By Mandy Clark
Sparks Street merchants say they are delighted with a Public Works report that proposes to remove tour buses from Parliament Hill and have them park near Sparks instead.
Diane Dupuis, a NCC media relations official, says the proposal will not only increase security on Parliament Hill but “will help businesses on Sparks” as well.
The report, filed by the office of the sergeant-at-arms, responsible of security for the House of Commons, would restrict tour buses from Parliament Hill in order to remove potential safety threats.
It is hoped that tourists will do some shopping on Sparks as they pass it on their way to the Parliament Buildings, says Dupuis.
Nicholas Lambros, general manager at Darcy McGee’s Irish pub on Sparks, says the increased tourist traffic “will only be a positive thing.”
Lambros says he isn’t sure there will be room for the buses to park since the area is already pretty congested.
However, he says, “anything that helps tourism in the area is a good thing.”
Susan Buck, manager at The Snow Goose on Sparks, agrees.
“I think it would be a good idea,” says Buck, since the Aboriginal art and craft store mainly services tourists.
Carole Beck, owner of Nicholby’s souvenir shop on Sparks, says “it would be a excellent opportunity” to get more shoppers on Sparks. But Beck says she can foresee some problems with trying to park a tour bus near Sparks Street because of the traffic.
Dupuis says the tentative plan for the tour bus parking is to create “a new underground parking lot” at Queen and Sparks. Dupuis says concerns about underground height requirements and parking space will be addressed when the construction of it takes place.
Reza Ghaffari, accountant at the Four Corners store on Sparks, says he’s doubtful underground parking will work for the buses.
“I can barely get my truck in an underground lot,” says Ghaffari. “There is no way they’re going to fit a bus.”
Parking problems aside, Ghaffari says he thinks it’s a great idea. “Sparks Street can use all the exposure it can get.”
There is an advantage to getting tour buses to park near Sparks Street, he says.
“People who are on tour buses visit Parliament but don’t usually stay in Ottawa,” says Ghaffari. “I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all.”
Art Dowd, the general manager of Gray Line, a chartered bus company, says it doesn’t matter where the buses park.
“As long as it is accessible and easy for the groups. The harder it is to get somewhere, the less the people will come.”
Dupuis says they are just at the initial stages of the plan and there are more considerations that have to be looked at.
“Ultimately, it is the speaker of the House of Commons” who will decide if the proposal is brought forward.