The Parliamentary Press Gallery just held its annual general meeting where we learned of the stunning news that, this morning, Public Works and Government Services Canada has decided that, as of April 1, the front door to the National Press Building (left) will be shut for two years to accommodate construction happening to adjacent government buildings.
The National Press Building has had a long and historic connection with life on Parliament Hill (There’s even a historical plaque saying so on Wellington Street directly opposite from the building in front of West Block). The building is the home of the National Press Theatre. This facility is run by the Parliamentary Press Gallery (not by any government or party) where we provide audio and visual connections to newsrooms around Parliament Hill and, by extension, to newsrooms across the country. The Gallery also ensures that there is simultaneous translation for press events held there.
On top of that, the National Press Building is home to many news organizations. (Sun Media was on the 7th floor of that building until last year when we moved to our new digs a block away at 207 Queen.)
The only other way to get into the building as of April 1 will be to enter a building that fronts on to Sparks Street, wind your way up and down multiple floors to a connecting hallway between the Sparks Street building and the National Press Building. My suspicion is that politicians, NGO’s etc. will find this beyond annoying and will hold their press events elsewhere where there is no simultaneous translation or easy television and radio feeds.
Here’s hoping that some Public Works ‘crats can come up with some alternate solution!
Also at the Press Gallery’s meeting today, we elected the organization’s directors for the next year. There were five spots available and nine journalists put their names on the ballot. Here are the successfull candidates:
- Daniel Leblanc, The Globe and Mail
- Laura Payton, CBC.ca
- Daniel Thibeault, Radio Canada
- Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
- Mark Kennedy, Postmedia
The PPG is in great hands. Bravo to the new executive.
Thanks for this David. As for Public Works they see this location as beach – front property and much too valuable to house a few disheveled jurno offices.
I tried with my personal financial guarantees to keep the National Press Club in this location, its home for some decades, but PWGSC acting on higher direction would have nothing to do with it.
The NPC had a terrible record as a tenant, not paying its rent for many months, but the real dollars weren’t the underlying irritation. It was journalists.