Civic hospital land transfer begins with OK from NCC

The Ottawa Hospital is a step closer to officially securing federal land at Dow's Lake for a new Civic campus.

• Government set to cede Sir John Carling site after politicians unite on hospital move
• Sir John Carling site better fit for Civic hospital, says Ottawa mayor

The board of the National Capital Commission Thursdayapproved transferring the land from the NCC and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to Public Services and Procurement Canada, so the public works department can in turn start the process of developing a long-term lease withthe hospital.

But the NCC board vote was not unanimous.

Board members Norman Hotsonand Lisa MacDonald voted against the land transfer. Hotson said he was concerned the hospital'srequest for 20 hectares was arbitrary, and feared it would use much of the landfor parking.Victor Brunetteabstained from voting forsimilar reasons.

Hotson proposed handingover less federal landuntil the hospitalcould see how much land the hospital truly needs.

Decontamination costs

Board member Brian Coburn, meanwhile,wanted to figure out exactly who would pay to decontaminate the Sir John Carling site.

"There are lots of other hospitals in the queue waiting for that money, and I don't want to give the province an excuse for delaying funding for this project," said Ottawa mayor Jim Watson, who is a non-voting member of the board.

As the federal government moves ahead with the lease, NCC CEO Mark Kristmanson noted that the Sir John Carling site is of national interestand will be going through a formal federal design review.

The NCC also included a condition to ensurethe hospitalsets aside parking for 200 vehicles and seven tour buses for visitors to Commissioners Park, the Rideau Canal andDow's Lake pavilion, even if that parking moves fromits current location.