On February 27, 2018, the Government of Canada released its 2018 Budget, which includes proposed funding to support Library and Archives Canada’s collaboration with the Ottawa Public Library for a joint facility. The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Library are pleased to see the inclusion of this collaboration as a budget priority as it shows a formal federal commitment to the joint facility. With this knowledge, we will continue working with Library and Archives Canada to move ahead on the project. This includes a report to the Ottawa Public Library Board, the Finance and Economic Development Committee, and City Council in the spring of 2018 on the project’s next steps.
Here is the official information from the 2018 Federal Budget document:
The Government [of Canada] proposes to provide $73.3 million over six years, on a cash basis, starting in 2018–19, with $4.0 million per year ongoing, to support the construction and ongoing operations of a new joint facility that will house Library and Archives Canada and the Ottawa Public Library. This represents the Government’s share of the project, with the balance expected to be provided by the City of Ottawa. This new building will be an iconic community hub, a single door to the national library and archives, and a world-class public library in Canada’s capital city which will increase citizen participation in the community and improve access to Canada’s history, culture and collective knowledge. It is expected that the new building will be completed by 2023.