MP McLeod wistful as parliament’s Centre Block closes for renovations

“Whether it was the fires many, many years ago (*the original building was nearly destroyed by fire in 1916), or the more recent shooting that we had in the Grand Hall (*a man with a gun rushed the building in 2014 before being shot and killed by parliamentary security), it truly is a part of our history,” said McLeod.

Even so, the building is showing its age and its heritage nature means renovation work will be painstaking and time-consuming.

“Whether it’s the Memorial Chapel, the elevator up to the Peace Tower apparently broke down 47 times last year, obviously heating and air conditioning… it just needs work to preserve it, and I’m sure they’re going to do a fantastic job,” said McLeod.

MPs gathered at the end of their fall session Wednesday to pay tribute to the grand building, and McLeod says she became emotional.

“It was actually a time when all the MPs did come together and really recognize that there is lots of commonality in terms of a desire to serve,” said McLeod. “Maybe different perspectives on how we do it best, but certainly we are bonded by that opportunity to serve our constituents.”

“I was surprised by how much it impacted me to think about the place and think about what it has seen, and the next step in terms of moving over to another building.”

All parliamentary spaces and offices housed in Centre Block will be moved to temporary locations within the parliamentary precinct next year.

A federal election is scheduled for 2019, and McLeod concedes there will be many MPs elected who will never work in Centre Block, and scores of Canadian tourists to Ottawa who won’t get a chance to visit the iconic building.

Even so, McLeod says a visit to historic Parliament Hill is still well worth the time and effort.

“Certainly, I still encourage people to, if they have the opportunity, come to Ottawa and reach out to my office. Where we’re going to be located has its own beauty.”

by James Peters

MP McLeod wistful as parliament’s Centre Block closes for renovations

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