The proposal to safeguard a historical telephone building in Ottawa is currently facing opposition from the People’s Republic of China, causing the city to delay the protection initiative. Situated at 251 Besserer St., the structure is a two-story red brick edifice designed in the Beaux-Arts architectural style and dates back to 1912, serving as the location for the second Bell telephone exchange in Ottawa.
In May, the city council approved the designation of the building under the Ontario Heritage Act. However, as the property owner is the Chinese government, they had the opportunity to raise objections. Resolving the concerns raised by the Chinese government has proven to be a complex process.
In response to the situation, the council decided to retract its intention to designate the property during a meeting on Wednesday. This decision aligns with a recommendation from city staff, who have requested additional time to address the issues with China.
Lesley Collins, the city’s heritage planning program manager, emphasized that the advice to withdraw the designation intent is not related to the cultural significance of the property, which the city still upholds. Despite the withdrawal, staff maintain their belief that the property is deserving of the heritage designation.
Councilor Rawlson King, who leads the built heritage committee, highlighted the challenges in resolving negotiations with China due to language barriers and the necessity to liaise with Chinese officials and Global Affairs Canada. He assured that the designation process can be revisited at a later stage, emphasizing that the withdrawal is a strategic move rather than a complete abandonment of heritage protection.
Regarding China’s objection based on diplomatic status, the city’s heritage department acknowledges the diplomatic standing of the building but does not fully accept China’s arguments. They point out that over 65 diplomatic buildings already hold heritage designations. Despite potential complications under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, the city is not barred from designating the property.
Councilor Jeff Leiper expressed concerns about a potential double standard for foreign governments, citing instances where properties have been designated against the objections of churches and private individuals. Heritage Ottawa, while supporting the protection of the building, recognizes the challenges associated with designating a diplomatic property and endorses the city staff’s approach of continuing negotiations with the People’s Republic of China to address the issues.
The Chinese Embassy declined to provide an interview to CBC to clarify its position on the matter.