Friends,

The City of Ottawa is moving ahead at record speed with its efforts to deter citizens groups from holding it accountable for its decisions.

Next Tuesday September 6th at 9:30 a.m., the City of Ottawa's Finance and Economic Development Committee will consider a recommendation to repeal its policy on public interest litigation. Right now, the City does not seek cost awards from public interest groups like Friends of Lansdowne, but if the policy is changed, this would no longer be the case. Read the report here.

It is ironic that the City of Ottawa, which established a progressive public interest litigation policy in an effort to encourage civic engagement and democratic participation, may cancel the policy after the Lansdowne case-- the first time it has been put to the test. So much for principle.

It is even more interesting that the ostensible reason for the changed policy is the City's million-dollar legal bill on Lansdowne. As we have explained before, the City's external legal team caused multiple delays and obstructions that not only increased the City's costs, but they also increased the costs for us--a volunteer group. If the City's lawyers run up a million dollar bill when there is no chance of a cost award, imagine what the legal bills will be under a potential cost-award scenario. No citizens' group will dare exercise its democratic and legal rights, for fear of financial ruin. This is what is known as litigation chill.

The Mayor seems determined to change this policy quickly. There will be no public consultation, even though the proposed change will have an impact on every single volunteer and non-profit group in the City. Citizens groups will not have any real chance to discuss or speak up on the issue. The report was posted Wednesday and the only meeting where the public can comment is next Tuesday, after the long Labour Day weekend and very conveniently on the morning of the first day of school.

If you are concerned that this fast-tracked policy change will cause litigation chill, please spread the word to others and let your Councillor and the Mayor know what you think.You can make a 5-minute presentation to the Committee by contacting Marc.Desjardins@ottawa.ca.

Let's think of the type of City we want Ottawa to be. Let's get it right.