The building that houses the Prince Edward Island legislature will be closed for upwards of five years as Parks Canada undergoes massive conservation work on the crumbling historic building.
Province House will close in January 2015 to allow Parks Canada to begin work on areas of greatest priority in the building, which has been flagged by engineers as having significant structural problems.
This conservation work is anticipated to last three to five years.
“It’s very important that we take our time when we restore Province House and it’s very important that we bring it back to best condition that we possibly can, but that’s going to take time,” says Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Robert Vessey.
While Province House is closed, MLAs will conduct regular sittings of the legislature in the Coles Building next door.
This will mean a smaller public gallery and tighter quarters for all MLAs, staff, public and media.
Other possible venues were explored, including Founders Hall, St. Paul’s church hall and the Murphy Centre.
But Vessey says moving it to the Coles Building, which is already provincially owned and operated, was the most cost effective way of managing a need to vacate the current legislature to allow it to get the necessary remedial work.
“We have to keep in mind it’s a temporary legislature,” he said.
“We’re using taxpayers’ dollars here and we have to keep costs at a minimum.”
Province House has faced a series of structural problems, and even had to close earlier this year after a section of plaster fell from the ceiling within the building earlier this year.
Emergency repairs were also required last year to secure an exterior wall and an engineer's report prepared for Parks Canada showed extensive problems.
That report identified leaks in the roof that have contributed to water buildup in the basement.
At times, the sound of rushing water has been heard in the walls during heavy rains. Water also leaks in through poorly sealed windows and through the roof.
Moisture was also identified as a major problem in the building's foundation walls.
Before submitting a final report in May 2013, Taylor Hazell Architects notified Parks Canada about some of the issues it viewed as urgent, including the possibility that exterior walls could collapse.
The federal government has previously committed $10-million toward the necessary repairs on Province House, but Vessey acknowledged much more will be needed.
He says he has been given assurances by the federal minister more money will be made available to complete the project.
In the meantime,the legislative assembly will meet in the Pope Room on the first floor of the Coles Building.
A seating area in a horseshoe around the MLAs’ desks will provide public access to view the proceedings.
Furniture from the chamber will be moved to the Pope Room and the proceedings will continue to be broadcast.
Administrative, security and press offices will also be relocated to the Coles Building.
The Speaker clerk’s offices will be relocated across the street from the Coles Building at 197 Richmond Street.
Legislative committees will meet in the J. Angus Maclean building, which currently houses Elections P.E.I.
An overflow room for public viewing of the legislative assembly will also be housed at the J. Angus MacLean building.
Elections P.E.I. will move to the Atlantic Technology Centre.
“We are very pleased that Parks Canada is undertaking this conservation to historic Province House,” said House Speaker Carolyn Bertram.
“We want to reassure Islanders that while there may be some adjustments, our goal is to maintain the efficient operation of the legislative assembly during this temporary relocation.”
The upcoming fall session of the legislature will be the last one held in Province House until renovations are completed.
The building that houses the Prince Edward Island legislature will be closed for upwards of five years as Parks Canada undergoes massive conservation work on the crumbling historic building.
Province House will close in January 2015 to allow Parks Canada to begin work on areas of greatest priority in the building, which has been flagged by engineers as having significant structural problems.
This conservation work is anticipated to last three to five years.
“It’s very important that we take our time when we restore Province House and it’s very important that we bring it back to best condition that we possibly can, but that’s going to take time,” says Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Robert Vessey.
While Province House is closed, MLAs will conduct regular sittings of the legislature in the Coles Building next door.
This will mean a smaller public gallery and tighter quarters for all MLAs, staff, public and media.
Other possible venues were explored, including Founders Hall, St. Paul’s church hall and the Murphy Centre.
But Vessey says moving it to the Coles Building, which is already provincially owned and operated, was the most cost effective way of managing a need to vacate the current legislature to allow it to get the necessary remedial work.
“We have to keep in mind it’s a temporary legislature,” he said.
“We’re using taxpayers’ dollars here and we have to keep costs at a minimum.”
Province House has faced a series of structural problems, and even had to close earlier this year after a section of plaster fell from the ceiling within the building earlier this year.
Emergency repairs were also required last year to secure an exterior wall and an engineer's report prepared for Parks Canada showed extensive problems.
That report identified leaks in the roof that have contributed to water buildup in the basement.
At times, the sound of rushing water has been heard in the walls during heavy rains. Water also leaks in through poorly sealed windows and through the roof.
Moisture was also identified as a major problem in the building's foundation walls.
Before submitting a final report in May 2013, Taylor Hazell Architects notified Parks Canada about some of the issues it viewed as urgent, including the possibility that exterior walls could collapse.
The federal government has previously committed $10-million toward the necessary repairs on Province House, but Vessey acknowledged much more will be needed.
He says he has been given assurances by the federal minister more money will be made available to complete the project.
In the meantime,the legislative assembly will meet in the Pope Room on the first floor of the Coles Building.
A seating area in a horseshoe around the MLAs’ desks will provide public access to view the proceedings.
Furniture from the chamber will be moved to the Pope Room and the proceedings will continue to be broadcast.
Administrative, security and press offices will also be relocated to the Coles Building.
The Speaker clerk’s offices will be relocated across the street from the Coles Building at 197 Richmond Street.
Legislative committees will meet in the J. Angus Maclean building, which currently houses Elections P.E.I.
An overflow room for public viewing of the legislative assembly will also be housed at the J. Angus MacLean building.
Elections P.E.I. will move to the Atlantic Technology Centre.
“We are very pleased that Parks Canada is undertaking this conservation to historic Province House,” said House Speaker Carolyn Bertram.
“We want to reassure Islanders that while there may be some adjustments, our goal is to maintain the efficient operation of the legislative assembly during this temporary relocation.”
The upcoming fall session of the legislature will be the last one held in Province House until renovations are completed.
JUST THE FACTS
Q. Will the furniture be moved from the Legislative Assembly chamber in Province House to the Pope Room?
A. Yes.
Q. Will the proceedings of the legislature continue to be broadcast?
A. Yes.
Q. When will Province House be closed and when is it anticipated to reopen?
A. This three- to five-year project is scheduled to begin in January 2015.
Q. How do the sizes of the rooms compare?
A. The rooms are very similar in size; in fact, the Pope Room is slightly larger, meaning it is large enough to host the Legislative Assembly and provide space for public seating.
Q. Where will legislative committees meet?
A. Legislative committees will meet in the J. Angus Maclean Building which currently houses the offices of Elections PEI. The furnishings of the Pope Room will be moved to this building.
Q. Are any employees or offices leaving the Coles Building to accommodate the Legislative Assembly?
A. As some meeting and office space in the Coles Building will now be used for offices related to the Legislative Assembly, additional space has been identified at the J. Angus Maclean Building. Elections P.E.I., which is currently located at the J. Angus MacLean Building, will be moving to the Atlantic Technology Centre.