Province House gets $10.5M for repairs

Parks Canada is committing $10.5 million to repair significant structural problems in Charlottetown's Province House.

Work will focus on repairs to the roof and windows, addressing water infiltration into the building and contributing to the preservation of the structure.

"Todays investment of $10.05 million in Province House National Historic Site will ensure the conservation of this iconic structure, Leona Aglukkaq, minister responsible for Parks Canada said in a news release.

A 500-page report on the condition of the building by Toronto architects Taylor Hazell, delivered to Parks Canada in May 2013 and made public in March, found extensive problems with the building.

Leaks in the building haveled to water running between the exterior and interior walls, causing the connecting mortar and timbers to disintegrate.

The architects said the building will have to be closed to complete the work, and that it will take about three and a half years. Provincial and federal officials told CBC News the total cost of the repair would be between $30 million and $40 million.

Call for tenders this year

In a news release, Parks Canada said tenders for the work would be called this year to ensure work would begin as soon as possible. That work will not start, however, until after 2014 celebrations conclude.

2014 is the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference, the 1864 meeting that launched the discussions that led to Confederation. The meetings were held in Province House.

The federal government recently spent $2 million for the preservation of period masonry and structural upgrades at Province House in preparation for the 2014 celebrations.

The cornerstone was laid at Province House in 1843.