Emails raise shelter questions for Fleury
Messages show councillor knew details earlier than admitted, critic says
There was never any question that the controversial Salvation Army project on Montreal Road would become a central election issue in Rideau-Vanier ward.
The issue finally landed with a bang at an all-candidates meeting Wednesday when incumbent Mathieu Fleury was questioned about three emails that seem to show that he knew details of the project months before he had previously said he had.
The emails, obtained by Vanier resident Philippe Denault under municipal access to information laws, show that Fleury was discussing the project with the Salvation Army as early as Sept. 12, 2016.
“Hi Mathieu, I hope you’re doing well,” the email (translated from French) from Salvation Army executive director Marc Provost said.
“I wanted to let you know that our conditional offer has been accepted and signed with January 31, 2018 the closing date for the conditions to be met.
“It’s important to me to include you and consult with you throughout and I intend to be in communication with you many times before any public announcement takes place.”
“What objectives do you want to accomplish by 2018? (construction? Approval? Move?)” Fleury said in response.
“Approval, consultation, design, fundraising campaign,” Provost said.
In the past, Fleury told the Citizen he became aware of the conditional purchase in January 2017 and of the complete details of the proposal in May.
Fleury confirmed the email exchange Thursday, but said the content of the messages is being misrepresented by political opponents.
“Look, there’s 18 days left in the election campaign and the (main) opponent is getting no traction. These sorts of things will start coming out.”
He said the Provost email was part of ongoing informational exchanges he was having with the charity.
“There were no specifics on the plan or the site (and) I responded in that context, asking ‘What are your next plans?’”
Fleury said Denault works for the campaign of his main opponent, Thierry Harris, and said Denault has planted other rumours against him in this campaign.
George Al-Koura, Harris’s campaign manager, denied Denault worked for the campaign, although he “has corresponded with” the Harris camp during the campaign.
In September, Denault tweeted news of a “rumour” that the Shepherds of Good Hope were planning to buy the former Ottawa Plaza Inn at 112 Montreal Rd. for a major shelter.
The tweet prompted a quick rebuttal by Shepherds CEO Derdre Freiheit, who categorically denied the Ottawa Inn rumour. The Shepherds do have a 42-unit supportive housing project planned at 765 Montreal Rd., which is not in Rideau-Vanier ward.
The Harris campaign has sought to capitalize on a perception in some quarters of Vanier that Fleury fumbled the Salvation Army file.
It’s a perception that Fleury angrily rejects.
“The day the Salvation Army proposal officially came out, I opposed it,” Fleury said, noting he helped organize working groups opposed to the project and continues to help fundraise to finance opposition at a hearing next year before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, formerly the Ontario Municipal Board. The tribunal will rule on whether the project meets zoning requirements.
“We had record numbers of people out at (planning committee and council) to fight this.
“I’ve fought this since the beginning.
“I have PTSD over this story.”