One week ahead of the final vote on the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment, an Ottawa city council member has revealed the findings of a survey addressing his reservations about the project to residents. However, the mayor has dismissed it as a “clear political maneuver” from a primary opponent of the plan.
The proposal to reconstruct the arena and north stadium stands successfully cleared the finance and corporate committee with an 8-3 vote. The final decision is scheduled for November 7 at the council meeting.
Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard, representing Lansdowne Park, has consistently opposed the development, expressing concerns about the potential loss of green space and the financial burden on taxpayers amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Menard conducted an online survey, commissioned from Nanos Research, involving 764 Ottawa residents between September 15 and October 1. This was before the release of the latest details of the Lansdowne 2.0 plan on October 20.
According to Menard, the survey indicates that a majority of residents turn against the project “as they become more informed.” He highlighted that public sentiment shifts as people learn about the financial implications and the loss of current amenities.
Initially, most survey participants supported Lansdowne 2.0 based on their existing knowledge. However, opinions changed when presented with a description aligning with Menard’s concerns. Support dropped significantly after respondents were informed about the estimated $437.7 million cost to taxpayers for the project.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe criticized the survey as “misleading” and accused Menard of distorting facts and misrepresenting the project. He labeled it as a political ploy to hinder progress in the city. Sutcliffe maintained a lower cost estimate compared to Menard, emphasizing potential revenues that could offset expenses.
Menard defended the survey methodology, stating that the questions were based on factual information from city reports. He reiterated the importance of transparency in presenting project details to residents.
Nik Nanos, chief data scientist at Nanos Research, supported Menard’s interpretation, emphasizing that increased awareness about Lansdowne leads to decreased support. The survey addressed concerns raised by Menard, revealing opposition to the loss of green space, reduced arena seating, and the project’s financing through debt.
When asked about their preference for Lansdowne Park’s future, a majority favored maintaining existing buildings over replacing them, as proposed in the Lansdowne 2.0 plan.