How Ottawa might be hinting at financial support for Lansdowne from the province

On September 22, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was given a tour of the Lansdowne site. The visit was kept under the radar from the media, who were not invited or told ahead of time.

Ford was shown billboards of what the new arena and north side stands would look like along with information on how it would help the city economically. Photos highlighted the lack of storage space at Lansdowne Park, equipment that has reached the end of its lifespan, cramped spaces for the media, and temporary toilet facilities. 

On the social media site Bluesky Sutcliffe said he and Ford talked about city-building projects.

“I shared with the Premier how the plan will bring new visitors, tourists, and events to our city, and new housing to the site,” Sutcliffe wrote. “And how revenue streams from Lansdowne 2.0 will help us save money by bringing the total investment down to less than half the cost of maintaining our aging, deteriorating facilities by doing nothing.”

How bad are the facilities right now? The north side stands on the football field dates back to 1967 and was not replaced when Lansdowne 1.0 was reconstructed about a decade and a half ago. 

Engineering assessments have concluded they are structurally sound. However, they are showing signs of deterioration. Leaks, mould, poor ventilation, old washrooms, and issues with accessibility are all some reasons why the City of Ottawa is looking to build the new facility. The older infrastructure has also led to higher operating costs. 

Will the province step in? 

The city of Ottawa is already asking for financial help with many other endeavours. There are continued pleas for more transit funding, and many parts of Ottawa’s ‘new deal’ with the province first announced in March 2024 are still coming to fruition. 

The Ontario government has also committed to offloading the light rail system from the city to free up cash and eventually build Phase 3 out to Kanata, Barrhaven and Stittsville, though current ridership levels suggest that future extensions may not be economically viable.

There has been no comment from the Premier on Lansdowne 2.0, but the city has earmarked $20 million of the funding to come from upper levels of government. If that cash does not flow and Lansdowne 2.0 is passed, it's likely those dollars would come from the taxpayers. 

This week, the Ontario government announced it is investing $12.2 million “to protect jobs and build community infrastructure in eastern Ontario.” They are doing that by supporting the construction of the new Russell Township Recreation Complex and the revitalization of three other community centres in the region. The projects are part of the $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF), a provincewide initiative to revitalize local facilities, grow the economy and promote active, healthy living across Ontario.

The City of Clarence-Rockland is receiving $360,700 to replace the HVAC system at the Clarence-Rockland Arena, improving energy efficiency and ensuring a comfortable environment for users. The Town of Hawkesbury is receiving $866,500 to replace the rooftop at the Robert Hartley Sports Complex to address aging infrastructure and extend the life of the facility. The Nation Municipality is receiving $962,500 to support the rehabilitation of the St-Isidore Arena, helping to preserve a vital community space and increase recreational opportunities for residents.