Dear residents,
It has now been just over a week since we all first heard the news that the lands around the Nepean Sportsplex had been selected as a preferred site for the city’s Newcomers Reception Centre. I think it’s fair to say, that announcement took us all by surprise. In the days since, I have been fully engaged with the issue, responding to resident emails and phone calls, meeting with Ward 9 community leaders and impacted organizations, talking on multiple occasions with city staff, working with all stakeholders in order to get clarity on what led us to this point, to hear everyone’s concerns, and to ensure those concerns get addressed as this project moves forward.
Earlier this week, I let you know that I had questions and concerns about the proposal—not about the objective, generally, which I support—but about how and why this site was selected, and about the potential impacts it would have on communities. I have since had lengthy meetings with program staff, and many of my concerns have been addressed.
One of the key issues was the lack of transparency in the selection process. The criteria were not clear and the process for considering and evaluating potential sites was not well-described or explained in the material that was provided at the time of the announcement. We are making progress on getting some of those answers and will continue to share information as we learn more.
As it stands now, I believe that the site at 1645 Woodroffe is a suitable location for a Newcomer Reception Centre, as are a number of other sites on the shortlist. For the site at 1645 Woodroffe, I am still waiting for certain conditions to be met, which I’ll describe below.
Based on the last week of discussions, here are the primary things that we are focused on:
- Public Information Session: Communicating transparently with residents and stakeholders – and that’s got to be two-way communication - remains a key priority. The initial announcement failed my expectations of good communications, as it did not provide clear information to help residents understand the need, the process, or the decision. My office, working with staff, is organizing a Public Information Session to walk people through all of the information and to give residents an opportunity to ask questions and connect with city staff and subject matter experts. It’s important that we have the opportunity to properly understand what is being proposed, so that we can assess it properly. As it is currently a very busy time at City Hall because of ongoing 2025 budget deliberations, we are looking to schedule this meeting within the next three weeks.
- Use of the affected sports fields: The impact of this site selection on Myers Riders Football Club has been one of my biggest concerns over the past week. As residents know, the staff recommendation is to put the new structure on the football field known as “Confed field”. Based on what I have now learned, it was entirely unfair and inappropriate for the staff report to refer to this site as an “underutilized football field”. I have met with the league’s leaders and have spoken to staff about the need to come up with a solution to how this project is impacting this football club. Staff have been very supportive in discussing potential solutions. I am optimistic that we can address this challenge and ensure the league has what it needs to continue operating.
- Site selection: The site was a surprise to most of us because it was not included in the initial list of properties considered for this project. Staff have taken time to explain their process and the various phases of their assessment, and how each assessment took different considerations into account. The initial assessment was done without the participation of some key property management expertise and only focused on sites owned by the city. Once those experts were involved, more potential sites were identified, including sites owned by the NCC. That is how 1645 Woodroffe came to be considered, later in the process. A number of questions remain but my confidence in the choice of the site has been improved through discussions with staff, especially as it pertains to appropriateness of location, ease of construction, suitability for the intended users, and impact on community. There remains a lot of planning to address impact on community, safety, and shared use of public space. Those discussions will continue and I will share more information as it becomes available..
- Cost: This sprung structure facility will be far less expensive (and more flexible) than any permanent facility would be, but it will still take substantial capital funding to build and operate. The city is in the midst of securing that funding from the federal government through an existing program with Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). As those details become available, we will ensure they are shared with the city taxpayers. But it’s important to know that the costs for this project are to be covered by federal funding, not municipal.
We are looking forward to hosting residents at the Public Information Session in the next few weeks. Until then, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office or to visit the dedicated page on this project at Engage Ottawa. Your feedback, questions, and suggestions are always welcome, even if you do not support this. But if you do wish to show your support for this city-wide program and help show a welcoming side of our city, there is an opportunity to do that this Sunday at the Rally for Refugees. This event is being hosted by Refugee 613, and all are welcome to attend. The rally takes place Sunday November 17th at 3:00pm at Ben Franklin Place Plaza, located at 101 Centrepointe. The rally will be well-supported by members of Ottawa City Council, including Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. I look forward to seeing you there.
Thanks,
Sean Devine
