Mayor Jim Watson says he's going to confront Eugene Melnyk about the future of Lebreton Flats.
The National Capital Commission said Thursday it's aiming to have a master development agreement with the Sens-backed RendezVous LeBreton Group by 2019.
But just a week ago, Melnyk raised doubts about the project.
At a forum with fans, Melnyk called LeBreton a huge project, with tremendous risk and he mused about whether moving the team downtown would result in higher ticket sales or lower ticket sales.
Mayor Jim Watson says the City has written to RendezVous Lebreton Group to initiate a discussion.
“At the end of the day, when we sit down and start formal negotiations, my first question is, ‘Are you serious?’” Watson said after the NCC board meeting. “Are you dead serious that you want to continue on with this process?”
Watson added that Melnyk’s comments cast doubt on the entire project.
“If he’s constantly hedging his bets on whether he wants to move or not, he’d better tell us that because that really send us back to square one.”
But NCC CEO Mark Kristmanson is downplaying any concern about the future of the project
“As far as we’re concerned, we’re on track,” he said. “The project is moving ahead pretty well. Discussions are starting with the City of Ottawa as well. We’ll have our ups and downs on this process, but so far, so good. I’m not dismayed.”