Randall Denley’s recent Ottawa Citizen column (“Good Riddance to White Elephant”, Tuesday, October 18, 2005) appears to confirm the suspicions of many observers of the brief career of the Canada and the World Pavilion that the museum “was an expensive attendance flop.” Denley cites an internal NCC report (obtained through Access to Information channels by Ottawa researcher Ken Rubin) which admitted that “visitation levels….are low” and that “this use of funds is not the best value for Canadians.” The report also conceded that the “operation of this facility is not central to the corporation’s mandate.”

Setting aside the nagging question of why the Commission plunged ahead with this project in the first place, the issue remaining is how the building will be reincarnated over the course of the next six months, and in particular, whether public access to its premises will be retained in its future use. According to NCC officials, no decision on the question is likely to be taken before late spring, and while the Commission professes to be “hopeful” that the building can remain open to the public, there are no guarantees on this score.

Though no formal request for public input has been issued by the NCC (imagine!), there are hopeful signs that pressure to maintain public access is steadily growing. CBC Radio has invited Ottawa Morning listeners to submit their suggestions for future uses to the station’s Talk Back line [(613) 288-6888], and Denley himself has urged that “any new use must guarantee continued public access to the site’s superb view of the Rideau Falls.”

Rideau-Vanier Councillor Georges Bédard has added his voice to the public access chorus, suggesting that thought be given to creating a restaurant or café overlooking the river. According to a recent report, Ottawa Tourism President Jacques Burelle is also actively promoting the Pavilion as a potential site for the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame although the NCC has suggested that they would “like to keep it in the federal family or for federal use.” A number of proposals are percolating here within our own community and more may emerge as the hour of decision approaches.

While we welcome the fact that the Commission has elected to cut its (or rather, our!) losses on the Pavilion, it is largely public resources that have been used to build, operate and now decommission the facility, and the case for maintaining public access in its future use seems clear cut. Let’s hope the NCC is listening!