Lansdowne Legal Challenge

The Friends of Lansdowne has filed an application with the Ontario Superior court to quash Ottawa City Council decisions approving the OSEG public private partnership scheme to redevelop Lansdowne Park. We contend that the City acted unlawfully by approving the scheme without seeking competitive bids or otherwise complying with City bylaws, and by failing to meet the standard of good faith decision making required of municipal officials.

• Read the summary of the Legal Challenge.
• Read our press release.
  Read the the application.
• Read our backgrounder of Friends of Lansdowne concerns. 

Why the Challenge Matters

Ottawa City Council has approved an untendered plan for Lansdowne Park. They would have you believe that they are acting in the best interests of the city. But what they've really done is to commit your money to an untendered venture without following proper procedures.

That is what this legal challenge is all about. To force city council to abide by their own rules - the rules you elected them to enact and to follow; the rules that ensure your tax dollars are not wasted.

We contend that the city acted unlawfully by:

• suspending the established procurement process for open and fair competitions to redevelop the Lansdowne site.
• giving preferential treatment to local developers contrary to the requirements of the Agreement on Internal Trade
• not complying with the Surplus Lands By-Law and
• violating the Municipal Act

They are, quite simply, ignoring the citizens of Ottawa and using your tax dollars as if the money were theirs. This legal challenge is meant to force them to open the process to fair competition so we can be sure that our money is spent responsibly and effectively. Please help us hold council accountable.

It's your money, you should have a say in how it's spent.  Make City Council spend your money wisely. Click here to contribute to our Legal Fund.

Our Lawyer

Steven Shrybman is a lawyer with Toronto and Ottawa-based Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP, one of Canada's leading labour law, civil litigation and criminal law firms. Steven has a strong track record in taking on, and successfully litigating, public interest cases such as the privatization of Hydro One.

We Need Your Financial Support

Litigation is not cheap, even though our lawyers have agreed to a very favourable rate. We plan to raise $100,000 to make sure this challenge goes forward as strongly as possible.

We are volunteers who want Lansdowne Park revitalized in a way that is fair, open and in the public interest. WE call on all concerned citizens to contribute generously.

If you would like to donate, please sent a cheque made out to "Friends of Lansdowne", and send to: Friends of Lansdowne, c/o Ted Lupinski CA, 137 Second Ave, Suite 2, Ottawa, K1S 2H4.