If you listened to CBC radio this morning, you may have heard a story about John Loxley, one of Canada's leading P3 experts, speaking about the Lansdowne Partnership Plan as a particularly bad example of a public-private partnership scheme, since there is no way to determine if the public is getting good value from the deal. Mr. Loxley is one of the experts giving evidence in the legal challenge undertaken by Friends of Lansdowne. See his affidavit here and other information on the legal challenge here. And please donate generously to the cause. We are an entirely volunteer effort and depend on your support.
Our lawyer, Steven Shrybman, is a keynote speaker at a free public forum called Building People Power organized by the Council of Canadians this Friday, October 22. The forum starts at 7 pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 101 Lyon Street. (And yes he will mention Lansdowne Park).
Friday is also the last day to comment on the site plan for Lansdowne Park. You can view the plans and submit comments on-line until this Friday, October 22. See the Lansdowne Partnership Plan public consultation page on how to review and comment on the plan online.
More key dates coming up:
* Monday, October 25--Election Day. The best way to turn the tide on the current Lansdowne project is to use your vote to elect Councillors who believe in fair and open public processes and who will work to protect heritage places, parks, and taxpayers interests. Go to our website to find suggested questions for candidates and information on candidates identified by Our Ottawa (a volunteer group interested in the election) as having a progressive stance on the Lansdowne issue.
* Thursday, October 28--Last day to submit appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board for the rezoning of Lansdowne Park.
* Thursday, November 4--The Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee will consider a report recommending the relocation of the Horticulture Building. Heritage Ottawa, the Ontario Heritage Trust and the Heritage Canada Foundation have all expressed concerns about moving this building. The meeting is at 6 pm in the Colonel By Room at City Hall.
* Sunday, November 14--Mark this date on your calendars. An afternoon event will be held at the Mayfair Theatre to support the Lansdowne Legal Challenge. More details soon.
* Friday, November 19--The current City Council has scheduled a special Committee of the Whole meeting on Lansdowne Park to rush through approval of the site plan and the relocation of the Horticulture Building before the new Council takes office on December 1. This ethics of this timing are certainly questionable and depending on the outcome of the election, it may actually be a lame duck Council by then. Let's see.
* Wednesday, November 24--Less than one week before its term expires, Council is planning to give more approvals to the Lansdowne scheme. However, even these will not be final. There will be many key decisions to be made on Lansdowne in the months and years ahead. It is not a done deal by any means, so the future of Lansdowne will lie in the hands of the next City Council. (So please keep this in mind when you vote).
To keep informed of all the action on Lansdowne, check out our website regularly: www.letsgetitright.ca.