Courtesy of Eric Manherz

S pare Federal Buildings Mired In Bureaucracy

( Arthur White - Crummey, cbc.ca)

The sluggish process for selling spare federal buildings is trying the patience of politicians and developers hoping to trans form them into desperately needed housing in Ottawa. The process includes 'important steps' for public in terest, said MP Yasir Naqvi . In May (2022?), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) released a list of 10 properties in the Ottawa

A concept for the redevelopment of the L'Esplanade Laurier site presented as part of the Down town Revitalization Task Force's action plan. (EVOQ Architecture) © Provided by cbc.ca

Gatineau region that it's looking to unload. Eight months later, none of them had hit the market. PSPC must follow rules before unloading any of those buildings. They require due diligence on Indigenous rights, security conditions, physical performance, heritage value and environmental conditions. It then has to consult with other federal departments to see if they want the properties, as well as provinces, municipalities and Indigenous groups. PSPC must then develop a business case and dispose of the property fairly, in most cases through an open bidding process. "These are important steps," said Naqvi, "because we want to make sure, as the stewards of public assets, that public good and public interest is always front and centre before it's being turned over to a private develop er." In an emailed statement, PSPC said it's "working diligently to identify opportunities to accelerate the disposal process" but cautioned, as it said in May, that it could take "several years before the due diligence activities and required consultations are completed and a disposal completed." (Several years just to decide to sell???) The policy also requires notification to official language minority communities.

How about starting with 1 or 2 and get on with it?

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/impatience-grows-as-spare-federal-buildings-stuck-in-bureaucracy/ar-AA1n2ZGI