In 1886 an Act of Parliament established the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa and the next year a botanic garden and arboretum was created on the land around Prince of Wales Drive and the Rideau Canal. Despite numerous proposals by government departments, the botanical garden has never been fully developed. After more than a century, it seems only reasonable to transfer the responsibility to a non-profit society, devoted solely to doing the job.

1886 Parliament establishes the Central Experimental Farm and, a year later, a botanic garden and arboretum is established 1929 Government conference proposed re-establishing garden as a National Botanical Garden 1936 The Dominion Botanist proposes a National Garden to the Prime Minister 1960 A Memorandum to Cabinet recommends a National Botanical Garden on site as a centennial project 1987 Government departments propose a National Botanical Garden 1999 The Ottawa 2000 Committee chose the Ottawa Botanical Garden Society vision as the Millennium park project for region.