NCC looked to burnish image with LeBreton redevelopment project
It was a critical moment for the National Capital Commission. As it prepared to make public the competing plans for redevelopment of LeBreton Flats public last January, the Crown corporation was eager to polish its image.
According to documents released to Postmedia under access-to-information legislation, one key objective of a communications and public consultations plan developed by NCC staff last August was to “position the NCC positively among key audiences as a steward and builder of the capital.”
It also wanted to present itself as a “champion of design excellence” and an organization open to the views of stakeholders and residents, the plan says.
Other objectives included receiving input from the public and stakeholders on the two proponents’ designs and ensuring that “the process and decision is seen as fair, impartial, based on objective criteria and has taken into account expert advice and public input.”
It’s a matter of opinion whether the NCC succeeded in those objectives. But aside from some complaints about the secrecy imposed on the process, its handling of the LeBreton unveiling and subsequent public consultations attracted relatively little criticism.
The August 2015 document presents a proposed strategic communications approach for the LeBreton redevelopment.
“Given the importance of this project to many stakeholders in the capital and the high degree of scrutiny that the NCC faces,” it says, “it is recommended that the NCC be as proactive as possible in communicating the value that public and stakeholder consultations will bring to the project and on the measures we are taking to ensure a rigorous and fair evaluation process.”
The plan also urged NCC chief executive Mark Kristmanson to conduct interviews with “key journalists” the day before the Jan. 26 event at the Canadian War Museum where the two competing teams — RendezVous LeBreton and the DCDLS Group — presented their redevelopment proposals.
The intent was to set up the public consultations, discuss project goals and the importance of the site, and describe next steps. Sure enough, Kristmanson was interviewed on CBC’s Ottawa Morning on Jan. 25.
RendezVous LeBreton, led by Ottawa Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk and John Ruddy, executive chairman of the Trinity Group, was selected in April as the successful proponent.
It is now negotiating the terms of a development agreement with the NCC, but spokesman Jean Wolff said he could provide no update. “The reporting will happen at the November (NCC) board meeting, as announced,” he said.
Another document, prepared in advance of the open house on Jan. 26 and 27, supplies talking point answers to a list of questions NCC officials anticipated from journalists. Two dealt with the troublesome leaks that revealed key details of both proponents’ plans in advance of the war museum open house.
Rather than respond directly, the document recommends that officials talk about the “robust process” the NCC had developed to ensure a fair and impartial procurement process. They should also say that “what is most important at this stage is that Canadians come to the War Museum on Tuesday or tune into our webcast so they can view both proposals and submit their comments to the NCC,” the document advises.
Another document shows the estimated budget for the LeBreton open house and media briefing. It comes in at $88,800, not including print advertising or taxes.