Senate still doesn't know how much Centre Block reno will cost

The Senate's powerful internal economy committeemet today to consider the Red Chamber'sshare of Centre Block'srenovation but for the second time in two months, the officials briefing them could not cite a cost for the project.

Work continues on a decade-longproject to renovate and restore the Centre Block in Ottawa,which contains the House of Commons, the Senate and the Library of Parliament.

Two months ago, just before the pandemiccrisis hit, MPs were reviewing the scope of renovations on their side of theCentre Block.

Public Services Minister Anita Anand told MPs on the procedure and House affairs committee that they would get a costing oftherenovation options for the House of Commons within a few weeks.

Today, more than two months later, the project's leaders and not the minister herself appeared before senators.

'So many variables'

Rob Wright, the assistant deputy minister for Public Services, is leading the entire project. He told senators that it is "very difficult to create the cost estimates at this point for a single element, an important element such as the visitor welcome centre" because there are "still so many variables."

• Read Public Services' Full Report on the Centre Block renovation

Wright offered to draw up some cost estimates and bring them to senators.

In a statement later provided to CBCNews by Anand's office, Public Servicesand ProcurementCanada stated that its officials "are working to provide the PROC committee with the initial cost estimates for the welcome centre and the House of Commons chamber," and that those details would be shared "in the coming weeks."

On Friday, Independent Sen. Eric Forest, a member of theinternal economy committee, contacted CBC News to say he was troubled by Thursday's presentation on the renovations, particularly the lack of detail on the projected costs of the project.

"I will be contacting the (public services) minister's office to request that she re-appear before (the committee)to explain this lack of clarity," Forest wrote in an email.

Watch: Rob Wright questioned by senators on renovation costs

Wright questioned by Senators on Welcome center design choices and construction costs

4 years ago

Duration 1:54

Rob Wright, the Assistant Deputy Minister for Public Services, and the leader of the renovation project spoke with the Senate Internal Economy committee on Thursday.

Options being considered include multiple entrances

The Senate is considering three separate renovation options based onthe planned size of three undergroundcommittee rooms and a multipurpose room for receptions.

Those options are contained within a muchlargerproject: thesecond phase of the Centre Block's welcome centre, which will contain the Senate's committee rooms and provide security screening and services for tours.

The Senate Chamberwill retain itscurrent dimensions during the renovation.The 105 seats in the Red Chamber are assigned by the Constitution and any changes would requirenegotiations between Ottawa and the provinces.

In an exchange with Yonah Martin, a Conservative senator from British Columbia, Wright pointed out an issue with the newly renovated West Block.

Public visitors to the West Block now use an underground entrance, where they are screened by security before entering the building.

"It is not an intuitive entry to the West Block, over these next several years" while the Centre Block is being renovated, Wright said. "One of the factors that have been considered is having multiple entries may complicate wayfinding for visitors to the Hill."

Wright also told senators there's no"unanimity" among the House of Commons, the Parliamentary Protective Service and the Parliamentary Library on whether to havethree entrances or just one.

Wright told senators that security officialshave told him that the number of entrances wouldn't affectthe level of security but having threeentrances would increase staffing costs.

The Senate might prefer its own entrance, due to its independent role and the fact that it hostsdiplomatic functions.

The pandemic's effects

An infill option for the Centre Block's east courtyard is also being considered to gain some space for offices.

Conservative Sen.Elizabeth Marshall from Newfoundland and Labrador asked Wright if the pandemic could affect the project's budget.

"There are some impacts on productivity, additional efforts to compartmentalize the site, additional wash stations, additional lavatory facilities, additional PPE equipment, as you can imagine, on the construction site,"Wright said, adding that the government has received letters from industry reporting "a five per cent impact" on anticipated costs for federal projects.

Watch: How the pandemic is affecting the renovation

How the COVID-19 crisis is affecting the Centre Block renovation project

4 years ago

Duration 3:27

Rob Wright, the Assistant Deputy Minister for Public Services, and the leader of the renovation project spoke with the Senate Internal Economy committee on Thursday.

Several senators stressed that they wanted to see the renovated structures made fully accessible.Public Services staff assured them that's part of the plan, and thatthe galleries in the Senate chamber would be reduced from 274 toabout 200seats to comply with modern building codes.

Also on the horizon is a tunnel system connecting the buildings on Parliament Hill with those on the other side of Wellington Street.

This may be integrated in the Block 2 renovation project for the group of buildings facing Parliament Hill.

Senators were told thatthe Block 2 architecturalcompetition is set to open shortlyand will haveIndigenous representativeson the jury.

This is important because the former U.S. Embassy at 100 Wellington street is being restored for use by Indigenous, Inuit and Mtis groupsand the building hasn't been able to open yet due to a dispute with the Algonquinnation.

The Centre Block closed in early 2019 for renovations which will take at least a decade to finish.