Article content

City Coun. Mathieu Fluery says he’s frustrated by the federal government’s decision to build a VIP entranceway on Rideau Street in front of the new Senate of Canada Building.

The city, he said, has received notice from Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) that the entrance will be in place by Nov. 18. Construction has already started.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or City councillor frustrated by Senate's VIP entranceway Back to video

Fleury, councillor for Rideau-Vanier, contends the second entranceway is unnecessary because senators already have ready access to their temporary home off Colonel By Drive.

Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia

“If it was a property that had limited access, you’d say, ‘OK, let’s make it work.’ But they have full access on Colonel By: There’s dignitary loading there,” he said. “It’s frustrating that the federal government can just do things.”

The Senate’s permanent home in Centre Block is now undergoing its first major rehabilitation since it opened in 1920.

Photo by . / .

Its new home at 2 Rideau St., the former Government Conference Centre, is located within the Parliamentary Precinct, an area administered by PSPC.