Councillor calls for referendum on Lansdowne 2.0, but mayor opposed
Social Sharing
As the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment ticks along behind the scenes, one city councillor tried publicly on Tuesday to explore the idea of a referendum during the 2026 municipal election so residents could ultimately decide whether the new arena and football stands should be built.
Coun. Shawn Menard, who represents the Glebe neighbourhood where Lansdowne Park is located, pointed out that more than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for a citywide vote on whether to spend upward of $419 million on the project.
The plan is to replace the north-side stands at the football stadium, and to replace the arena with a new one that has thousands fewer seats and is located where there's now a grassy berm. The city's private sector partner at Lansdowne, the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), owns the Redblacks football team and Ottawa 67's hockey team, and manages those city facilities at TD Place.
"That's a nice-to-have. It's not necessary," Menard told reporters after a meeting during which the finance and corporate services committee discussed facing a $10.8-billion dollar funding gap for city infrastructure in the coming decade.
"Do we really want to be spending on this when all these other priorities are there?" asked Menard. "It's hard to get the basics right these days in the city."
The Lansdowne 2.0 concept was first discussed during the last term of council under former mayor Jim Watson, when OSEG was struggling to attract visitors to Lansdowne during the COVID-19 pandemic. The plans have been modified since then, including a two highrise towers instead of three, but the estimated price tag has risen from $332 million to $419 million.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said the public has had many chances to weigh in, and will have yet another opportunity before a final vote this fall.
"We were talking about Lansdowne in 2022 when the previous municipal election took place, so there's no need for a referendum," said Sutcliffe. "I don't think councillors want it."
No referendum was held for other big projects such as the new central library or the two stages of light rail construction, Sutcliffe pointed out, because those decisions are within the purview of council.
Going to tender June 16
Indeed, councillors on the finance and corporate services committee voted nine to three Tuesday to discuss Menard's motion that day, rather than weeks later as Menard intended, because they said it was time-sensitive.
Expecting it would be voted down, Menard quickly jumped in to withdraw his motion and preserve a chance to pursue the referendum discussion later.
This bit of procedural interest came after staff confirmed they plan to put the project out to tender on June 16, seeking construction companies to submit bids to build Lansdowne 2.0. Staff intend to get updated prices and choose a contractor to present to council for final approval in the fall.
The city also held a separate procurement in recent months to find developers wanting to either buy or lease the air rights for two highrise towers. It closed April 30, and the city is deep in negotiations with one preferred bidder.
"I think there's a reputational risk and a credibility risk in this motion where it would possibly negatively impact those conversations and those tenders," said Tammy Rose, general manager of the infrastructure and water services department.
Sutcliffe also underscored the importance of following the procurement process already laid out and not creating uncertainty for the construction industry.
Building permit application in March
Along with tendering the construction and air rights, the Lansdowne 2.0 team has been busy working on other tasks council gave them last year in order to prepare a final package for council approval.
One big goal was to apply for a building permit in time to fall under Ontario's 2012 building code, rather than the 2024 code that took effect Jan. 1.
Sean Moore, who is leading the Lansdowne project for the City of Ottawa, confirmed the application for a building permit went in on March 21, 2025 and would fall under the old code.
The province did allow a transition period and a project could still apply under the old code by March 31 if its working drawings were substantially complete by Dec. 31, 2024.
Site plan approved last month
Moore said those drawings were ready on time as part of yet another related task: getting approval for what's called the "site plan," which lays out details about everything from building elevations and design to landscaping and servicing with municipal water.
That key step only got final signoff by city planning staff on May 26, after the Lansdowne team and its consultants submitted dozens of studies to be reviewed by city subject matter experts and the urban design review panel.
Even with the signoff, city reviewers still had a long list of conditions for Lansdowne 2.0 to meet, such as updating its assessment of Lansdowne's transportation impact and updating its grading plan to show water won't pool.
Asked how the building permit had complete drawings on Dec. 31 when many more studies were submitted and reviews were done afterward, Moore explained the architect's designs were submitted for the arena in August 2024, and for the north-side stands in December.
The structural and mechanical elements needed to meet the building code were complete, he said. As for elements outstanding on the approved site plan, Moore said only final clarifications are missing — an entire transportation plan doesn't need to be redone.
"We're just talking now about crossing t's and dotting i's," explained Moore. "But overall, staff have accepted how it all works in terms of [Lansdowne's] design, and how it's modelled, the transportation system and so forth."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Carney calls for diplomatic solution and for talks to resume after U.S. strikes Iran
Prime Minister Mark Carney called for diplomatic talks to resume immediately and a de-escalation of hostilities, after the U.S. struck three Iranian nuclear sites in a major military operation. U.S. military officials say they are not pursuing war with Iran after striking key nuclear sites While noting 'the grave threat' posed by Tehran's nuclear program, Mr. Carney warned that 'the situation in the Middle East remains highly volatile.' 'Stability in the region is a priority,' he said in a post on X. 'Canada calls on parties to return immediately to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end the crisis.' At a press conference on Sunday, Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said its attack on Iranian nuclear facilities was the largest B2 stealth bomber strike in history, and met with no Iranian resistance. But Lt. Gen. Caine warned: 'Our forces remain on high alert, and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks which would be an incredibly poor choice. We will defend ourselves. The safety of our service members and civilians remains our highest priority.' Mr. Carney referred in his post to an agreement made at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., that 'the resolution of the Iranian crisis should lead to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.' But he said that Canada has consistently been clear that 'Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.' Foreign Minister Anita Anand added that Canada has been consistent that Iran 'must not possess nuclear weapons as they are a threat to international security.' 'Canada continues to support all efforts aimed at de-escalation, protecting civilian lives, and restoring stability through diplomacy,' she posted on X. 'We urge parties to return to the negotiating table and reach a resolution to this crisis.' She urged Canadians in the region to register with Global Affairs to receive available travel options to leave. Canada is booking seats on commercial flights from countries neighbouring Iran and Israel for Canadians wanting to fly home. She said, with the Prime Minister, she is 'regularly briefed on new developments, and are ensuring that all necessary resources are available in support of Canada's work to protect our citizens.'
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Completion date for Walker Road-Tecumseh Road construction project delayed again
The completion date for a construction project around Tecumseh Road East and Walker Road in Windsor is being pushed back again. The Tecumseh Road East infrastructure renewal project was scheduled to be completed by July but is now scheduled for completion in August due to additional work that's been identified. An ENWIN spokesperson tells AM800 News that while performing road restoration work, it was identified that additional repairs are required in order to ensure the long-term durability of the roadway. This work is being completed now, while traffic controls are already in place, to help avoid future disruptions and is anticipated to reduce the need for further major maintenance or construction in the coming years. Traffic on the west side of Walker Road will be reduced to one lane in each direction, controlled by traffic signals in late June. No left turns will be permitted at the Tecumseh/Walker intersection during this time. Ward 4 Councillor Mark McKenzie calls this latest delay ridiculous, given it was supposed to be done in Fall 2024. 'We heard back in March; they said it would be eight to 12 weeks, which would put it at the end of May. The end of May has come and gone. We were told it would be maybe the beginning or mid-July; now we're hearing it's going to be August,' he said. The current work is the continuation of a project that started in May 2024, and it includes a new 1,200-meter-long concrete water main, along with road paving and surface restoration. Along with the intersection, the work has impacted several surrounding roads, including Memorial Drive, Turner Road, Factoria Road, Milloy Street and Chandler Road, all near the Met Campus of Windsor Regional Hospital. McKenzie says he's hearing from residents every day about this project. 'You have people who are speeding up and down these residential streets now trying to avoid the delays that you're seeing on Walker Road and Tecumseh Road because of this never-ending construction project,' he said. McKenzie says he doesn't understand why this project is taking so long. 'Something needs to be done here; there need to be timelines that are set in these contracts. If these contractors can't hit these timelines, these deadlines, then they should be penalized for it. You see that in other municipalities and in the states as well,' he said. - By Rusty Thomson/AM800 News
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Carney travels to Europe for security, defence talks with EU, NATO
Prime Minister Mark Carney will depart for Europe on Sunday for back-to-back summits where he is expected to make major commitments for Canada on security and defence. Carney will be joined by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, Defence Minister David McGuinty and secretary of state for defence procurement Stephen Fuhr at the EU and NATO summits, where military procurement and diversifying supply chains will top the agendas. The international meetings come as Canada looks to reduce its defence procurement reliance on the United States due to strained relations over tariffs and President Donald Trump's repeated talk about Canada becoming a U.S. state. Carney will fly first to Brussels, Belgium, starting the trip with a visit to the Antwerp Schoonselhof Military Cemetery where 348 Canadian soldiers are buried. He will also meet with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Story continues below advertisement At the EU-Canada summit, Anand and McGuinty are expected to sign a security and defence agreement with the EU in what one European official described Friday as one of the most ambitious deals Europe has ever signed with a third country. The agreement will open the door to Canada's participation in the ReArm Europe initiative, allowing Canada to access a 150-billion-euro loan program for defence procurement, called Security Action for Europe. An EU official briefing reporters on Friday said once the procurement deal is in place, Canada will have to negotiate a bilateral agreement with the European Commission to begin discussions with member states about procurement opportunities. A Canadian official briefing reporters on the summit Saturday said the initial agreement will allow for Canada's participation in some joint procurement projects. However, a second agreement will be needed to allow Canadian companies to bid. 1:48 Carney to increase U.S. steel, aluminum tariffs if trade talks with Trump stall At the EU-Canada summit, leaders are also expected to issue a joint statement to underscore a willingness for continued pressure on Russia, including through further sanctions, and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Story continues below advertisement After Brussels, Carney heads to The Hague in the Netherlands for the NATO leaders' summit on Tuesday and Wednesday. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy There, Carney will meet with the King of the Netherlands and later with leaders of Nordic nations to discuss Arctic and transatlantic security. At the NATO summit, Carney will take part in bilateral meetings with other leaders. The summit agenda includes a social dinner hosted by the king and queen of the Netherlands and a two-and-a-half hour meeting of the North Atlantic Council. NATO allies are expected to debate a plan to hike alliance members' defence spending target to five per cent of national GDP. NATO data shows that in 2024, none of its 32 members spent that much. The Canadian government official who briefed reporters on background says the spending target and its timeline are still up for discussion, though some allies have indicated they would prefer a seven-year timeline while others favour a decade. Canada hasn't hit a five- per- cent defence spending threshhold since the 1950s and hasn't reached the two per cent mark since the late 1980s. NATO says that, based on its estimate of which expenditures count toward the target, Canada spent $41 billion in 2024 on defence, or 1.37 per cent of GDP. That's more than twice what it spent in 2014, when the two per cent target was first set; that year, Canada spent $20.1 billion, or 1.01 per cent of GDP, on defence. Story continues below advertisement In 2014, only three NATO members achieved the two per cent target — the U.S., the U.K., and Greece. In 2025, all members are expected to hit it. Any agreement to adopt a new spending benchmark must be ratified by all 32 NATO member states. Former Canadian ambassador to NATO Kerry Buck told The Canadian Press the condensed agenda is likely meant to 'avoid public rifts among allies,' describing Trump as an 'uncertainty engine.' 'The national security environment has really, really shifted,' Buck said, adding allies next door to Russia face the greatest threats. 'There is a high risk that the U.S. would undercut NATO at a time where all allies are increasingly vulnerable.' Trump has suggested the U.S. might abandon its mutual defence commitment to the alliance if member countries don't ramp up defence spending. Story continues below advertisement 'Whatever we can do to get through this NATO summit with few public rifts between the U.S. and other allies on anything, and satisfy a very long-standing U.S. demand to rebalance defence spending, that will be good for Canada because NATO's good for Canada,' Buck said. Carney has already made two trips to Europe this year — the first to London and Paris to meet with European allies and the second to Rome to attend the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV.
