The government of China is resisting efforts to secure heritage protection for a historic telephone building in Ottawa, leading the city to halt the preservation initiative. The property located at 251 Besserer St., constructed in the Beaux-Arts style in 1912, housed the second Bell telephone exchange in Ottawa.
In May, the city council voted to designate the building under the Ontario Heritage Act. However, as the property owner is the Chinese government, they raised objections, causing complexities in resolving the matter. Consequently, the council decided to retract its intention to designate the property based on a recommendation from city staff, who seek additional time to address concerns with China.
Lesley Collins, the city’s heritage planning program manager, clarified that the decision to withdraw the designation was not due to doubts about the property’s cultural significance, which the city still upholds. She emphasized that staff still believe the property is worthy of designation, but the strict timelines of the Heritage Act cannot be extended.
Coun. Rawlson King, chair of the built heritage committee, explained that negotiations may not conclude before the 90-day deadline ending on Thursday due to language barriers and the necessity to liaise with Chinese officials abroad and Global Affairs Canada. He assured that the designation process could be revisited at a later stage, emphasizing that the withdrawal was a strategic move, not a disavowal of heritage protection.
The building currently functions as an office for China’s mission in Canada, though specifics regarding its use were not disclosed by the embassy. China contends that the property holds diplomatic status, requiring its consent for any status changes based on international law. City heritage department staff acknowledge the diplomatic status but do not concur with China’s arguments, pointing out over 65 diplomatic buildings with heritage designations.
Collins conceded that the property’s diplomatic status could pose challenges under an international convention on diplomatic relations. Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper dissented from the withdrawal decision, expressing concerns about potential double standards for foreign governments compared to objections from other stakeholders when designating properties.
Heritage Ottawa backs the preservation of the building, understanding the complexities of designating a diplomatic property. Linda Hoad, advocacy committee co-chair, endorsed the staff’s approach, emphasizing ongoing negotiations to resolve issues raised by the Chinese government. The Chinese Embassy declined to provide an interview to CBC regarding its stance.
