Macklem and McNee: Sussex Drive deserves better from the NCC
A row of luxury apartment buildings on Sussex Drive, directly across from the Prime Minister's official residence and a block from Rideau Hall, is being proposed by the National Capital Commission, buried in their upcoming Core Area Plan. Despite the NCC's mandate to ensure Canada's capital remains a source of pride for all Canadians, and a legacy for generations to come, the agency apparently believes a major apartment complex is appropriate for the three blocks of the ceremonial route nearest to the Governor General's residence. We have to disagree.
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This proposal should be excised from the Core Area Plan before it comes up for approval at the June meeting of the NCC board. There are three critical reasons why such a development doesn't belong here: national significance, security and traffic congestion.
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Sussex Drive is more than just a road. It is one of Canada's most iconic ceremonial routes, lined with diplomatic missions, national institutions, and heritage properties. Given this, we question the rationale for eliminating what little green space is left, especially in light of the NCC's role as the 'principal steward of nationally significant public spaces' in the capital. The current calm green squares of parkland, so close to Rideau Hall, 24 Sussex Drive, the French Embassy and South African High Commission, enhance the ceremonial route for residents and visitors alike.
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The NCC has said it wants to attract more tourists to the area. Tourists do not visit Ottawa—or Sussex Drive—to admire apartment blocks. They come for the historical resonance, the public parks, and the dignified architecture.
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In terms of security, the proposed building site is also alarmingly close to several of Canada's most sensitive properties: the Prime Minister's residence, the Governor General's home at Rideau Hall, the Official Guest Residence, and multiple embassies. Introducing a large residential population so close to these significant addresses raises serious security questions. For locations charged with national and international diplomacy, any additional security burden is not a trivial matter.
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