Ottawa Sun
Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Fire and emotion: Only time will tell if lesson from Lansdowne process has been learned

Monday’s 15-9 vote in favour of the Lansdowne Live rejuvenation proposal hopefully puts this debate into some form of induced-coma for some time to come. Now let the senior staff team at the city earn their money and negotiate the final details and dates with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG).

If the defeated side or some 2010 councillor candidates wish to make an issue of the decision, so be it, such is our local democracy. However, once the shovels go in the ground, we’d better get on with building something because a start-and-stop process would surely condemn Lansdowne Park to a fate even worse than it’s all but condemned present state of disrepair and civic disrepute.

While this lengthy process — over two years since the OSEG partners first floated their concept — was at times infuriating and frustrating for all concerned, even more fascinating to watch was the collective conduct of council as a whole. Having lived in this city for just shy of a quarter-century, this scribe has never seen such a display.

To start, like him or not, city manager Kent Kirkpatrick does his job day in and day out in what he believes to be the best interests of the city, not only for today, but for the next generation. And to have more than one councillor question his integrity in this regard was not only regrettable, it was wrong. If council as a whole determines it no longer has confidence in him, the remedy is simple, dismissal. However, until that time, he merits the full public support of the council to whom he is accountable and reports.

Next up, the faux concern with the amount of staff time spent on Lansdowne Live — either in the past or into the next period of negotiations — is the biggest red herring in this whole process. Those who questioned this allocation of human resources and complained that Lansdowne Live took precedence (or will take precedence) over some of their own ward concerns were, and are, barking at the moon. The same argument could be made about their own innocuous and at times frivolous request for staff to investigate issue X in Europe or inquiry Y about the most miniscule of issues.

On the issue of preparation, other commentators in print and radio have already remarked as to how ill-prepared some councillors seemed asking questions which were clearly outlined in Monday’s materials, or worse still, previous reports that have been circulated to council. All I can add to this is ditto!

Now in fairness to Coun. Clive Doucet who led the anti-Lansdowne Live forces, I actually wish more of his colleagues would be infected by his passion for the future of our city. Yes, this passion got the better of him at times, but give me a bit of fire and emotion for the future of our city any day over just going through the motions and being analytical and dispassionate about issues.

Finally, council should figure out how to professionalize its debate and consultation proceedings. Yes, let’s ensure public input is sought earlier in any major decision-making process. But once it is gathered, council needs to discus, debate, deliberate and then decide. Only time will tell if this lesson has been learned.