City Councillor Calls for Federal legislation to protect Central Experimental Farm

Photo: Above via Ottawa Citizen; Below via CFRA / Riley Brockington @RiverWardRiley

Thursday, January 14, 2016

580 CFRA

River Ward Councillor Riley Brockington says that the Central Experimental Farm is vulnerable and is pushing for federal legislation to protect the site.

In 2014, the Ottawa Hospital announced it is getting 60 acres of federal property to rebuild its Civic campus on Carling Avenue.

During his first meeting with minister of the environment and climate change, Catherine McKenna, Brockington says he pushed for the government to seal off the rest of the farm from development.

"Let's protect the land that's left so that we have an Experimental Farm for future generations," says Brockington. "That's my goal."

For the last year Brockington says he has attempted to organize a public consultation with the hospital, regarding the future of the experimental farm but says each time they are delayed.

"I've been trying ... to have a very basic information session to inform and educate the community," says Brockington. "I think it would be very valuable for all sides to have that discussion. And I continue to wait."