Press Release by Kitchissippi Ward Councillor Christine Leadman June 26, 2010.

Late on Friday afternoon, after most public delegations had presented, the only outstanding official document of the Lansdowne Partnership Plan (“Document 27”) was released. It dealt with much of the subjects that have come under the scrutiny by Councillors, interested heritage bodies and the public at large.

It proposes that most of the outstanding and contentious issues be deferred until “Stage 1” that will come before Council on November 24th 2010. It also deferred a key condition that OSEG and Staff were to fulfill to allow the June 28th vote to go forward. The comprehensive master site plan and an independent third party peer review of that plan are still missing. That is now not being done until November 24th.

“This week I’ve raised concerns about the proposed ‘surplus lands’ and the ‘exclusive stadium rights’ that were overlooked and only now are being addressed. Document 27 will defer most of the key issues and conditions until November 24th,” said Councillor Leadman adding, “Why then is Council set to fully lock the City into a deal before we have critical details and requirement that may not be viable or acceptable to the Citizens of Ottawa?”

Speaking on OSEG & City staff’s deferral of key topics Christine Leadman said, “If they wanted Council to vote on the plan on June 28th they should have done the work they knew they were required to do. Why are we financially and legally locking the City into a deal before they give us the real plans that are to be released only a few months down the road?” adding, “The current project can proceed without Council’s final blessing until the true iteration of the plan is known. There is no need and indeed it is reckless to lock in the City before the final plan is known.”

Summarizing her position “If OSEG and Staff have deferred a key condition and most contentious issues until November 24th then we should only give the final blessing then.”

-30-

Media Contact:
Jennifer Young
P: 613-580-2485
Cell: 613-862-5983
Jennifer.young@ottawa.ca