I am disturbed by the recent decision by Ottawa council’s corporate services and economic development committee to lift a bylaw that prevents consultants from providing services to the city and to a private developer on the same or related project (Committee OKs bylaw change, Ottawa Citizen, March 3, 2010). This decision, if approved by full council, will set a dangerous precedent.
It is particularly troublesome that such a decision has been taken so soon after the mammoth council debate over the Lansdowne Park transportation study that resulted in Delcan Corporation, OSEG’s consultant on the Lansdowne Live proposal agreeing to stand down from a consulting role for the city because of perceived conflict of interest.
As well as avoiding possible conflicts of interest, having an alterative contractor perform the work on behalf of the city is always a wise strategy. Mistakes or oversights are frequently made and it is wise to have an independent consultant act on behalf of the city. I find the argument that there are insufficient qualified consultants available to undertake this study difficult to accept and I doubt there will be a steep learning curve involved if a new consultant does the work.
No matter how small or straightforward the project, reversing the bylaw once will make it easier to turn it down next time, and so-on ad-infinitum. Hopefully city council will turn down this recommendation when it comes up for a vote.
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