A new poll released by Capital Ward Coun. Shawn Menard suggests residents of Ottawa are more likely to oppose the Lansdowne 2.0 project when given specific information about the plan. The $418.8 million redevelopment plan for Lansdowne Park passed at the finance and corporate services committee on Thursday by a vote of 8 to 3. Menard was one of the three councillors who voted against it. City council will have the final vote on the plan on Nov. 7. On Friday, Menard released the results of a Nanos poll he commissioned that suggests the more information people have about the project, the less likely they are to support it. The released document says Nanos conducted a representative non-probability online survey of 764 residents of Ottawa, 18 years of age or older, between Sept. 15 to Oct. 1, 2025. It adds that a margin of error cannot be calculated on a non-probability sample but says, for comparison purposes, a probability sample of 764 respondents would have a margin of error of ±3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. According to the results of the poll, 64 per cent of respondents supported or somewhat supported Lansdowne 2.0 before being given an overview of the project, but that figure fell to 33 per cent afterwards. Eight per cent of respondents remained unsure in either scenario. The definition of Lansdowne 2.0’s proposed changes were shown to respondents as follows: “As you might know, under Lansdowne 2.0, the municipality of the City of Ottawa would build new, smaller north side stands along with a smaller arena that would be built onto existing park space, while selling off public space to a developer to build two condo skyscrapers above a replacement strip of retail businesses. The project is estimated to cost the city taxpayers $437.7 million. In its current form, do you support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or oppose the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal?” The poll also asked about the acceptability of several specific elements of the plan individually. Respondents were more likely (71 per cent) to want to maintain the existing buildings than to replace them (18 per cent). “These results make clear what we’ve known for some time: Ottawa residents do not want to see the city spend $483 million on Lansdowne 2.0 replacing buildings that could be maintained for decades to come at a fraction of the price. Ottawa residents do not want to see the city take on more than $300 million in debt. Residents have other priorities, including an urgent housing crisis and a massive gap in transit funding; Lansdowne 2.0 does not adequately respond to either of these concerns,” Menard said in a news release Friday morning. Menard’s figure of $483 million arises from additional items beyond the cost of the new arena and north-side stands, such as $44 million for the retail podium and $19 million for parking. The polling took place before the final report that council is voting on was made public on Oct. 20. The poll also found that a majority of respondents (74 per cent) believe the project will run over budget. Seventy-two per cent said they believe it will be completed behind schedule. Menard will be taking part in a public forum on Lansdowne 2.0, hosted by Better Ottawa, on Monday, ahead of the final vote on Lansdowne 2.0 that Friday.
