Federal government lifts the veil on House of Commons renovations

It's been nearly two years since the Centre Block closed for a planned 10-year-longrenovation project. Alot has happened since.

On Wednesday, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the government department leading the renovation, invited a handful of journalistsinside to document the state of the renovations.

MPs moved to the renovated West Block in February 2019, while senators moved into the renovated former Ottawa train station a few weeks later.

Because the renovations won't be completed in time for the election after next, someMPs now servingmay never sit in the renovated Centre BlockCommons chamber.

Centre Block is the building on Parliament Hill that contains the House of Commons and Senate chambers, along with the Peace Tower, the parliamentary library and the Memorial Chamber.Both the Commons and Senate chambers are crowded with scaffolding right now.

The historic linen ceiling of the House of Commons has been carefully removed for restoration.

Rob Wright, assistantdeputy minister at PSPC, is leading the project. He saidthe focus of the restoration project is on "conserving, preserving, restoring, retaining that look and feel" ofthe "iconic elements of this building."

Many of the building's walls have been opened or taken out entirely in spots. Workers have removed about2,500 metric tonnes of asbestos.

Wright also reconfirmed that the bullet holes in Centre Block relics of the Oct. 22, 2014 attack on Parliament Hill would remain.

On that date, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau stormedCentre Blockarmed with a rifleminutes after fatally shooting Cpl. Nathan Cirillo in front of the National War Memorial.He was later shot and killed by the responding security forces.

Asked whether anything interesting or historic was found in the walls, Wright said workers have found nothingbut old gum wrappers and newspapers nomissing briefing documents or other valuable items.

The timeline usually cited fortherenovations is10 years from start to finish, which would mean project completion in 2028. Many observers predict the work will take longer, given its complexity and historical value.

Wright pushed back against the 10-year timeline, "The media have indicated that it'sa 10-year project," he said. "We've never articulated that it's a 10-year project."

MPs finalized the scope of therenovation just before their summer break. Back in October, MPs on the working group reviewing the renovation plans agreed ona design for the House of Commonslobbies on either side of the central chamber that offers "additional support space."

PSPC has never committed publicly to a schedule and a budget for the project, butWright saidthe department is getting close. "I think in the end, we should be in a good position in the first quarter of 2021to really establish a baseline budget and schedule," he said.

WATCH: A video tour of Centre Block renovations

Centre Block renovations revealed during media tour

4 years ago

Duration 2:03

Public Services Canada provided a guided tour of the renovations to a handful of journalists on Wednesday.