Secretive Mooney's Bay playground talks lacked transparency, AG finds

Ottawa's auditor general has determined the secretive process leading to the approval of theMooney's Bay Giver 150 playground lacked transparency and failed tofollow the city's own principleson consultation.

There was "little to no evidence of consideration of public engagement or consultation,"Auditor General Ken Hughes told council's auditcommittee Thursday morning.

Despite that, the city was not"in direct breach" of any bylaws or other rules, Hughes said.

In May 2016, the city announced it had entered into a deal with television production company Sinking Ship Entertainment tobuild a playgroundat Mooney's Bay.

The decision on the location and to spend $1 million in public money was made with no approval from council and zero public consultation. Sinking Ship also contributed $1 million in materials and labour, among other things.

City working on new policy

Dan Chenier, the general manager of parks and recreation and the senior manager who oversaw the project, said city staff are working on a policy for dealingwith these sorts of offers. The policy is expected to come to council for approval by the end of this year, or in early 2018.

If you engage in certain behaviour that we do not approve, there are consequences.- Ottawa Auditor General Ken Hughes

Earlier this year, the city's integrity commissioner found improper, unregistered lobbying had occurredduringthe secret talks that preceded the project.

"I think that Giver 150 has reminded us that in some instances we have policies and procedures in place that would allow us to be moretransparent to the citizens as we evaluate such projects," said Hughes.

"If you engage in certain behaviour that we do not approve, there are consequences," the auditor general added, although it's unclear what those might be.

The audit was a result of complaints to the city's fraud and waste hotline.