The Value of Investing in Canadian Downtowns - International ...

charges have recently been reinstated (late 2011) in
downtown Ottawa as this incentive no longer
necessary to support residential growth in the core. 11
Leadership and Collaboration
Governance in Ottawa is complex; there are three
main authorities that have a large hand in shaping
both the downtown and the City. The Department of
Public Works and Government Services determines
the location of federal office buildings. The National
Capital Commission (NCC) is a federal crown
corporation independent of the government, whose
mandate is to ensure the face of Ottawa is positively
represented to the nation; it is responsible for
“developing, preserving, and improving Canada’s
Capital Region for Canadians.” 12 In addition, the City
of Ottawa (the amalgamation of 11 municipalities in
2000) has significant planning powers and delivers
municipal services to Ottawa’s residents.
A leadership challenge is that federal agencies are
not obligated to follow requirements of local
municipalities. The NCC has embraced high levels of
collaboration with the City of Ottawa, while the
Department of Public Works and Government
Services also strongly collaborates with the NCC.
However, given the federal authorities are not bound
by municipal laws, this can create create challenges
for the City of Ottawa to plan for in the delivery of
services to meet the needs of a growing community.
The challenge is exemplified by recent discussions
that the federal government could vacate more than
10 million square feet, or one-quarter of its current
office portfolio in downtown by 2016. The
Department of Public Works and Government
Services is expected to leave some of its outdated
buildings and take possession of approximately 4.5
million square feet of new office space over the
11
Reeveley, D. (2011). Downtown Ottawa needs play structures, green
space, for new condo members. Retrieved from:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Downtown+Ottawa+needs+play+struc
tures+green+space+condo+residents/5605046/story.html. Accessed 2012
January 17.
12
National Capital Commission. (2012). What we manage. Retrieved
from: http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/property-management/what-wemanage.
Accessed 2012 January 16.
68
coming years on Elgin Street, at the Train Yards and
in Gatineau. 13 Given that much of this new office
space is not in downtown Ottawa, the relocation could
pose major challenges for the downtown, although
some see this as an opportunity to attract nongovernment
office tenants.
Overall the need to balance competing priorities
among so many agencies with such a large stake in
the downtown and the City of Ottawa can create real
challenges for collaborative, co-ordinated leadership
that prioritizes the downtown.
New condominiums in downtown Ottawa
NCC championed Bixi Bikes in Ottawa
http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/plan-yourvisit/capital-infocentre/news/2011-05-18/capitalbixi-hits-streets-canada%E2%80%99s-capital
13
Kovessy, P. (2011). Federal Cuts Weigh on Ottawa’s Office Market:
Altus InSite. Retrieved from: http://www.obj.ca/Real-Estate/Non-
residential/2011-10-06/article-2768280/Federal-cuts-weigh-on-
Ottawa%26rsquo%3Bs-office-market%3A-Altus-InSite/1. Accessed 2012
January 16.