Sorry, but vision for Flats is lacking

John Manley and John Baird got it right. Presently, there is no vision for LeBreton Flats, thanks to the misguided debacle perpetrated by the NCC.

It is time for the federal government to take control to ensure the best possible LeBreton development for Ottawa residents and all Canadians.

Pride in our capital city trumps everything; massive structures for housing, business and hockey should have no part in this development.

Attracting the best ideas from around the world, as suggested by Manley and Baird, would bring the best possible result for LeBreton. However, it is highly unlikely this will occur.

Unfortunately, vision has been clearly absent in the previous process and is likely to be absent in the future as well.

Last, Mayor Jim Watson’s role needs to change. He needs to be emphatically involved and more critical in terms of what LeBreton needs to be. Although he is only one person, he is the most important of all those involved — yet he has been nothing more than a standby observer favouring developers.

Lorne Werbenuk, Ottawa