Parks Canada is responsible for protecting nationally significant examples of natural and cultural heritage and sharing the stories of these treasured places.
Today, Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, announced an investment of an additional $46 million for the final two phases of the Province House conservation project. The funding for this initiative was announced on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada. As part of the announcement, stakeholders, community members and local media were invited inside the historic building to view the intricate masonry work, the stories hidden inside the walls (signatures, unique markings), and the magnitude of work that has gone into restoring this national historic site before this next phase once again hides these treasures from view.
Province House is a place where visitors can immerse themselves in Canadian history, neoclassical architecture, and Prince Edward Island (PEI) politics. The Government of Canada recognizes the historical and cultural significance of Province House and is taking important steps, working closely with many key stakeholders, to ensure this building can be enjoyed by future generations. The seat of the PEI Legislative Assembly and owned by the Province of Prince Edward Island, the building is interpreted and maintained as a national historic site by Parks Canada.
A contract is now in place to complete the remaining work in Phase 3 of the project, which involves fit-up work focused on establishing universal accessibility, fire code compliance, building systems including electrical, mechanical and HVAC as well as interior finishes, such as painting and flooring. As part of the work, Province House will be made fully accessible for the first time in its history, and the new geothermal heating and cooling system will increase its energy efficiency, saving about $10,000 annually.
The final portion of the project, Phase 4, involves the design, development and installation of the new visitor experience offer at Province House. Under the guidance of Parks Canada's Framework for History and Commemoration, national and local Indigenous and cultural communities have been engaged to ensure that many voices are included in the exhibits. The exhibits project team is currently working on content development and exhibit design.
With today's funding announcement, the total investment for the long-term preservation of Province House is $138 million. Due to its size and complexity, funding has been allocated incrementally and the work has been completed in phases. This project began in 2015, following an investigation that showed the foundation, stone walls, windows, and roof needed significant work. In February 2020, the Government of Canada announced what was expected to be the final budget allotment for the project with a summer 2022 project completion date. However, the COVID-19 pandemic created workforce and supply chain challenges, material cost increases, and project delays that could not have been anticipated when the project began. The new timeline for completion of the remaining work and reopening to the public is expected to be in 2025.
