Yasir Naqvi counters NCC's shenanigans with strongly worded letter

by Debra Huron, BiG TREES of Kitchissippi

August 26, 2022

Ottawa Centre MP, and former Attorney General of Ontario, Yasir Naqvi has allied himself with Mechanicsville residents seeking a voice at the province's Ontario Land Tribunal.

Mr. Naqvi's strongly worded letter to the NCC's CEO, Tobi Nussbaum, was published on the Mechanicsville Community Association's website today. Along with MCA and the Hintonburg Community Association, Naqvi copied the Minister responsible for the NCC on the letter, which says, in full:

Dear Mr. Nussbaum,

I am writing today to voice my profound disappointment with the National Capital Commission's (NCC) decision to not provide consent to the Mechanicsville Community Association’s request for party status in the upcoming Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) Case Management Conference taking place on September 1, 2022, thereby excluding them from participating. The subject of this conference is regarding the proposed Embassy Precinct on the parcel of greenspace by Burnside Avenue (also known as Lazy Bay Commons).

The Mechanicsville Community Association has been fully engaged since the beginning of the development proposal, and are at the heart of the proposal. They have made multiple submissions and have participated in every public event. They have the analysis and perspectives that would be valuable to the OLT in reaching a decision. Our local community associations are essential voices in any public project proposed for our city.

They are credible, legitimate, and deserve to be official representatives of their community’s interest. I urge you not to block their involvement in the OLT hearings and rather, welcome their important insight into the wants and needs of Mechanicsville community.

I also wish to reiterate my discontent with the project’s proposed location. Mechanicsville’s Lazy Bay Commons is ecologically diverse and dense. Developing this pristine natural space is not in our city’s best interest. It is my strong belief that Tunney’s Pasture is the ideal location for the Embassy Precinct as it does not present the same challenges. I remain available to speak on both the importance of seeking our community association’s input, and a more ideal location for the proposed Embassy Precinct.

Sincerely,

Yasir Naqvi, MP Ottawa Centre

CC:

Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada

Cheryl Parrott, Board Member, Hintonburg Community Association, Co-chair Security Committee

Roy Atkinson, Board Member, Mechanicsville Community Association, Chair of the MCA Trees Not Embassies Working Group

What can you do?

Send a letter of support for Mechanicsville Community Association to Mr. Nussbaum.

Learn about the issues here, and then email your own strongly worded letter to him at this address:

EXEC - Tobi Nussbaum <exec@ncc-ccn.ca>