Late and over budget - part of our Canadian heritage

Workers install a protective barrier on the north end of West Block during continuing renovations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 15, 2009. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Officials at Public Works have confirmed it will cost much more than $1 billion dollars to renovate the West Block building on Parliament Hill. They also say the restoration of the Wellington Building will cost $146 million more than expected.

The information comes in response to a request I made more than three weeks ago when I was working on a story about the $5-billion extreme makeover of Canada's parliamentary precinct.

Workers started the interior demolition of the Wellington Building, across the street from Parliament Hill, last spring.

After its complete restoration, it will house 69 offices for MPs and Senators as well as 10 committee meeting rooms.

In 2007, the government estimated the mid-life retro-fit would cost $270.1 million.

Now, officials from Public Works say: "The project scope now involves complete interior demolition, structural modification, replacement of all mechanical, electrical life safety and vertical transportation systems and the fit-up for core parliamentary functions."

The new budget for this project is $425 million.

West Block needs work, that's clear

No one would argue that the West Block isn't in terrible shape.

The beautiful building, built in Gothic Revival style in 1865, needs a new copper roof, a mechanical and electrical system overhaul, extensive masonry restoration and asbestos removal.

The buildings' occupants - MPs, parliamentary employees and a cafeteria - must all be moved out and accommodated elsewhere, leading to even more expense.

The West Block will also eventually be home to an interim House of Commons when the Centre Block is cleared for its own extensive renovations.

Architects are working on a $45 million glass-domed chamber inside the West Block courtyard. Construction is set to begin in 2012.

A document from 2007 estimates the total West Block reno program would cost $1.1 billion, not including GST.

But according to the email I received yesterday, "the cost estimate for the West Block project is currently being refined as the design moves from the concept to the final design development state. Since 2005, significant changes have occurred that impact the final cost estimate."

For example, Public Works says it is finding deterioration that is more severe than anticipated (no doubt from the many years this project has been delayed), and has to adjust for new building codes. It must also fork out for increased security (throw your mind back to the Greenpeace protest earlier this year), and to convert from GST to Ontario's Harmonized Sales Tax.

Echoes of 1861?

These kinds of delays and cost overruns aren't new.

You might consider them part of our Canadian heritage. Workers laid the very first stones for the parliament buildings in 1860.

By 1861, construction costs were already more than double the original estimate, according to Public Works' own website.

"In September the site was closed down and the partly finished walls were covered with tarpaulins to protect them from the weather. [Thirteen hundred] men were thrown out of work.

"A commission of inquiry was formed in June, 1862 to find out what had gone wrong."