Save the farm supporters dominate public consultation for new Civic hospital site

People fighting to save the Central Experimental Farm made the most noise at a public consultation Thursday night on where thenew $2billionCivic campus of The Ottawa Hospital should sit.

The National Capital Commission held its first and only in-personopen house and presentation at the Canadian War Museum to answer the public's questions about its newly announced list of 12 possible locations for the new campus.

More than 400 people attended.

• NCC reveals list of 12 possible sites for new Civic hospital
• Ottawa Hospital re-evaluating site for new Civic campus

NCC CEO Mark Kristmanson had to give the crowd a stern warning to be respectful afterGatineau farmer Bob McClellansuggested the NCC doesn't know anything about farming.

"This is science. This is an outdoor lab," said McClellan."Who is going to be evaluating this? What are their competencies in climate change research, soil research, crop research?I know you can hire all the flunky consultants you want but what I would rather have is ... people who are fellows of scientific societies."

Kristmansondefended the NCC's selection process.

"First of all there's a very determined and serious group of people working on this," said Kristmanson. "There are no flunky consultants. I actually won't tolerate much of this."

A woman interrupted and holleredfrom the crowd, "Do you have any knowledge of agriculture?"

"No, excuse me," Kristmanson replied. "If you want to make comments you can come to the mic.This is a forum where we should have respect for the people involved. There is no one involved who is a flunky and I really take exception to this."

Be respectful, NCC CEO tells crowd

8 years ago

Duration 0:31

NCC CEO Mark Kristmanson tells the crowd at a public consultation on Thursday night to be respectful.

Others who live near the existingCivic campus voiced their support to keep the newcampus close to its current location along Carling Avenue,and to build on one of the four possible locations at the farm.

Resident David McDonald saidheowes his life to being treated at the Civic hospital, and thathe's forever indebted to them for the opportunity tostand and talk at the microphone.

I just have a hard time remembering the last time acob of corn saved my life.- David McDonald, resident

"I just have a hard time remembering the last time acob of corn saved my life. So I support sitenine[on the west side of the farm along Carling Avenue]."

At one point, Kristmanson said he had heard a lot about the farm and wanted to hear about other topics.

"We've obviously heard alotabout the public science and the importance of the Central Experimental Farm,and we've got that," said Kristmanson. "But we are interested in what people have to say about theother criteria. We're talkingabout the size of the hospital, we're talking about a connection to transit."

Online consultationruns until Oct. 6

Other people did raiseconcerns that only a few of the 12 possible locations are near public transit. Others worried about the large amount of parking proposed and its affect on local traffic.

Representatives ofThe Ottawa Hospital werealso in the crowd tolisten to the feedback.

"There was some concern there had not been enough public consultation," saidJames McCracken, chair of The Ottawa Hospital'sboard of governors.

"I'mhopeful this will lay to rest the public consultation aspect of this and that we can move forward quickly.We need this new hospital now," he added.

An online survey will be available tothe public on the NCC's website until Oct. 6.

The NCC's board of directors are set to see the results of the site review process at aNov. 23 public meeting. The NCC'srecommendation will then be submitted to the Minister of Canadian Heritage for a decision.