Ottawa city council "unfit": reader
Posted Nov 27, 2009 By Bob Stevenson
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Tweet ThisDear editor,
"Let's face it, the developers run City Hall."
This was the opening sentence in James Lorimer's A Citizen's Guide to City Politics published in 1973. Since then many community groups and progressive citizens have worked to challenge this statement. However, the recent decision by Ottawa city council to redevelop Lansdowne Park shows the validity of the statement and the power of the property industry over the public interest.
Despite opposition from citizens, community groups, local business, architectural groups and academics, city council is proceeding with a sweetheart deal with a group of local developers following a closed bid process. This project was approved despite the fact that all of the arguments in favour of the project are not in the interest of the taxpayers of Ottawa.
Added to this disgraceful decision is a number of other decisions to show that this council is unfit to govern. They include:
the provocation and prolongation of the 54-day transit strike of last winter
the failure to renew council's 1989 decision to ban weapons exhibitions from our public property
a report card by Ecology Ottawa on the voting record on 16 environmental issues passed by council in 2008. Five councillors received an "A," five who voted against every environmental measure received an "F" and the rest talk in favour of the environment but won't spend any money on the issues. They received a "C' or a "D."
council in its budgetary planning is now trying to figure out how to fund their $37 million penalty due to their LRT fiasco
All of these shameful decisions result from a council with a majority of reactionaries who do not reflect public opinion in our nation's capital and do not understand the concept of serving the public good.
The 15 councillors who voted for the Lansdowne developers could do us all a big favour by not running in the next municipal election.
Yours truly,
Bob Stevenson
