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Loughrey spent a decade in government in New Brunswick. Macdonald has been the chief administrative officer for New Glasgow, N.S. since December 2007, and worked in banking and economic development. Loughrey and Macdonald appear to officially begin their roles with the NCC on July 1.

In an emailed statement, Pierre Poilievre, the minister responsible for the National Capital Commission, said, ‎‎”these vacant positions required the most qualified and experienced individuals to ensure the National Capital Commission continues to represent all Canadians. I’m pleased they have taken up this challenge.”

Dewar has long had concerns, he said, with the way people are appointed to the commission.

“What we see with these appointments seems to be, they’ve continued this trend of just appointing friends of the Conservative party,” said Dewar. “It’s particularly of concern to the NCC in light of the most recent concerns with the proposal of the Victims of Communism Memorial.”

Partisan appointments to the NCC board of directors is hardly anything new. In 2012, former foreign affairs minister John Baird appointed his former teacher Kay Stanley to the board. Stanley has been president of teachers’ federations, and is also Conservative Senator Marjory LeBreton¹s sister. Bob Plamondon is on a leave of absence from the board while he seeks the Conservative nomination in the riding of Nepean.

According to the NCC board’s meeting agenda, directors will be hearing an update on the Victims of Communism project and will also be voting on the decontamination of the site. What exactly that means for the future of the monument is unclear. While the board signed off on the site — near the Supreme Court of Canada — in September 2013, the design for the monument still needs to be approved. On Thursday evening, the NCC is holding a public meeting to “provide an opportunity for the public to engage with the Board members to discuss NCC’s projects.”

“I sincerely hope this wasn’t something that was done to rush through this project,” said Dewar.

Barry Padolsky, an Ottawa architect who has campaigned against the monument’s location, said the vote on decontamination of the site was a surprise to him.

“It’s all very mysterious,” Padolsky said. “It would seem that it is being pursued as a first step in order to implement the project on that site.”

With files from Anaïs Voski and Joanne Chianello.