MPs on the House of Commons’ Board of Internal Economy are leaning toward a $733 million renovation plan for Parliament Hill’s planned visitors centre.

A new report, prepared by consultants for the procedure and house affairs committee and obtained by CBC News, lays out three options for the construction of the visitors centre, which is to link the district’s West, Centre and East Blocks together through a series of underground passages and meeting rooms.

The centre will contain a security screening area, a visitor information centre for tour groups and committee rooms for the Senate. The estimated costs of the three options range from $552 million to $847 million.

One option — the one being recommended by the Board of Internal Economy — has been costed at $733 million and would take another six months to complete.

The report also identifies the board’s preferred option for renovating the House of Commons chamber: a $75 million project that would maintain the current dimensions of the chamber while adding more seats.

That plan would see MPs sit closer together, either on stadium-style seating or the long benches used in the U.K. House of Commons.

The consultants’ work began before the pandemic hit and before workplaces around the world — including the Commons — were forced to adopt physical distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.

CBC News asked the board to explain how the $75 million reno option would accommodate physical distancing requirements. A board spokesperson that that the board’s choice of renovation options was made pre-pandemic and it hasn’t discussed the possible impact of COVID-19 on its decisions.

The report does warn, however, that the pandemic crisis may affect the cost of the renovations going forward.

Keep reading on CBC News

Check out the video gallery here

Find more news here

Find events calendar here

Find media kit here

Join Construction Links Network

Submit your FREE Business Directory listing