National Defence HQ (Carling) | 60 Moodie Drive [former Nortel campus]

[DubberDom]

It looks like PWGSC is buying up the Nortel Campus and will likely consolidate various DND groups into the location.

I find it quite surprising that all the "urban intensification" advocates on this board are not all up in arms. I often get accused of being some sort of pro-sprawl advocate (which is not true), and here is a prime example, once again, of the Federal Government buying up land and moving jobs away from the core into areas not currently accessible through direct rapid transit from all parts or the city.

I often accuse the Urban Intensification people of being misguided in their approach, and here is yet again a perfect example of what is really wrong. The Federal Government should not be moving or build any new Government structures that are not on existing or future Rapid Transit routes. If the Feds want to own that campus, they must pay 100% of the cost for transit station into the facility.

Imagine people who currently work for DND and live in Gatineau? Imagine those who worked from RCMP before they moved to FarrHaven?

Funny, I have not heard a peep from any of you on this? The Feds are once again moving 5000 to as much as 10000 jobs away from the core. This is on top of the RCMP's move to JDS, and Agriculture's move to Skyline (while still in core, it is not effectively serviced by rapid transit).

Furthermore, PWGSC is building a new DND site in Hull on de la Carriere with barely any rapid transit access available from the Ottawa side.

If the Feds are moving out to the suburbs or away from the Transitway lines, should they not be responsible to ensure proper transportation infrastructure is in place?

If I were mayor, I would insist that all new Federal Government buildings should be located within 400m (give or take) of a transitway station.