valuable asset and is used by residents from both sides of the Ottawa River and by millions of tourists who visit the nation's capital every year. It's a major arterial road that connects Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and the Portage Bridge, with about 56,000 motorists—that's pre-COVID—travelling on an average day through that intersection to Rideau Street and Sussex Drive. It connects to one of five interprovincial bridges linking Gatineau and Ottawa, specifically the Portage Bridge, where 19,500 vehicles cross daily. Since February 2022, Wellington Street has been temporarily closed between Bank Street and Elgin Street, whereby approximately 19,500 daily motorists have had to find a new route to get across this section of the city.

In terms of the future plans for Wellington Street, following the illegal occupation in February, city council directed staff to initiate discussions with federal officials regarding the future function of that road, as well as the potential to transfer ownership. Those discussions are under way with representatives of Public Services and Procurement Canada, who've expressed in the past a federal interest in taking over the street, and potentially other streets, for a more cohesive management of federal assets in the precinct.

It is expected that these investigative discussions will take some time to conclude, as there are many issues to consider, such as the impact on traffic circulation through the downtown, and how those impacts will be mitigated; access to the city's existing underground infrastructure for asset management; securing Wellington as one of the key corridors in the city's wider cycling network, for which considerable investments have been made by the city; and not least of all is the assessment of the real estate value of Wellington Street.

At this time, the only road contemplated for full closure is Wellington Street east of Bank and Elgin Street. Today, we will also hear from the City of Gatineau and STO on their tramway project, which will cross into Ottawa. In 2020, city council approved Wellington Street as one of two corridors for the STO to study in their next phase of tramway planning. The council's preferred option is a tunnel under Sparks Street, which has many transit and operational benefits and a potential for better integration with Ottawa's Confederation Line, which means more convenience for transit customers on both sides of the river. However, the Sparks Street tunnel has a higher capital cost than the Wellington Street surface option even though this tramway will be serving generations to come.

For Sparks Street, the city has a public realm plan that council approved in 2019. This pedestrian mall is of significant interest to many organizations. It's owned by the city, but it's managed by the Sparks Street Mall Authority, programmed in part by the Sparks Street BIA and surrounded by properties owned or leased by PSPC, the NCC and others. The high-profile Sparks Street public realm plan was developed with many stakeholders and was intended to inform long-term planning exercises for the parliamentary precinct.

Finally, in the area, the city is also reviewing the Rideau-Sussex-Colonel By node to improve mobility for all users and create a better public space for this significant downtown intersection.

In closing, as you can appreciate, there are many complex issues and public space projects that have been established within and around the parliamentary precinct. Continued collaboration between the city and federal officials will be critical for successful outcomes moving forward.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Thank you.

Now we'll move on to Renée Amilcar.

Welcome to PROC.

[Renée Amilcar, General Manager, Transit Services Department, City of Ottawa]

Good afternoon everyone.

I'd like to thank the committee for inviting me to address the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

My name is Renée Amilcar and I am the General Manager of the City of Ottawa’s Transit Services Department.

We operate OC Transpo, Ottawa’s public transit system, which includes diesel and electric buses, our light rail system and Para Transpo. Every day, OC Transpo keeps the city moving and provides important connections to and from Gatineau.

As you look into expanding the parliamentary precinct to include sections of Wellington Street and Sparks Street, I ask that the committee consider three key issues affecting transit users.

These issues are important because we want to ensure that OC Transpo can maintain current service levels and that transit riders are not negatively affected.

First, we want OC Transpo and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais, or STO, to be able to continue operating along Wellington Street and beyond Sparks Street as we do today. This includes keeping bus stops and shelters at their current locations, at least until the future STO streetcar line is built.

Transit service along Wellington Street is vital for many of our customers who live and work on both sides of the Ottawa River. Access to this street also allows us to efficiently pick up and drop off Para Transpo riders. Changing routes and bus stop locations or forcing Para Transpo riders to be dropped off farther from their destinations would disadvantage our customers.

Second, we want to see the plans for the STO streetcar line, either along Wellington Street, under Sparks Street, or any other future location, go ahead and not be affected by the expansion of the parliamentary precinct.

Third, we would like OC Transpo and STO to continue to be allowed to detour buses along Wellington and Sparks Streets in the event of any future external influences, such as emergencies, without having to obtain approval from the National Capital Commission or any other agency to use federal lands.

Unplanned detours are complex and resource intensive. Adding another layer of approvals could have a significant impact on service reliability for our riders and disadvantage residents who rely on public transit.

As you can appreciate, it is important to implement detours in a timely and safe manner when necessary to ensure that our customers can easily get where they need to go.

This concludes my remarks.

Once again, thank you for inviting me to speak.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

And thank you, Ms. Amilcar.

Tobi Nussbaum, the floor is yours.

[Tobi Nussbaum, Chief Executive Officer, National Capital Commission]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good morning, everyone.

I am pleased to be here today. With me is Alain Miguelez, Vice-President, Capital Planning.

I have the pleasure of leading the NCC, a federal crown corporation with a mandate to build a dynamic, sustainable and inspiring capital that is a source of pride for all Canadians. This mandate is relevant to the committee's work on the parliamentary precinct and the future of Wellington Street.

In particular, from a geographic perspective, what's important is the NCC's management of Confederation Boulevard, recognized by the wide sidewalks with red granite, which offers visitors to the capital a guidepost to important sites in the core. That includes the loop from Parliament, west along Wellington Street past the judicial precinct, over the Portage Bridge, east along Laurier Avenue in Gatineau to the Canadian Museum of History, back across Alexandra Bridge, passing along the National Gallery and returning alongside Major's Hill Park.

Further relevant context for the NCC in these discussions is the recent creation of an interprovincial transit project office within the NCC, as announced by the government in budget 2021, to help advance the Société de transport de l'Outaouais tramway project, which has already been mentioned.

Reimagining this stretch of Wellington Street in front of Parliament, including as the alignment for a potential future capital transit loop between Gatineau and Ottawa, could occur in the context of a number of ambitious capital building projects currently under way, including, of course, the restoration of the parliamentary buildings themselves.

To the east, Nepean Point, which offers a spectacular view of the Ottawa River, is being revitalized and will be connected with Major's Hill Park by a new pedestrian bridge.

Better connections between the rocky escarpment west of Parliament and the river below will be part of an ambitious plan for renewable energies. That plan is led by our partner, Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Connecting across the river, the beloved but failing Alexandra Bridge will be replaced, showing off the best of modern engineering and architecture, and offering viewpoints to take in the sites to really reinforce the interprovincial character of the capital.

It is clear that the transfer of Wellington Street to the federal jurisdiction offers the opportunity to rethink the use of this important space for people visiting the capital, for gathering in peaceful protest, and for better public transit and active transportation links in the capital.

This change of jurisdiction would help to mitigate risks relating to the safety of this essential infrastructure, while guaranteeing a common vision of public connectivity and access to our democratic institutions.

For our part, the NCC is committed to working with its federal partners to ensure safe public access to the roadway and surroundings, while also ensuring the respect of its ceremonial value to Canada's capital.

We feel confident that together we can harness our ambition and investment, and build a more beautiful, inviting and resilient space in the heart of Canada's capital.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Thank you very much.

We will now move to Patrick Leclerc.

Welcome.

[Patrick Leclerc, General Manager, Société de transport de l’Outaouais]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'd like to thank the committee members for inviting me to appear before the committee.

My name is Patrick Leclerc, and I am the General Manager of the Société de transport de l'Outaouais. With me is my colleague Alain Tremblay, Project Office Manager, Tramway Gatineau-Ottawa.

For over 10 years, the STO, in collaboration with several partners, including Public Services and Procurement Canada, the National Capital Commission, the City of Ottawa and Ville de Gatineau, has been studying and developing a dedicated public transit system that would link both sides of the river in our region. The challenges of connecting two provinces, two cities, including Canada’s capital, and two public transit systems, very likely make this future transportation project one of the most complex in Canada.

Without a doubt, these challenges add up, but they are greatly surpassed by the benefits expected in terms of mobility between the two cities, redesign of the urban space and safety around the parliamentary precinct.

At this point, we are still looking at two options for the tram’s insertion into downtown Ottawa. For today’s purposes, I will focus on the at‑grade insertion of the tram on Wellington Street. As you will see, this is quite an interesting solution from several points of view.

To begin with, this is far more than a transportation project: it is an opportunity to revitalize the heart of the nation's capital. The tram’s insertion on Wellington would involve significant urban redevelopment, enabling active transportation and public transit modes to safely co‑exist. The plans also include a public space conducive to official events and ceremonies, urban design and landscaping that will create an inviting public environment only steps from Canada’s Parliament and nearby businesses and residential neighbourhoods. Three stations are planned to meet transit riders’ needs and to align with the OC Transpo system.

Expanding the pedestrian perimeter on Wellington Street will also improve the safety aspect for everyone. Here, I am referring to residents, merchants, workers, pedestrians, cyclists, public transit users, tourists and, of course, dignitaries visiting the Parliament buildings. The next steps in the project involve an in‑depth analysis of the access points to the parliamentary precinct to ensure safe and fluid traffic.

Because of its frequency and high capacity, we are confident that the tram will encourage more people to use public transit, which in turn will significantly reduce the number of cars in the downtown. The STO will also review its current service offer and reduce the number of buses crossing to Ottawa. This significant reduction in the number of vehicles will enhance both the safety and fluidity of traffic in the heart of the nation’s capital.

There is no denying that the national capital region is expanding, and that transportation needs are constantly growing. The Gatineau-Ottawa tramway project will be able to meet those needs, well beyond the next 30 to 50 years. From an environmental point of view, the tram will be able to accelerate the shift from solo driving to public transit. It will also be an invaluable asset in achieving ambitious greenhouse gas, or GHG, emission reduction targets set by municipalities and other levels of government.

And with that, Madam Chair, I conclude my testimony.

Thank you for giving me this splendid opportunity.

I will be happy to answer committee members' questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Thank you for your comments.

Once again, welcome, everyone.

I will ask that when the bells begin in the House of Commons, the TV be turned on, but be silent, so that all members are aware of the situation in the House.

We will get through one round of questions. I'm going to change the six-minute rounds to five-minute rounds, so that we can be respectful of the time and all of our duties.

We will start with Mr. McCauley, followed by Mr. Naqvi.

Ms. Gaudreau and Ms. Blaney will have the floor next.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Thanks, Madam Chair.

Through you, please, to Mr. Kanellakos, are you aware of whether anyone in the Ottawa Police Service requested that the government invoke the Emergencies Act?

[Steve Kanellakos]

Thank you for that.

I am not aware of anyone at Ottawa Police specifically requesting the invocation of the Emergencies Act.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Thanks.

On February 3, Councillor McKenney wrote to the commissioner of the RCMP, quoting an official request asking for the RCMP to assume policing responsibilities.

Was that on behalf of the administration, on behalf of the mayor, officially on behalf of city council or was this on her own behalf?

[Steve Kanellakos]

Councillor McKenney was acting on her own behalf as an individual councillor representing one of wards the most impacted by the protest.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

It wasn't an official request on behalf of the city or anyone else.

[Steve Kanellakos]

It was not.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Okay, thanks.

Madam Chair, through you, [Technical difficulty—Editor] again back to you, sir.

How much does the City of Ottawa receive from the Government of Canada under the payments in lieu of taxes program?

[Steve Kanellakos]

I don't have that number off the top of my head. I'm sorry.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Would you be able to give a ballpark?

[Steve Kanellakos]

No, I don't want to guess. I just can't remember the number because I've been immersed in a lot of numbers lately and it's just not coming to me. I'm sorry.