An appeal that will shape the future of Ottawa's Lansdowne Park and could set a precedent for future municipal developments begins Monday in Toronto.
Friends of Lansdowne Park, the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) will appear before Ontario's highest court, the first appeal of its kind in Canada.
"A lot of people in Ottawa think this is about football and Lansdowne Park; it actually isn't," said Ian Lee with Friends of Lansdowne. "It's about checks and balances on municipal elected officials."
Lee said the OSEG deal isn't transparent and wasn't open to competition.
"There has never been a ruling in an Ontario court of appeal that has delineated, spelled out or framed any limitations that may exist on city councillors," Lee said.
A lower court sided with the city and its $500 million deal with OSEG earlier this year, saying they didn't act in bad faith and followed bylaws in the sole-sourced deal.
"We followed the letter of the law, the spirit of the law," said councillor Rick Chiarelli. "This was a significant decision that the majority of people in Ottawa support, and a significant minority opposed."
Three judges will hear the appeal, which is being expedited for an expected finish in early 2012.
An appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada would be possible after that, but a delay would jeopardize current plans to have a CFL team at the park in 2014.
Potential games in 2015 for the FIFA Women's World Cup would also be cast into doubt.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Karen Soloman
