China Blocks Ottawa Heritage Designation for Historic Telephone Building

Ottawa has put plans to grant heritage protection to a historic telephone building on hold after the People’s Republic of China objected to the designation.

The property at 251 Besserer St. is a two-storey red brick building in the Beaux-Arts style, dating to 1912. It once hosted the city’s second Bell telephone exchange. In May, Ottawa City Council voted to designate the building under the Ontario Heritage Act, but the property owner—China—was allowed to file an objection. Resolving the concerns has proven complex.

Following staff recommendations, council voted Wednesday to withdraw its intention to designate the building. Lesley Collins, the city’s program manager for heritage planning, emphasized that the move is procedural.

“Staff still believe the property merits designation,” she said. “But the Heritage Act has very strict timelines that we can’t extend.”

Negotiations Complicated by Diplomatic Status

Coun. Rawlson King, chair of the built heritage committee, explained that the city cannot meet the 90-day deadline for resolving the objection, which expires Thursday. Language considerations and the need to coordinate with Chinese officials and Global Affairs Canada have slowed progress. He noted the designation process could resume later.

“This withdrawal is strategic, not an abandonment of heritage protection,” King said.

The building houses an office for China’s mission in Canada. In its objection, China claims the property has diplomatic status, requiring its consent for any alterations. Ottawa staff acknowledged the building’s diplomatic standing but rejected the argument that it prevents designation. More than 65 other diplomatic properties already have heritage status in the city.

Collins noted that while the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations doesn’t prevent the city from designating the building, it may limit how the designation could be enforced.

Concerns About Double Standards

Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper voted against the withdrawal, warning of a double standard for foreign governments. “We frequently get these notices of opposition from stakeholders whose properties are going to be designated,” he said. “We wouldn't contemplate giving anyone that kind of additional time.”

Heritage Ottawa continues to support protecting the building. Committee co-chair Linda Hoad said the staff’s cautious approach is understandable given the diplomatic sensitivities.

“If they lift the intention to designate, they will continue to negotiate and hopefully resolve the issues the People’s Republic of China has,” she said.