New bridge decision will be fair: NCC, Fairness auditor added to process by NCC

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Michelle Nash

EMC news - A fairness auditor will be installed to look out for the public interest during the latest consultation process for the National Capital Commission's interprovincial bridge project.

The plans to introduce the auditor were announced at the Jan. 25 meeting of the NCC board of directors, where an update was presented on the progress of the Ontario-Quebec interprovincial bridge environmental assessment study.

The study will help determine the best place for the bridge, which will provide another link between Quebec to Ontario across the Ottawa River and help re-route some trucks that currently clog downtown Ottawa streets.

"We want to make sure we listen to the public," said Marie Lemay, NCC chief executive. "We are sure of our work, but we are doing this (the auditor) to ensure the public is sure about the process."

Some board members questioned the hiring of an auditor, worrying it would set a precedent for future NCC projects.

"I fear sets a precedent that any technical process will have to have this in place," said board member Jacquelin Holzman.

Lemay said the auditor will help to address concerns held by residents about how the transparency of the process. Those concerns, expressed largely by those living in the vicinity of the three corridors being considered, included a belief that the result of the process was predetermined and that the NCC held pre-existing biases about which corridor was preferred, staff explained.

Lemay said calling on the services of an auditor is not new for the NCC, noting there have been several projects over the years where an auditor was present.

"The fairness auditor should bring them comfort," Lemay said of the residents.

CONSULTATIONS

The public consultations so far have looked at the priorities and values living in the three corridors under currently consideration: Corridor 5 at Kettle Island, Corridor 6 at Lower Duck Island and Corridor 7 at Gatineau Airport/McLaurin Bay.

In June 2011, the first round of the public consultations for the environmental assessment, or Phase 2B, began. At the time residents complained the process provided short notice of the call for input and concerns were raised about the direction the consultation process was taking.

In August, a draft report was released based on the June consultations. Residents who read the report, including Manor Park resident Christophe Credico, at the time felt the report did not reflect how residents actually felt about the corridors in question.

The NCC maintained they have been listening to the public throughout the process and with the second round of consultations set to start soon,

Lemay said going forward, the auditor will add considerable oversight to the process.

"We knew we listened to the public about the process," she said. "This is the last stretch and we are doing everything we can and honestly I think we are going overboard with this thing, but this way when (the process) is done, they can not say they didn't get a chance to participate or the process was not followed."

The auditor will have an evaluation committee to work with who will not participate in any technical work or render an opinion, but will ensure the process has been followed.

Phase 2B will be completed in 2012 and environmental approvals are scheduled in Dec. 2013. Residents can participate in the process by going to the interprovincial bridge website at www.ncrcrossings.ca.