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“The CEF has served Canadians for many generations and it will continue to do so. It is a rare jewel in our Capital city that affords a rich green space as well as providing the means to conduct science that improves the lives of Canadians.”

However, documents obtained under the Access to Information Act by researcher Pete Anderson show a number of Agriculture Canada officials were concerned about loss of research land — amounting to 15 per cent or more of all research fields on the farm, according to the documents — as well as the size of the proposed hospital site.

Many feared the chunk of land to be transferred would require Experimental Farm roads to be rerouted, which would have an even greater impact on the farm than originally thought. At the public announcement of the land transfer late last year, a map was released showing a block of about 60 acres at the north-west corner of the Farm at Carling and Fisher avenues, ending at Ash Lane on the east.

But a spokesman for Agriculture Canada said that the boundaries for the new hospital site have since been re-drawn and they require Ash Lane to be rerouted.

“This rerouting is not expected to impact research fields,” said spokesman Patrick Girard. “The actual development of the site is not likely to begin for a number of years. ”

Girard added that Agriculture Canada will work with the NCC and The Ottawa Hospital to develop land use and design guidelines for development that “will ensure the protection of the cultural landscape of historic and architectural significance.”

While the government has approved the memorandum of understanding between the hospital, Agriculture Canada and the NCC, which is managing the land transfer, the transfer agreement has not been finalized.

epayne@ottawacitizen.com