City opens up Lansdowne forums

Facing criticism that previous open houses on a plan for Lansdowne Park's redevelopment weren't genuine consultations, the City of Ottawa held its first public question-and-answer session on the plan Wednesday.

The city announced the session Wednesday afternoon, a little over three hours before it began with a question from Ottawa resident Diane McIntyre.

"I want to thank Mr. Kirkpatrick and council for opening this up to questions tonight because I think that until tonight, all of these so-called consultations have been a charade, a complete farce, a total sham," McIntyre told a hall full of citizens seeking answers about the public-private partnership between Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group and the City of Ottawa.

Two earlier open houses had already been held on the Lansdowne Partnership Plan to build condo towers, shops and restaurants and revamp the stadium at the sprawling park on Bank Street, north of the Rideau Canal, but their format allowed members of the public to ask questions one-on-one with staff, not publicly.

On Monday night at a consultation at Lansdowne Park, some residents — surprised and disappointed that there was no townhall-style forum where they could air their views — got a bullhorn and stood on a chair in the middle of the room to make themselves heard.

On Tuesday, at a consultation in Kanata, businessman John Martin claimed he was manhandled by security because he wanted an open competition for the park. During the incident, filmed by a CBC camera, Martin was told he had already been given the opportunity in two places to voice his opinion.

"I'm a citizen and this a consultation," he protested.

"No, no, this is to inform the people," the guard responded.

Councillors requested session: Kirkpatrick

On Wednesday night, city manager Kent Kirkpatrick faced pointed questions about the cost of the project, including whether it will be a good deal for the city and how it will affect the Glebe neighbourhood surrounding the park. In between, Kirkpatrick received repeated thanks for including a townhall-style forum.

Kirkpatrick responded that some councillors attending Wednesday's forum had indicated they wanted such a venue. "They deserve your appreciation more than I do," he said.

In fact, a number of councillors used the opportunity to air their own views.

Clive Doucet, who represents Capital Ward where Lansdowne Park is located, criticized Kirkpatrick's role in cancelling the international design competition that was supposed to come up with a vision for the future of Lansdowne Park.

"No councillor could write a letter to anybody saying I've just decided to suspend the competition," Doucet said. "The mayor couldn't do it — but Mr. Kirkpatrick did!"

Coun. Diane Holmes said her understanding was that the competition had been suspended at the request of Mayor Larry O'Brien, who was not present at the forum.

At that point, Orléans Coun. Bob Monette, appeared to be fed up with the forum.

"Out of nine speakers, all you've done is attack the credibility of Kent Kirkpatrick … the city manager, the council and the city. That is disgusting and I'm walking away from this meeting."

Kirkpatrick defended himself, saying council could have directed staff to reinitiate the design competition at any time but did not.

Despite the heated exchanges, the city plans to hold another question and answer session Thursday at the Jim Durrell complex on Walkley Road. Two other open houses are scheduled to take place next week and consultations are also continuing online.

On Tuesday, Kirkpatrick is scheduled to answer councillors' questions about the financial details of the Lansdowne proposal at the corporate services committee meeting.