Lieutenant-Governor to Use Temporary Quarters
Lieutenant-Governor-designate Mayann Francis will use expanded office space in Halifax Maritime Centre while extensive repairs to Government House are undertaken, Speaker of the House Cecil Clarke said today, Sept. 5.
Repairs to Government House -- the oldest vice-regal house in Canada -- are needed to ensure safety and its ongoing preservation. The province had announced more than a year ago that those renovations would begin in earnest at the conclusion of the current lieutenant-governor's term.
"The building is an historic landmark," said Mr. Clarke, who announced the plans by telephone from Nigeria, where he is attending meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. "It has had piecemeal repairs over the years but has been continuously occupied since 1805. It is time for the province to go in and complete work that simply cannot be done when there are people working or living there."
Ms. Francis will be installed as the 31st Nova Scotia lieutenant-governor since Confederation in a ceremony at Province House on Thursday, Sept. 7.
She will continue to live in her personal residence in Halifax until all the renovations at Government House are complete in about two years and will receive an allowance to offset additional costs incurred by that arrangement.
Offices at Maritime Centre, which overlook Government House, will be expanded and consolidated to accommodate the lieutenant-governor and some official functions. Administrative staff of the lieutenant-governor are currently located in that building. The closure of Government House will result in some employee layoffs.
The Speaker said that while the lieutenant-governor's space at Maritime Centre is being prepared, she will work from Province House. He said the lieutenant-governor will have her own office space and the Veterans Room will be reserved for her use. Ms. Francis will also have ready access to the Red Chamber for official functions for the six to eight weeks that it will take to prepare the Maritime Centre space.
"It is fitting that the lieutenant-governor will be at Province House, even on an interim basis, in a building that represents the work of the people of Nova Scotia," said Mr. Clarke. "Every effort is being made to see that Her Honour will experience minimal disruptions and inconvenience during these transitions. When work is complete on Government House, she will be able to welcome Nova Scotians to a safer, more comfortable version of this historic treasure."
Work began in 2005 on $2 million in repairs needed for safety reasons to a retaining wall that surrounds the building. That work is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.
Renovations and upgrades to the interior of the building are expected to include full replacement of the boiler and heating systems, work on the century-old wiring and on ventilation systems, installation of an accessible washroom and revisions that will bring the structure up to current fire code standards.
A full audit of the building will be undertaken to determine what other work may be required. The interior renovations are expected to cost more than $3 million.
Mr. Clarke said about $1.5 million has already been included in this year's budget by the Department of Transportation and Public Works.