Efforts to renovate the Ontario legislature are still in the early planning stages, but the minister leading the $1-billion-plus project admitted there has been a minor delay.
Paul Calandra, the Legislative Affairs Minister, made these remarks after the committee overseeing the rehabilitation heard about various external factors for the project, including over 30 statues, monuments, and plaques on the grounds, three Japanese flowering cherry trees, as well as the subway and underground infrastructure.
On Tuesday, the director of the precinct properties branch informed the committee that a historic structures report encompassing both the building and grounds of the legislature should be finished within 18 months.
Calandra mentioned that his original plan of having the next parliament convene for the first time after the 2026 election in a temporary location while the renovations are taking place is unlikely to happen.
Calandra described the historic structures report as slightly delayed and expressed doubt about meeting the 2026 goal but emphasized his hope to stay on track.
Calandra shared that he is working to secure a location for a temporary legislature during the renovations but has not disclosed potential places. He also mentioned that considering piecemeal renovations by closing one wing or half at a time is not feasible.
The building, which is over 130 years old, is in urgent need of extensive repairs and upgrades. Calandra is determined to push the project forward despite the hazardous and deficient infrastructure.
The building has lead pipes and asbestos in the walls, old cables and wires piled on new ones, an inefficient steam-heating system with frequent part failures, and outdated fire safety systems.
A report from over a decade ago indicated that a complete replacement of all major systems, including fire protection, electrical, IT, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems, is necessary.
Last year, Calandra estimated that the project would cost at least $1 billion. He could not provide an updated estimate on Tuesday, but noted that significant renovations often result in increased costs.
“The more you dig into it, the more comes up,” he remarked.
“Our main goal is to restore the building and ensure it can be utilized by parliamentarians for the next 100 years, and we will do whatever is necessary to make that happen,” Calandra emphasized.
