Councillors vent over Lansdowne appeal

Beginning of Story Content Ottawa <a href="http://www.trading666.com/UGG-snow-boots-5815-f2-72-c3-140.html"><strong>wholesale cheap ugg 5815 online from china </strong></a> Mayor Jim Watson was quiet on the Friends of Lansdowne appeal Thursday as city council gathered for the FEDCO meeting. CBCOttawa city councillors had mixed reaction to news a court decision concerning the city's partnership to renovate Lansdowne Park would be appealled. June Creelman, president of Friends of Lansdowne, said Wednesday they would file an official appeal by Aug. 28 to the Ontario Court of Appeal, prolonging the fight against the current Lansdowne plan. Mayor Jim Watson did not comment on Thursday morning and maintained his silence on the issue through much of Thursday's Finance and Economic Development committee meeting, leaving it to councillors to vent their frustration. River Ward Coun. Maria McRae made a point of asking Friends of Lansdowne to reveal its donors list "in the interest of transparency." Others weren't so targeted, but clearly showed disappointment with the appeal. "It's unfortunate, but the court decision was extremely clear. It really looks as if they're doing this to cause postponement to make it more difficult," said Kanata Coun. Marianne Wilkinson. Coun. Diane Holmes said she wasn't surprised, but added <a href="http://www.trading666.com/brand-bags-t1-8.html"><strong>wholesale juicy handbags online</strong></a> the city should have expected it. "This is democracy, democracy in action. The group has the right to appeal," said Holmes. "We should have expected this. There was such opposition right from the beginning." In July, an Ottawa judge rejected Friends of Lansdowne's argument the city broke its own procurement rules when it entered a 300 million public-private partnership with OSEG to renovate Frank Clair Stadium and build a mix of green space, condominiums and retail space in the park. Minto CEO and OSEG group member Roger Greenberg said he also expected the appeal. "I'm not surprised. They don't agree with council's decision," said Greenberg, "it's a bit disappointing that they wouldn't accept a truly unbiased individual's view on these matters." Greenberg announced at the council meeting OSEG has not ruled out seeking legal costs from Friends of Lansdowne, even though the group was only an intervener in the case. Some councillors also suggested they may reverse a policy to not go after opposing groups for legal costs. That would not be retroactive, however, meaning taxpayers would not be able to regain the more than 1 million spent <a href="http://www.trading666.com/others-brand-cigarettes-f2-66.html"><strong>wholesale marlboro red cigarettes from china </strong></a> thus far on the Friends of Lansdowne case. But it could have an impact on future challenges. Late Thursday morning, the Lansdowne Park Conservancy group, which earlier this year promoted its alternative vision for the park, said it had filed its own legal case challenging the city's deal with OSEG. End of Story Content Back to accessibility links