Ottawa’s megaproject and the sad reality of urban development

After months of city-wide opposition to the Lansdowne Partnership Plan (a.k.a. Lansdowne Live), Council has voted to accept the proposal submitted by the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), with certain revisions.

Polling data and other research has shown that citizens across Ottawa do not agree with the plan’s heavy commercial bent. When polled on their level of support, more Ottawans rejected Landsdowne Live than accepted it. MPs and MPPs spoke out in opposition. The Federation of Citizens' Associations opposed the plan.* A majority of urban councillors voted against Lansdowne Live and, equally significant, the lack of process that allowed its submission. Community Health Centres diplomatically warned Council of their core principals, highlighting the significance of, among other points, affordable housing (coincidentally absent from the current plan). A judicial review application regarding the City’s authority to override its procurement policies has been submitted and accepted by the Superior Court of Ontario. The Ottawa Regional Society of Architects and the Ontario Association of Architects formally presented their opposition to council. And distinguished academics, professionals, and politicos (incl. Ed Broadbent, Penny Collenette, Elizabeth May, and Flora MacDonald) have spoken out to express the many financial and governance shortcomings of the Lansdowne Live proposal.

The campaign that was organized against Lansdowne Live was a great experience in grassroots campaigning. The fragmented coalition that emerged waged a strong fight. In the end, however, the communications team and high-level organization that took place in support of the megaproject won the battle. With the help of Hill and Knowlton and the Mayor, OSEG representatives and Lansdowne Live earned positive media coverage day after day. Of course, in their typical, status-quo fashion, Ottawa’s two major dailies lapped the OSEG press releases and conferences up with a spoon. Alternatively, CBC and Metro News should be applauded for offering a balanced and critical picture of the controversial plan and its implications. In addition, Councillor Clive Doucet demonstrated an iron-clad will and dedication to protect the public interest and to lead the opposition against this poorly structured deal. With almost a complete absence of initial support, Coucillor Doucet (and his dedicated staff) faced constant, unfair, untruthful, and arrogant criticism from all sides. He did not flinch nor did he back down. His choice of language and his tactical and strategic actions displayed a man who, by any measure, is a true community champion.

Ottawa is on the cusp of either turning an historic, national, admittedly somewhat decrepit, urban park into a massive shopping complex; or, depending on council’s “revisions,” possibly realizing a portion of the extreme potential that this site holds. Hopefully councillors will have the foresight and courage to do what is best for Ottawa. It can’t be easy to constantly deflect the pressures of the Mayor and OSEG but the political fallout will run deep if the current look and feel of the Lansdowne plan is not changed to respect the wishes and interests of the public.

Here are a few posts and links summarizing the opposition to Lansdowne Live:

• Friends of Lansdowne Park
• Stop Lansdowne Mall
• Councillor Clive Doucet
• Lansdowne Report
• Nanos Research
• COMPAS Research
• Citizen Op Ed (Dr. Ian Lee, et al.)
• Op Ed (Martin Canning)

* ERRATUM. The original post suggested that all community associations in Ottawa opposed the Lansdowne Partnership Plan. This statement was inaccurate. The associations that are members of the Federation of Citizens' Associations did oppose the plan, however, the FCA does not constitute "all community associations" and it is possible that proponents did exist.

repower

Repower America is a climate change campaign that was launched by Al Gore. It's social media heavy and refined in it's application. Check out "the wall." Too cool. An amazing campaign with amazing communications.

vote earth

Decent campaign. Awareness is important. Action, however, is much more significant.

time to move on

Climate change or global warming is real. Our lifestyles are impacting the world. This is a global problem that requires a global solution and Canada has a huge role to play within this arena. So, the question is not, What do we do? – we've know that for some time – the real question is, What’s taking so long?

Canada’s approach is summarized eloquently in a recent paper prepared by the Climate Action Network:

In Canada, climate change policy has been dominated by short-term approaches that have systematically sacrificed responsible commitments in favor of sectoral interests. The result is that, while many Canadians are responsible global citizens and want their country to play a constructive role on the world stage, Canada’s record on climate change has been entirely undistinguished. Frankly, Canada has been part of the problem, not part of the solution.

According to World Wildlife Fund’s G8 Scorecard 2009:

Canada scores lowest of all G8 countries: total emissions are steadily increasing and are far above the Kyoto target, per capita emissions are among the highest in the world. Mid to long-term greenhouse gas targets are inadequate. A plan to curb emissions was developed last year but has not been implemented. The Kyoto target will stay completely out of reach.

In the Climate Change Performance Index 2009 Canada ranks 59 out of 59 countries (i.e. last place) and states succinctly:

[I]n large parts of the world, including Canada, the USA and Russia, appropriate climate protection is contradicted by action and emission trends. … The emissions trends in Canada, Australia, China and Saudi Arabia are especially worrisome.

And here is what our Commissioner on the Environment and Sustainable Development says about the Canadian approach climate change:

[The Government] cannot demonstrate that … annual climate change plans for 2007 and 2008 fully meet all of the requirements … of the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act. … [The Government] does not have a system in place to monitor and report, as required by the Act, on the greenhouse gas emission reductions for the measures in the annual climate change plans. [The Government] has indicated that the monitoring of actual GHG emission reductions could be technically unfeasible and not necessarily cost effective, and that reductions could be impossible to attribute to a specific measure.

Or to summarize, not only does Canada have one of the worst records in the world on reducing its emissions, but the little work we actually complete is embarrassingly unknown.

Many of life’s anxieties stem from the inability of societies to implement the ideas and beliefs that act as the foundation of sustainable development. Canadian governments do not quite understand what it means to be “sustainable” and many Canadians are unsure about what it means, in practical terms, to “value” sustainable development. Our political leadership has failed to provide the necessary stewardship and national and international markets have been slow to translate the inevitable into value. A recent Harvard Business Review article pulls it all together in single, direct thesis: There is no alternative to sustainable development.

It really is that simple. We have the answers. It’s time to move on. It’s time for our government to help us realize a future based on this key reality.

how it all started: thanks ed

Had coffee with Ed Broadbent a couple days ago - busy guy. He made time to stop by and sign a picture from my early campaign days. My dad was in the Middle East peacekeeping with the United Nations (pretty cool) and my mom decided to bring me along to help out while she campaigned during the 1979 election. Although you can't see the inscription it reads, "Brian and Donna, the salt of the earth - in spite of a wayward son." Thanks Ed. You too are the salt of the earth.

campaigns matter

We're at the point where most are predicting an election. Exciting times. Who will win and who will loose is tough to say. Minority or majority, also a tough one. What is for sure, however, is that campaigns matter - nationally, regionally and at the local level. The Liberals in 2006 went into the race polling at 37% and the Conservatives were at a dismal 29%. The result: a change in minority governments and the Conservatives led a masterful, come-from-behind win. Today, both the Liberals and the Conservatives have the capacity to mount highly competitive campaigns. When trying to understand the national landscape, I know that first and foremost campaigns matter and last but not least change is the air. I love elections.

CPAC-SES Tracking 2006

social media rocks

Obama campaigner Rahaf Harfoush recently released a new book called Yes We Did - I liked it a lot. Harfoush eloquently balances her entertaining anecdotes with the lessons learnt and best practices of the campaign, all within a social media context. A must read for any political campaigner interested in how things now work.

money and its message

What a creative use of public space: currency! The Dogwood Initiative has taken direct marketing to a new level. With the use of our Loonie, Dogwood has developed a medium of communications that encapsulates both it's message and website into a single image: notankers.ca. Love it. Well done Dogwood.