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.