Mayor Jim Watson wrote with his views.
I responded. See both letters below:

Dear Robin,

Thank you for your e-mail.  As you are likely aware, the City of Ottawa’s Planning Committee approved a site plan control application for the Château Laurier hotel at its meeting of June 13, 2019.  I recognize that most decisions to locate a modern design next to a historic design are controversial.

As I am sure you are aware, the Château Laurier is privately held property.  As such, responsibility for the design of this addition to the Château Laurier and its grounds rests solely with the architect and landscape architect, as determined by Larco, the property owner.  The City cannot require a building be built in a particular style, or by a particular architect.  That is the choice of the applicant.  In this instance, the owner has opted to pursue a contemporary design.  

The most recently revised development application from the owner of the Château Laurier lowers the building heights to seven-storeys, aimed at improving views of the original hotel building from Major’s Hill Park. The new pavilion building will now appear as a separate and subordinate building to the original Château Laurier.  The ground floor has been redesigned to enhance the amount of publicly accessible space, and features a long gallery along the north wall, creating a visual connection between the addition and Major’s Hill Park to the north.

The first phases of the Château Laurier were located on former park lands, and the north façade was adjacent to Major’s Hill Park.  In the 1960’s, construction of a parking garage with little aesthetic value eroded that relationship.  This addition re-establishes the relationship with the park.  An enclosed glass gallery facing Major’s Hill Park allows east/west movement, with pedestrian access to Mackenzie Avenue.  There could also be potential for a pedestrian entrance along the addition’s north façade should the National Capital Commission (NCC) wish to make changes to landscaping and pathways within Major’s Hill Park.  I also feel confident that the dominant view of the Château Laurier, as seen from Wellington Street, will be preserved for residents and tourists.

Ottawa City Council unanimously delegated authority to both the Planning Committee and to our highly capable staff to move this issue forward. At the end of the day, it is not about my opinion on the design. Planning Committee must base their decision on site plan considerations as defined by Ontario’s Planning Act and in the City’s Official Plan.

I support the work that City staff have done on this file and I would also like to thank the members of the Planning Committee for their careful consideration of this application. The Planning Committee’s decision is final on matters of site plan control.

Sincerely,

Jim Watson
Mayor
City of Ottawa

JW/ps

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Mayor Jim

Thanks you for your reply and explanations. I am of the school that believes that sometimes the bureaucrats are wrong and the people are right, as in this case. (Other times it's the other way around.) As you can glean from the online poll, and my own position, for many of us the Chateau is not only a piece of private property. She is a symbol of historical importance, our city's and nation's icon that we should not deal with lightly -- and certainly not at the "whim" of an architect and process out of step with the overwhelming public view. 
I realize that Council and Mayor have limited input, but you have some. Council should not be endorsing something most citizens -- I suspect an overwhelming number -- dislike. You need to go to bat for us. The owners of the hotel should be crystal clear that what they are doing may NOT be what the public wants. That may convince them to try harder, to find an option that is consistent with the French chateau style that we all (or most of us) want. Impossible? That seems very unlikely. 
It's possible but they've been led to believe it's okay to violate the original look.
To be clear, if I may: This is not just one building among many. This is one of Ottawa's most important emblematic structures, probably second only to the Hill. We are not being narrow-minded or parochial, to insist that these changes now being considered are hurtful to our image of Ottawa, and damaging to her history.  This cannot be undone. This is important to us.  Is there anything more important than this hotel to how we see the downtown, its past? Can't we believe that this legacy is worth protecting, instead of letting it go? There was a vote by Council, which needs reconsideration.
Many years ago, the Cattle Castle was up for demolition. Council voted to go ahead and let it be torn down. Some of us phoned council members, and some members changed their minds when they realized how much the building mattered. The Castle was saved. 
Save this one too.  Do the most you can. Reconsider, as Council member Fleury is proposing. 

Please listen to the poll. Read what the citizens say in their comments, there. I found them quite moving. They are pleading that we take care of the "old lady". 

https://www.change.org/p/ottawa-city-council-block-changes-to-the-chateau-laurier-s-classic-look

Robin Collins