National Capital Commission

The National Capital Commission (NCC; , CCN) is the Crown corporation responsible for development, urban planning, and conservation in Canada's Capital Region (Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec), including administering most lands and buildings owned by the Government of Canada in the region.

In 1899, the Ottawa Improvement Commission (OIC) was established with the core mandate of improving and beautifying the city. What began as the OIC evolved as an organization in terms of both mandate and scope over 120 years. Todd was appointment chairmen when the Federal Plan Commission was established in 1913 by Order-In-Council of Prime Minister Robert Borden's government with the purpose of "draw[ing] up and perfect[ing]" a comprehensive scheme for the future of the rapidly growing Federal Capital, called the "General Plan." The commission was joined by a renowned architect and urban planner from Chicago, Edward H. Bennett, who prepared the General Plan.

Most notably, the Report recommended a major political reform: the creation of a federal district and federal authority to exercise control over planning and development. The General Plan recommended extinguishing the Ottawa and Hull municipal governments. In their place, a Federal District Commission, similar to the governance model of Washington, D.C., was recommended. This commission, reporting to the Government of Canada, would benevolently dictate the planning, development and operation of Canada's Capital. Ultimately, the Holt/Bennett General Plan was shelved;

After the 2006 elections, the Government of Canada asked for a formal review of the mandate of the NCC. A panel conducting the review, in its report, suggested that the NCC needed more money and should become more transparent.

In 2018, the Government of Canada announced CA$55 million in funding to support critical repair and maintenance of NCC's major infrastructure assets. In 2020, the NCC secured $52.4 million in funding towards some of its most significant assets.

Assets

The NCC is responsible for managing and maintaining several assets in the Capital Region.

Scenic parkways

The NCC operates 90 kilometers of scenic parkways through Ottawa and NCC parks in Gatineau.

Gatineau

Champlain Parkway
Fortune Lake Parkway
Gatineau Parkway
Lac-des-Fées Parkway
Leamy Lake Parkway

Ottawa

Aviation Parkway
Colonel By Drive
Driveway (at the Central Experimental Farm)
Island Park Drive
Kichi Zibi Mikan
Queen Elizabeth Driveway
Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway

Urban parks

The NCC operates several urban parks in Ottawa and Gatineau.

Commissioners Park
Confederation Park
Kìwekì Point
Jacques-Cartier Park
Leamy Lake Park
LeBreton Flats Park
Major's Hill Park
Vincent Massey Park

Official residences

The NCC is the steward of the Capital's six official residences:

Rideau Hall
24 Sussex Drive
Harrington Lake
Stornoway
The Farm
7 Rideau Gate.

Other

Other assets managed by the NCC are:

Rideau Canal Skateway

Responsibilities

thumb|Luskville Falls in [[Gatineau Park, in fall]]

The role of the NCC is to champion the interests of Ottawa, Gatineau, and surrounding region as the nation's capital, typically with regard to issues of national interest, such as the location of monument and museum sites, and major streetscapes such as Confederation Boulevard.

The objects and purposes of the NCC are "to prepare plans for and assist in the development, conservation and improvement of the National Capital Region in order that the nature and character of the seat of the Government of Canada may be in accordance with its national significance."

The NCC is the Capital's largest property owner, owning and managing over 11% of all lands in the Capital Region. It also owns over 1,600 properties in its real estate portfolio, including the Capital's six official residences; commercial, residential and heritage buildings; and agricultural facilities. In the 28th Canadian Ministry under Stephen Harper, the NCC reported to Parliament through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and then through senior Ottawa-area cabinet ministers, the last of whom was Pierre Poilievre.

It is governed by the National Capital Act, which explains the boundaries of the National Capital Region in great detail. Its headquarters are in the Chambers Building on Elgin Street, between Queen and Sparks Streets.

Board of directors

Oversight and direction of the NCC's operations and assets are the responsibility of its national board of directors.

As defined in the National Capital Act, the board consists of a chairperson, a chief executive officer (CEO), and 13 other members with relevant professional backgrounds from the Capital Region and across Canada. Since April 2016, the mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau have also ex officio held seats on the board, on a non-voting basis.

Tobi Nussbaum — Chief Executive Officer
Maryse Gaudeault — Chairperson
Maude Marquis-Bissonnette — non-voting ex-officio participant (Mayor of Gatineau)
Mark Sutcliffe — non-voting ex-officio participant (Mayor of Ottawa)
Lisa M. MacDonald
Tanya Gracie
Mireille Apollon
Larry Beasley
Lise Bernier
Victor Brunette
Michael Foderick
Caroline Lajoie
Deborah Lynn Morrison
Norm Odjick
Sara Jane O'Neill
Lou Ragagnin
Denis B. Vaillancourt

Chairpersons and CEOs

The CEO is accountable to the board of directors for the management of the NCC's operations and "the implementation of the board's strategic directions for the coming year."

|2007–2017

|Marc Seaman

|2017–2023

|Maryse Gaudreault

|2007

|Marie Lemay

|2008–2012

|Jean-François Trépanier (acting)

|2012–2014

|Mark Kristmanson

|2014–2019

|Tobi Nussbaum

|2019–present

Committees

The following are the committees and committee members of the NCC .

The 5-person Executive Committee is called upon when necessary to deal with specific business or issues. It can be delegated certain powers and functions by the board of directors. This Committee includes: Marc Seaman (chairperson), Mireille Apollon, Larry Beasley, Norm Odjick, and Tobi Nussbaum.

The NCC is the Capital's largest property owner, owning and managing over 11% of all lands in the Capital Region. As such, the NCC collaborates with the region's municipalities on various issues, including urban planning, safe and active transportation, and property and land stewardship. The Capital Region includes 13 municipalities, the largest of which are Ottawa and Gatineau.