Dear Friends of Lansdowne
Last week's presentation on the legal challenge at the Mayfair Theatre was a smashing success: we packed the house, and raised three things: awareness, hope and $5000. See the slides from the presentation here.
OSEG Wants to Enter the Case
Now there's a new twist in the Lansdowne Legal Challenge. The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group(OSEG) wants to intervene in the lawsuit.
When the Friends of Lansdowne filed its lawsuit seeking to quash Council decisions on the development of Lansdowne Park, it challenged the City not OSEG because the dispute relates only to the City's legal conduct and actions. Lawyers for the Friends and the City confirmed that neither side would seek costs.
However, OSEG has now requested legal standing in the case. Friends of Lansdowne has consented to OSEG's intervention provided that OSEG agrees not to delay proceedings and not to seek costs against the applicants.
OSEG has so far refused to accept the reciprocal no-costs agreement. Yesterday, our lawyer Steven Shrybman wrote to both the City and OSEG reminding them that seeking costs from community and resident groups is contrary to the city policy on public interest litigation. His letters note that the costs of litigation would likely be inconsequential to the wealthy members of the consortium who can deduct them as business expenses but daunting to public interest litigants like us. The letter goes on to say that: "It appears that OSEG is hoping to force the Applicants to abandon their right to seek judicial review of the City actions, from which OSEG clearly benefits."
You can see the letters on the Let's Get It Right website posted under the Legal section.
OSEG's proposed intervention in the legal challenge suggests that they are taking the case seriously. It is unclear whether or not OSEG will be given standing and under what terms. We now know for sure that the case will be heard by the courts in the first week of April 2011.
We Still Need Your Financial Support
We have now raised over $45,000 towards our $100,000 goal but we need to maintain the momentum. If just 600 of us would give $100 each, we would be over our target. You can donate online or write a cheque to Friends of Lansdowne and mail it to Ted Lupinski CA, 137 Second Ave, Suite 2, Ottawa, K1S H4. And spread the word--if many of us give even a small amount, it will all add up.
Mrs. Cutler's Cookies: A Tasty Way to Support Friends of Lansdowne
Mrs. Cutler's Cookies, a Westboro tradition, is pleased to announce an exclusive arrangement with Friends of Lansdowne. For every cookie order of $25 or more, Mrs. Cutler's Cookies will donate 10% of sales back to the Friends of Lansdowne. Nut-free, home-baked cookies--including shortbreads, gingerbread, and more--will be delivered to your door (free for central Ottawa; a small fee elsewhere). Not only will you have scrumptious holiday cookies, but you will be able to support Friends of Lansdowne at the same time.
Please contact Lorne Cutler at Mrs. Cutler's Cookies at lacutler@magma.ca or at 613 725-9147 for information on this special offer, mentioning Lansdowne. Please order by December 10 to avoid disappointment.
As always, check our website: www.letsgetitright.ca for the latest news on Lansdowne.