The National Capital Commission has been left in the cold as Ottawa gears up for thousands of visitors during the city’s signature Winterlude festival. It’s another troubling sign the federal government no longer sees the locally based organization overseeing the capital region as important.
The NCC lost some of its formerly high-profile status in Ottawa after the government stripped responsibility for Winterlude and Canada Day celebrations away from the commission and into the Department of Heritage. The move was announced suddenly in last May’s budget to “draw on the cultural and social fabric of the whole of Canada.”
But the decision to decrease the role of the NCC and centralize control over major festivals in Heritage threatens the local character of the organization and raises questions about the future look of the city.
“The net effect is that it will be more centralized control by this government – and they like to control as much as they can,” Ottawa Centre NDP MP Paul Dewar says. “It’s taking away the local texture of the NCC.”
Dewar is also critical of the government’s lack of consultation with anyone outside of cabinet before the decision to hollow out the organization was made. “There was no engagement within the NCC or within government at large for that matter,” Dewar says. “This is something that the government sprung upon everyone – the people within the NCC had no idea this was coming.”
Ninety-four employees were transferred from the NCC to heritage according to senior management of communications Jean Wolff, who was reluctant to provide much comment on the move. Pierre Manoni, in communications with Heritage, says “the transition was transparent, smooth and informative for NCC employees who continued working on files that were transferred and that they know well.”
But as one of the largest landowners in Ottawa, the losses of experienced personnel are also a troubling sign, as the NCC has considerable influence over long-term planning for federal lands in the city and for maintaining heritage sites and official residences. It’s origins date back to 1899 with the establishment of the Ottawa Improvement Commission, a group that spearheaded efforts to clean up the cluttered banks of the Rideau Canal. The NCC was formally established in 1958, replacing the Federal District Commission which was unable to cooperate with cities in drawing up development plans more than half a century ago.
That’s why the NCC requires strong leadership to fulfill its mandate, and the lengthy delay in appointing a new CEO to head the organization further demonstrates the government’s lack of appreciation for the importance of the NCC’s work.
The NCC has been without a CEO for more than a year, as the government has yet to name a full-time successor to Marie Lemay, who left the position in July 2012.
“Ms. Lemay was a good appointment – she had a background in planning, she was engaged,” Dewar says. “She did a lot of good work in terms of local engagement, enhancement of the National Capital Region. She was reaching out to mayors and bringing them together on key issues.”
Dewar says he’s been watching the selection process closely, and has heard rumors the government may be getting close to making a decision soon.
“We will be examining closely whomever they appoint and try to have some accountability. If they go back to just appointing a partisan it will be seen as regressive,” Dewar says.
Even with cuts to their mandate and funding, the NCC is still a major land owner in the city. Representatives of the organization have recently indicated they are re-thinking development plans for LeBreton Flats in light of the city’s announcement regarding Light Rail Transit expansion.
The current NCC plan for the area calls for zoning regulations that allow for 12-storey buildings. When asked if he expected the NCC – in light of recent budget cuts – to change zoning regulations in the area allowing for higher buildings to potentially increase the land value, Dewar said the city should be very concerned about that potential.
“It very well could be that they could look to change zoning and go for a cash grab,” Dewar says.
In the government’s 2006 review into the NCC’s operations, the NCC Mandate Review Panel suggested the commission should receive sufficient funding so that it is not compelled to sell off lands to fund its program requirements.
“I’m vigilant as to what their plans are,” Dewar says. “With the changes and the push to have more cuts to the NCC, (potential land sales) are a concern so it is a question that’s worthy of raising.”
“When we have a new CEO appointed I will be engaged directly with them – whoever that is – to say what are your plans for the Lebreton Flats,” Dewar said.
An independent and well-funded NCC is needed to protect the local character of the city and to ensure the organization retains a degree of independence from political interference. The government needs to appoint the right leader to ensure the effective administration and land development of Canada’s capital region.