Experimental farm land deal kept under wraps before announcement, documents show

Key stakeholders in a controversial decision in 2014 to lease land from the Central Experimental Farm (CEF)to The Ottawa Hospital were kept in the dark in advance of the official announcement, according to recently released documents.

Among those left out of the loop in the Agriculture and Agri-Food documentswerethe CEF Advisory Council, mandated to adviseon the future of the farm, as well as scientists doing research on the land offered up for lease.

It's our workplace andIguess that didn't count for very much.- Harvey Voldeng, scientist

Harvey Voldeng, one of the scientists working at the farm, confirmedhe and his colleagues were taken by surprise by the announcement.

"We feel we are the farm," said Voldengin an interviewthis week. "It's our workplace and Iguess that didn't count for very much."

On Nov. 3, 2014, then federal cabinet minister John Baird announced 24 hectares of prime research land from the farm would be leased to The Ottawa Hospital Civic campus across the street, allowing the hospital to build a new state-of-the-art facility.

The land deal prompted a public outcry by heritage advocates and scientists.

That lack of consultation appears to have been part of a strategic plan, according to documents obtained through Freedom of Information legislation from The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) as well as access to information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-FoodCanada.

The documents were first obtained by Queen's university PhD candidate Peter Anderson, and verified by CBC News.

Communications planopts to consult after announcement

One document, an email from a representative of the ministry, outlines its "stakeholder engagement plan."

Though the email was sent Nov. 4 the day after the announcement it outlines a communication strategy in advance of the signing of the agreement.

The document discusses which groups would be notified or consulted about the land lease both before and after the announcement.

Among the almost 20 government and community stakeholders, only Parks Canada was chosen to receive "possible" contact in advance.

Scientists left out of the loop

Also left in the dark before the announcement were scientists with the agriculture ministry, Environment Canada and National Research Council Canada, community stakeholders such asthe Friends of the Farm, andthe Agriculture Museum, Heritage Ottawa, the local community association and the Algonquin First Nation.

Only the Algonquin First Nation would be afforded a formal consultation process after the transfer, the documents state, "as there is a legal duty."

We were hesitant to go to public consultation when we didn't know the location and the provincial government had not given approval on the plan.- Dr. Jack Kitts,Ottawa Hospital CEO

The engagement plan suggests "the general public, health care organizations, local businesses and universities would be favourable to the project."

But it cautions that "surrounding communities, green space activists, stakeholders involved in other [agriculture ministry] disposal activities and various heritage groups may raise concerns."

Scientists deride land deal as 'inconceivable'

Following the announcement, a group of some 20 scientists with the Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre (ECORC)a group responsible for research on the experimental farm land signed a petition protesting the decision to turn over the land, according to a document obtained through Access to Information andPrivacy legislation.

"It seems inconceivable that we would even consider building a hospital on a national historically designated site," they wrotein apetition that circulatedin the weeks following the announcement.

Researchers described the section being transferred as internationally significant.

Like their colleagues at Agriculture andAgri-FoodCanada, theECORCscientistsfound out about the plan only after the announcement,according to the communicationrollout.

Harvey Voldeng,one of the petitioners,said the response to thepetition was muted.

"It was along the lines of, 'Don't worry, it won't be built for 10years, everything will be OK,'" he said.

Hospital against early public consultation

The decision to limit public consultations continued after the 2014announcement, according to another document thatincludes the minutes of the hospital's master plan review meeting in April 2015.

While discussing consultations on the projectduring themeeting,the minutes show that while "the NCC and [agriculture ministry]recommend early public consultations to foster good will with the community," the hospital "voiced concern on the public consultation process occurring prior to the signing of the agreement to transfer."

Cameron Love, the hospital's chief operating officer, was the senior representative of the hospital at that meeting.

This week,Dr. Jack Kitts, the hospital's chief executive and president,defended that position, saying it wouldn't have been prudent to hold public consultations.

"We were hesitant to go to public consultation when we didn't know the location and the provincial government had not given approval on the plan,so we felt that without that, ...it would be misleading," he said.

Kitts said the new public information meetings planned for March are going ahead because provincial approval is now in place.

Agriculture andAgri-FoodCanada didnot respondto a request for comment atthe time of publication.

Government,hospitalnow reviewing deal

The vocal opposition to the land deal appears to havefound a more sympathetic audience since the 2014 announcement.

A coalition of close to 50 heritage advocates and agriculture and climate change scientists sent a letter to several federal cabinet ministers, including OttawaCentre MP Catherine McKenna, after the Liberals wona majority government last fall.

Last month McKenna said she would review the consultation process that led to the decision to greenlight the project.

The Ottawa Hospital also says it will review whether the farm lands are the best site for its new facility.