City Takes 5 Days To Address Kanata ClubLink Decision
Well, lookie here.
The Bulldog has been “in receipt of” the Kanata Clublink decision since shortly after Oct. 13 when it was made available (see the city memo below).
However, this publication had difficulty getting the document into The Bulldog because the proprietor had a fulsome reaction to the new Covid shot plus the strong flu shot at the same time. Anyway, a rather groggy dog posted it on Oct. 16.
So why is the city solicitor saying he is “in receipt of” the document on Oct. 18? It had already been in The Bulldog for two days.
So why the delay? Was it because the decision was in this publication and the city solicitor David White is not reading us as often as he should? Did he let his subscription lapse? Could there have been politics involved? Was White hoping that no one would notice? Did city legal fall asleep at the switch? Or is the city deeply pondering the implications of the decision and didn’t want to rush to a conclusion (that’s always a safe excuse)?
The Bulldog had already consulted with its legal firm Libel, Slander and Contempt and it said very quickly that if you look at [81] you’ll find that White and the city lost. In fact, we even emphasized that part of the decision in our post.
We are nothing here at Bulldog World Headquarters but to help.
One way or the other, there will be no end of angry homeowners in Kanata about this … particularly if you had a property on or near the golf course.
So these will be tough times to be the councillors for Kanata Allan Hubley and Cathy Curry and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe might be prudent to avoid public meetings in the neighbourhood. If Sutcliffe goes to, for example, Kanata Centrum, it might be wise for His Worship to wear his witness-protection-plan outfit for that shopping trip.
Sutcliffe might also stop by the legal department to ask: “Hey David, what took so long?”
And Kanata residents should be asking the same thing of their elected representatives and city staff.
The city has a lot of questions to answer, not the least of which is doesn’t the public (particularly Kanata) have the right to know?
Ken Gray
This is a release from the City of Ottawa:
Sent on behalf of David White, City Solicitor and Interim City Clerk
Mayor and Members of Council,
I am writing to advise you that we are in receipt of the decision of Mr. Justice Labrosse on the question of the application of certain agreements between the City and Clublinks, with respect to lands utilized by Clublinks for operation of the Kanata Golf Course. Members will recall that some of the provisions of these agreements had been the subject of a prior Court of Appeal decision.
Legal Services, in consultation with its external counsel, is currently reviewing the decision and will provide a more detailed update to City Council, in the coming days.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Sincerely,
David White
City Solicitor and Interim City Clerk
City of Ottawa
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– The Bulldog – News Feed Enter 
A short memo that does not actually tell council that the city lost, again. Clarity of communications is on the long list of areas needing improvement.
Maybe part of his department’s “consultation” with outside counsel was to find out how he could best play the decision to make it look like a win and, failing that, to avoid passing the details on to City Council until staff can figure out the best method to cover their behinds. They probably need to play for time so they can prepare the story they will tell to Council when they finally spill the beans. Massaging the truth and preparing appropriate bafflegab takes time. Even when you’re as practiced as David White and Co.
As he demonstrated during the convoy occupation, David White is not one of Laurier Avenue’s fastest or greatest communicators. So don’t expect more than the status quo from the staff of the legal department.
“Been there”(below) states it mildly. It is sad to watch the convoy “advice” (actually lack of) he gave in council meetings (available online). It showed a lack of knowledge of federal and provincial laws that a city legal council HAS to know. A more competent person needs to be in the office and he should move over.