Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write and express your views on the proposed Lansdowne 2.0. Plan. I have received a significant number of emails and calls from residents, and the overwhelming message is that Gloucester-Southgate residents DO NOT support this plan.
In my commitment to keep you informed, I wanted to share a few updates in advance of the final vote that will take place tomorrow, Friday, November 7th.
The City’s Auditor General Released a Critical Report
Earlier this week, the City’s Auditor General released her follow-up Audit on Lansdowne 2.0, which offers an important, independent look at the financial and construction risks behind the City’s proposed redevelopment.
Here is a summary of the Key Risks as identified by the AG:
- Understated Construction Costs: Event Centre and North Side Stands may be $74M over budget; parking underestimated by $2.7M due to optimistic pricing and market volatility.
- Limited Contingency: $36M buffer is minimal for a high-risk, multi-year project; overruns could force the City to take on more debt.
- City-Related Delays: Design changes or approval delays could increase costs through contractor claims.
- Tariff & Supply Chain Risks: New or higher tariffs on steel and aluminum could escalate costs of the project to the CIty.
- Private Development Dependencies: Delays in Mirabella’s residential/retail projects may trigger penalties or cost increases, at the City’s expense.
- Overestimated Redblacks Revenue: Short-term growth projected at 9.85%, while historical growth is ~5%; shortfalls could reduce returns by $53M.
- Franchise Risk: Redblacks’ contract ends in 2042; early departure could cut projected revenues by $18M.
- Operating Costs Underestimated: Assumed 2% growth vs historical 7–9%; small increases could reduce returns by $30–31M.
- Opportunity Costs: Project diverts reserves and revenue, reducing affordable housing contributions by $5M.
Her report confirmed many of the risks that I had previously stated in my last update, including the fact that taxpayers are bearing full freight of the risk associated with debt repayment to the tune of $17.4M annually from 2036 until 2070, funds that could be spent on other city priorities.
Evolving Community Concerns
In addition to the risks raised by the City’s AG, this week several community groups, unions, and organizations have expressed deep concerns about the impact of the Lansdowne 2.0 project.
Local Trades Raise Alarm Over Outsourcing in Lansdowne 2.0 Project
Tradespeople and their unions have voiced serious concerns over the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment, criticizing the city’s decision to award major construction contracts to a non-local company, EBC Inc.
They argue this approach disadvantages local firms and unionized workers, effectively sidelining the area’s skilled labour pool. The local trades council warns that bypassing local contractors not only undermines community economic benefits but also diminishes opportunities for jobs that city-funded projects should ideally support.
View the full article here.
CityFolk Raises Concerns Over Lansdowne 2.0 Impact
CityFolk, the organization behind Ottawa’s popular annual music festival, has expressed serious concerns about the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment. Their main concern is that the project could disrupt the festival’s traditional footprint on the Great Lawn and hill, since the plan proposes reducing the green space by 58,000 square feet.
The organizers of CityFolk have suggested, if the redevelopment moves forward as currently planned, they may be forced to leave Lansdowne Park permanently.
View the full article here.
Arena Not Viable for the OTTAWA CHARGE
The Ottawa Charge of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) have raised concerns about the proposed Lansdowne 2.0 arena, warning that its planned capacity of 5,850 seats (6,600 with standing room) would be too small to accommodate their growing fan base.
Despite repeated warnings to city officials and OSEG, the team says they were not meaningfully consulted, leaving their future in the city uncertain.
View full article here.
COUNCIL TO VOTE TOMORROW, FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7TH
The above is not an exhaustive list of concerns with Lansdowne 2.0, but demonstrates the lack of care put into ensuring that the redevelopment of Lansdowne 2.0 meets the needs of the community and serves the public interest.
The risks, as stated by the City’s Auditor General, should also be cause for great concern, especially considering the City’s track record on major complex Public-Private Partnership (P3) projects, like LRT.
I will state again, there are alternatives to this plan, and Council should reject the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal to allow for a better plan.
Tomorrow, on behalf of my constituents, I will be voting NO to Lansdowne 2.0.
