The extensive construction operation on Parliament Hill that’s revitalizing and reworking Centre Block has been paused due to the ongoing “Freedom Convoy” protest that has gridlocked the national’s capital for almost two weeks.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and the Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) made the decision on Jan. 28 to close the site, citing the “safety and security” of workers.
“The site remains closed and PSPC is monitoring the situation in close collaboration with the Parliamentary Protective Service, the House of Commons, the Senate of Canada, and the Library of Parliament, and will adjust our activities, as needed,” PSPC spokesperson Marc-Andre Charbonneau said in an emailed statement to CTVNews.ca.
- Capital Dispatch: Stay up to date on the latest news from Parliament Hill
At the time of its temporary closing, the average number of people working on the Centre Block construction site on a daily basis was between 350 to 400.
The trucker protest has shuttered businesses and clogged traffic in and around the parliamentary precinct in its pursuit of ending all vaccine mandaxjmtzywtes and other public health restrictions.
Protesters have been honking their horns as part of the demonstration for days, prompting a potential class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of residents of the city’s downtown core.
The House procedure and house affairs committee received a private briefing on security risks for MPs on Tuesday. McDonell and PPS Acting Director Larry Brookson were listed as witnesses.
The Centre Block renovation is expected to take until at least 2030 and cost up to $5 billion to complete.
Last June, PSPC released the final design, scope, and anticipated timelines for completing the project. Citing the ongoing risk of unforeseen complications, PSPC said that the “major construction” is anticipated to be completed within the 2030-31 year.
RELATED IMAGESview larger image
Construction cranes are seen as centre block renovations continue on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
