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- Ottawa builders demand a fair chance with Sprung structure proposals
Ottawa builders demand a fair chance with Sprung structure proposals
Plus there concerns over site contamination

Where’s the transparency? Ottawa’s construction company is demanding that the city reopen its procurement process to build two Sprung structures in the Capital after it announced they intend to enter into a contract with Toronto’s BLT Construction Services.
In a letter sent to the mayor and members of council, the Ottawa Construction Association and General Contractors Association of Ottawa said it was “profoundly insulting to the abilities of the local industry that the City has relied on a consultant's market assessment that concludes that there are no local contractors capable of designing and building the proposed sprung structure.”
City disagrees: Last week, the city said BLT was the “only available and qualified vendor to perform the scope of the work required for this project.” Other companies were still given two weeks to demonstrate their ability to meet the builder’s requirements.
But there is a catch: The group of construction companies said the City’s Chief Procurement Manager advised them that the market assessment of requirements is not publicly available. They are calling for it to be released immediately “in the interest of transparency.”
Defending its actions: Joanne Graham, the City of Ottawa’s acting chief procurement officer, said the city followed all necessary due diligence in determining the requirements for the facility to house newcomers, according to CTV.
“As part of this process, an Advanced Contract Award Notice (ACAN) has been posted on MERX.com. An ACAN is an effective and efficient procurement process that allows the City to determine if another qualified supplier can meet the highly specialized requirements for this project through a statement of capabilities,” said Graham. “It provides suppliers an opportunity to submit a statement of capabilities, including the respondent’s qualifications and experience necessary to meet the City’s minimum requirements within the desired timeframe.”
The project could be falling behind: When the city announced it was planning to build Sprung structures — also known as welcome reception centres — to house newcomers to Canada, they noted the facilities need to be in operation by November 2025. But as time passes that deadline is becoming less realistic. After a contract is awarded, the city anticipates it will take 12 months before anyone can move in. That would bring us to at least February 2026.
Besides this, the city wants to get a head start on the project because it could be at risk if a federal election is called. The $15 million Nepean site will be fully funded by the federal government, though Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has spoken out many times against the plan and said he’s opposed.
Kanata is next: A site at the Eagleson Park and Ride in Kanata was identified as a second potential site if another tent-like Sprung facility needs to be built. Each structure will house 150 people. Last week, the city said an estimated 300 newcomers, including asylum claimants, were being served in shelters and community centres. The goal is to have them all moved to other temporary options.
Lack of community consultation: On Jan. 16, the Merivale Gardens Residents for Appropriate Site Selection sent out a statement saying they have continued concerns over the city's lack of engagement in getting feedback from nearby residents. They said there are “legitimate concerns related to the well-being and lifestyle of the local community.”
“This is not about asylum claimants; it’s about 150 new residents of whatever origin suddenly living at the Sportsplex and in a small community of only about 150 homes… Without any discussion, local tax-paying citizens are being punished financially, and their lives are impacted considerably. Where is the balance between community and city interests? Is this good government?” part of the letter read.
Concerns over site contamination

The field where a proposed Sprung structure in Nepean would be built. Photo by Charlie Senack.
Community groups have also raised concerns about contaminated land near the Nepean Sportsplex.
A report conducted in 2008 identified “significant residual hydrocarbons remain in the vicinity of the former heating oil underground storage tanks (UST) sites, near the site of the Confederation Education Centre.” A follow-up report by SLR compiled in 2009 identified soil and groundwater impacts stemming from the former USTs extending approximately 35 m east of the building.
The site has about 3,803 cubic metres of contaminated land, equivalent to about 250 dump trucks.
While this is still the case, the city said it should not impact construction.
“The impacted areas are situated approximately 60 m west of the proposed temporary housing structure, and the proposed site's location being considered as cross-gradient to the interpreted groundwater flow direction, the petroleum hydrocarbon impacts in the soil and groundwater are not anticipated to present a concern with respect to the proposed temporary housing structure at the site,” the memo read.
Advocates opposed to the Sprung structures say they are worried the contamination could have spread in the 16 years since these reporters were published. It’s unclear what kind of testing the city might have done since.
If the city was unable to proceed with Woodroffe for some reason, staff would consider the Nepean Woods Park and Ride in Barrhaven as the next available location. You might recall that the suburban community was in uproar when it learned a Sprung structure could be located there or at Highbury Park. Multiple protests were held, which attracted thousands.