Mark Carney says renovation uses Canadian workers

Prime Minister Mark Carney said on May 24 that the renovation of Parliament’s Centre Block is being carried out with “Canadian workers” and “Canadian materials,” in a post on X that highlighted the project’s domestic sourcing. Carney’s post referred to the long-running rehabilitation of the main Parliament building on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, a federal project that Public Services and Procurement Canada describes as a restoration and modernization of Centre Block. The social media message included a site photo and project details, according to the post referenced in the briefing. Public federal project pages describe Centre Block as an active construction site and the largest heritage rehabilitation project in Canada. ### Which renovation was Carney talking about? Centre Block is the main Parliament building, including the Peace Tower, and it has been under rehabilitation since 2018, according to project descriptions published by Public Services and Procurement Canada and industry coverage. The work is the first major renovation of Canada’s main Parliament building since the 1916 fire that destroyed the earlier structure, Construction Canada reported. (canada.ca) Ottawa’s federal project also includes expansion of the underground Parliament Welcome Centre, which will connect Centre Block with the East and West Blocks, according to Canada.ca. The government says the work is intended to restore heritage elements, modernize building systems, improve accessibility and sustainability, and strengthen the structure against earthquakes. (constructioncanada.net) ### How big is the Centre Block project? Public Services and Procurement Canada says the site has required major excavation, including an underground expansion in front of Centre Block. Canada.ca says the main excavation for the welcome centre was completed in spring 2023 after about 40,000 truckloads of rock were removed, creating a pit 23 metres deep. (canada.ca) More recent project descriptions say the rehabilitation is now in its rebuilding phase. Construction Canada reported in January 2025 that demolition, primary excavation and abatement were complete and that major restoration work was ready to begin rebuilding. ### What work is being done inside and outside the building? (canada.ca) The Centre Block project includes restoration of stonework, wood, plaster, frescos, stained glass, marble and metalwork, according to Construction Canada. The same report said crews are also replacing mechanical, electrical and fire safety systems and installing new information technology, multimedia and security systems. (constructioncanada.net) CBC reported in June 2023 that workers had been removing hazardous materials, storing more than 20,000 heritage assets and artifacts, and preparing for the technically difficult stage of building underground and reinforcing the structure. CBC also reported that crews were inspecting, cleaning and repairing about 365,000 sandstone blocks on the building exterior. (constructioncanada.net) ### Why does the project include earthquake work? Public Services and Procurement Canada says Centre Block sits in an active earthquake zone and that the original structure did not provide enough protection to meet modern seismic standards. Canada.ca says the project’s solution is base isolation, and Construction Canada reported that more than 500 seismic base isolators are planned in the foundation. (cbc.ca) CBC quoted Rob Wright, an assistant deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, in 2023 calling the underground and structural phase “the most technically complex part of the project.” That description came as crews moved from hazardous-material removal and artifact protection into deeper structural work. (canada.ca) ### When is the project supposed to finish? Construction Canada reported that the Centre Block renovation began in 2018 and is expected to be completed near 2031. Canada.ca says the government publishes progress material, including a quarterly progress report and a page tracking the latest work on the project. (cbc.ca) Public Services and Procurement Canada’s project page remains the main official source for the next updates, including cost, timeline and construction milestones. Carney’s May 24 post tied that federal renovation to a wider message about domestic labour and materials, while the next formal project details are expected through the government’s published Centre Block progress reports. (canada.ca) (constructioncanada.net)