Covering Parliament Hill during construction: Worth the cost?

Parliament Hill's Centre Block will be under construction beginning in 2018, and tourism officials in Ottawa want the scaffolding covered by an artful tarp so visitors won't leave disappointed.

'Trompe-l'oeil' often used in Europe to cover construction at well-known landmarks

CBC News Posted: Jan 14, 2016 10:52 AM EST | Last Updated: January 14, 2016

A woman walks as snow falls on Parliament Hill. The Centre Block is set to be covered by scaffolding, beginning in 2018, for about a decade. (Christopher Pike/Reuters)

Ottawa's tourism agency is calling for Centre Block's iconicfacade to be replicated on fabric during a forthcoming decade-long rehabilitation project.

But the cost is a concern for the federal government, even though Parliament Hill is a key tourism attraction.

Special tarp proposed to hide Parliament Hill construction from tourists: https://t.co/l0CHJBsjlL #ottnews #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/dq6MzNFN2Z
—@CBCOttawa

The debate over whether taxpayer dollars should be allotted to such a"trompe-l'oeil"aired Thursday on CBC Radio'sOttawa Morning.

So what didaudience membersthink of the idea?

A Cdn eg of a trompe-l'oeuil at Quebec City's Chateau Frontenac. Does it work? pic.twitter.com/N3FNlWkjK9
—@OttawaMorning

Most saw theaesthetic advantageof a 3D tarp, no matter how much it costs.

@OttawaMorning I've seen this done all over Europe while on vacation. It works and looks surprisingly real.
—@GalMonday

@OttawaMorning Id hate to see just a picture of the building. The National Gallerys ice berg was a great example of what to do.
—@NoahCarroll

@OttawaMorning it's better then what the West Blocked looked like.
—@CapitalOttawa

@OttawaMorning It would be far preferable to scaffolding and white plastic wrap.
—@AdsWriter

@OttawaMorning Yes... seen it many times in europe. Recall 1 in italy with a tag line... 10yrs of work to preserve 1000 yrs of history
—@Norsunenergy

.@OttawaMorning We're spending $1b on Parl precinct. To not find a less than $1m to support tourism for a decade is foolish. #nickel&dime
—@scottawa27

@OttawaMorning The Bay on Ste Catherine in Montreal used it. Different scale, but if The Bay can afford it, so can the government.
—@AD613

@OttawaMorning Yes, but not only for tourists. We residents get pretty tired of ugly scaffolding downtown.
—@EleanorThomas17

Others thought plain oldscaffolding was't so bad.

The early estimates for the tarp have it costinghundreds of thousands of dollars, while government officials say they're willing to pay up to just one per cent of the total cost of the false facade.

@OttawaMorning nope it is a construction site, treat it as such. Put money that would go towards this on additional safety 4 the workers.
—@asselsm

@OttawaMorning U.S. Capitol wears its scaffolding proudly. pic.twitter.com/zzprC8jB9a
—@marlenespatuk

What do you think? Tweet your thoughts to @CBCOttawa or leave a comment below.

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