The Chinese government is objecting to efforts to safeguard a historic telephone building in Ottawa, leading the city to postpone the initiative. Located at 251 Besserer St., the two-story red brick structure in the Beaux-Arts style dates back to 1912 and housed the second Bell telephone exchange in Ottawa.
A decision to designate the building under the Ontario Heritage Act was made by the council in May. However, the property’s owner, the Chinese government, had the opportunity to raise objections, causing complications in resolving the matter.
In response, the council voted to halt the intention to designate the property, following a recommendation from city staff seeking more time to address the concerns raised by China. Lesley Collins, the city’s program manager for heritage planning, emphasized that the decision was not related to the property’s cultural significance, which the city still supports.
Despite the diplomatic status of the building as an office for China’s mission in Canada, the city’s heritage department staff do not agree with China’s argument that international law mandates their consent for any changes in status. They pointed out that there are over 65 diplomatic buildings with heritage designation, although they acknowledged potential challenges under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.
Councilor Jeff Leiper expressed concerns about possible double standards for foreign governments, highlighting that the city typically designates properties despite objections from other stakeholders. In contrast, Heritage Ottawa backed the protection of the building, understanding the complexities of designating a diplomatic property.
The Chinese Embassy declined to provide a statement to CBC regarding its stance on the matter. The committee plans to revisit the designation process in the future, aiming to address the issues raised by the Chinese government.
