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For Immediate Release:
Councillor calls for Don Mills Centre
settlement to be made public
February 10, 2009 - Citing the need for true
transparency and accountability, Councillor Cliff
Jenkins today called upon the City Solicitor and the
Chief Planner to release the details of a negotiated
settlement of the appeal of Cadillac Fairview's Don
Mills Centre development application.
"It is very important for the
people of Don Mills to understand and have the ability
to comment on the terms of settlement. Council should
not deal with this critically important matter solely as
the subject of a confidential report, in camera," said
Councillor Jenkins.
Last October, City Council
rejected the applicant's first settlement offer which
included a $17 million community centre, on a 17 to 16
vote, largely on the basis that the application did not
represent good planning. Instead Council directed City
staff to seek continued negotiations with the applicant
and other stakeholders to seek a new settlement. Those
negotiations were recently concluded with the assistance
of a provincial facilitator. Some Councillors have
received informal briefings on the terms of the
settlement and been informed that the settlement will be
presented to Council at its meeting on February 22 and
23 in a confidential report.
Upon learning of the settlement,
Councillor Jenkins said: "Cadillac Fairview made its
prior settlement offer public. Council then received
much public input and as well confidential advice from
the City Solicitor. But Council debated and decided it
in public session. It should be no different this
time."
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Media Contact:
Councillor Cliff Jenkins…416-395-6408
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