Reaction mixed after Tunney's Pasture revealed as NCC's top pick for new Civic hospital

While some are celebrating theNational Capital Commission's selection of the western half of Tunney'sPasture as its preferred site for the new Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital, others question the cost and timeline of moving federal government departments anddemolishing the current buildings.

• Tunney'sPasture isNCC'stop site for new Civic hospital

The NCC came up witha list of 12 possible locations on federally-owned landsin the National Capital Regionafter heavy criticism over plans to build on Central Experimental Farm lands. The list included four sites on theCentral Experimental Farm.

Reaction to recommended hospital site

8 years ago

Duration 0:29

Residents weigh in after the National Capital Commission announced the western half of Tunney's Pasture as its preferred site for the new Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital.

Not hospital's top choice

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, whose riding of OttawaCentre includes the Central Experimental Farm and the aging Civic hospital campus, applauded the NCC's choice for protecting the green spaceand for remaining in the downtown core in a spot "easily accessible by public transit."

Ottawa Coun. Jeff Leiper, whose ward includes Tunney's Pasture, said in a statement that "it will take some time to digest the NCC's analysis, and to talk to residents about their reaction to this news."

There is currently a Transitwaybus stop atTunney's Pasture, wherethere will be a light rail station once the second phase of the Confederation Line is complete.

While Leiper noted that mass transit is meant to reduce residents' reliance on cars, he also pointed out that a new hospital will createadded pressure for traffic and parking in a neighbourhood that already faces congestion.

Leiper also questioned how a new hospital could affect the city's plan for a complete street designed for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and transit users on Scott Street.

The Ottawa Hospital said in a statement Thursday that Tunney's Pasture "was not among the top-rated sites" in its 2008 and 2016 reports, citing traffic issuesas well as cost and timelines due to the need to relocate federal government departments and demolish current structures.

The Ottawa Hospital said it would be reviewing the entire NCC report in the coming weeks before commenting further.

'Terrible location,'Poilievre says

In November2014, former Conservative cabinet minister John Baird announced the government would offer 24 hectares of the Central Experimental Farm to the Ottawa Hospital for a new Civic campus. But with mounting criticism over the lack of consultation to build on a federal green space and a new Liberal government the plan was halted and placed underreview.

The NCC board voted to recommend the 20-hectare Tunney's Pasture site on Thursday, though the vote was not unanimous. The board is expected to officially recommend the site to Heritage Minister Mlanie Joly in the next week.

Joly said Thursday she was pleased the recommendations came after the NCCundertook an open public consultation with residents of Ottawa. She added that "time is of the essence" with this project.

But Conservative MPPierre Poilievre, who represents the riding of Carleton, said the previous Conservative government followed the lead of The Ottawa Hospital, which "came up with the best possible location" when it selected part of theCentral Experimental Farm situation across the street from the current Civic campus.

He calledTunney's Pasture a "terrible location" that was twice rejected by hospital's expert panelin reports in both 2008 and 2016.

Political reaction to NCC's top hospital site pick

8 years ago

Duration 2:04

Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre and Heritage Minister Mlanie Joly weigh in after the National Capital Commission announced the western half of Tunney's Pasture as its preferred site for the new Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital.