November 22, 2025 – Frequently asked questions from the Community following the SCC turning down the City’s Appeal on the 40PA, the closure of the golf course, and the OLT hearing taking place on Nov 26, 2025.
Q1: Who now owns the golf course lands? Has a developer purchased the golf course lands from ClubLink? How much did they pay?
A1: We understand the property is currently registered to ClubLink and Minto. The ownership and sale price are updated in the Land Registry Offices (LRO) after a property sale closes.
Q2: Some in our community suggest that the Mayor and Councillor Curry are pretending to oppose the development but will ultimately allow it. How can we be sure they are on our side?
A2: The Mayor and Councillor have strongly and repeatedly stated their opposition to the development and continue to do so. Their actions indicate that they remain on our side.
Also recall that the City Council voted unanimously to oppose the development, the City fought to uphold the 40% Agreement until all legal avenues were exhausted, and most recently, the City has publicly stated that it will refuse to grant the easements necessary for development. The City continues to oppose the development at the Ontario Land Tribunal due to its failure to address the 192 clauses invoked by the Tribunal in 2022.
Q3: How much of the golf course will be redeveloped? Can development be confined to the strip along Campeau Drive and convert the rest of the golf course to parkland?
A3: We continue to oppose all development on the golf course lands due to public safety concerns for our community. It is important to understand that the stormwater function of the golf course as a huge absorptive area (able to store water for days after a storm) is intertwined with the function of the Beaver Pond and Kizell Drain portions. Like legs on a stool, you need all three to work together for success. We understand from the city engineers responsible, that the operations of the system as a whole are approaching maximum flow volumes and so, partial development of the KGC land is not an option.
ClubLink/Minto/Richcraft is planning for approximately 1500 homes spanning the entire property and is not limited to Campeau Drive.
Q4: Will Minto/Richcraft decide to donate the land?
A4: While it would be wonderful to have the land donated to the City, as was recently done by Candarel Real Estate Firm, which donated 4.77 hectares of forested property near Trillium Woods through the Ecological Gifts Program, this is a much bigger and much more valuable property at 71 hectares. It does seem doubtful.
Q5: What property standards need to be adhered to? Can the City stop tree cutting, scraping, regrading, and fencing? Who will cut the grass and prevent the overgrowth of weeds?
A5: Complaints about property issues and standards should be made online or by phone at 311. Report urgent matters by phone. Report what you see. Councillor Curry states that there is heightened awareness at the city given the status change of this property and will investigate complaints.
On trees specifically, all property owners require a permit to cut down trees that are 30 cm DBH (diameter at breast height or 51 inches from the ground) or taller, regardless of condition.
There is a fencing bylaw specific to this property, which limits the use of fences. Report through 311 an activity that concerns you. We ask all residents to be respect our beautiful greenspace that we continue to fight to preserve.
Q6: What about the mercury contamination in the ground?
A6: The mercury in the ground is without risk to anyone unless it is touched or disturbed in some way. Digging or scraping the ground could cause mercury in that area to become airborne and become a serious safety threat to our community. There are mitigation and protective strategies available to safely remove mercury from construction sites.
We continue to urge the City to ensure all efforts are being taken to keep the community safe by ensuring there has been a full, unbiased testing across the entire site to ensure that the mercury deposits are fully located, quantified, and a viable remediation process is defined at the start, before approvals are issued.
Q7: How can the community stop the development?
A7: By supporting the city in opposition. The absence of a functioning SWM plan is a complete stop to the development approval process. That is where we are currently with ClubLink/Minto. The city has full responsibility for the functionality of all SWM systems within its boundaries because it is 100% liable for failures. That is why they have full approval rights on SWM. There is no middle ground.
The City has stated that it will not pay to intensify its hard infrastructure to support this proposed development. ClubLink/Minto must therefore not only produce a SWM plan that the City agrees with, it seems they must also pay for it.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) property near Shirley’s Bay has long been the outlet for the Kizell Drain into the Ottawa River. The NCC continues to oppose the KGC development because of the expected intensification of water temperature and flow that will result. The SWM system cannot be approved without an acceptable outlet.
Q8: What is the KGPC doing now/next? What legal options remain?
A8: The KGPC, through our lawyers, has explored alternative civil courses of action, including misrepresentation, breach of contract, and injunctions, but these options are not viable for our organization.
Our planning lawyer, Sylvain Rouleau, WeirFoulds LLP will attend the OLT hearing on November 26 to monitor the proceedings. Beyond this, there are no legal actions available at the present time.
The KGPC is in regular communication with the City through our dedicated and hardworking Councillor Cathy Curry, as well as other stakeholders on this issue, including our MP Jenna Sudds and MPP Karen McCrimmon.
Q9: There has been talk of a class action lawsuit? Is the KGPC pursuing that?
A9: Any lawsuit to recover lost value or use of personal property must be brought by the individual landowners. The KGPC is not a property owner and so would be unable to launch such an action on behalf of the community or its supporters.
Q10: How does the development of the KNL lands beyond the Beaver Pond impact our issue?
A10: The City confirms that the KNL land development, approved 12 or so years ago and only partially completed, requires SWM flow through the Beaver Pond and Kizell Creek. Therefore, any assessment of the ClubLink/Minto proposal must take the KNL flow contributions into account. With KNL fully developed, the city engineers (including our expert hydrology engineer) understood that the system is near capacity and cannot accommodate in its present state, the increased volumes associated with the ClubLink proposal. The city stated as early as 2018 to ClubLink and its partners that it would not financially contribute to hard SWM infrastructure intensification. It is believed that the costs of such a complex project would be exorbitant.
Q11: Why can’t the City just do a land swap with the developer?
A11: That’s a question for the City and developer to come to terms on and answer. We continue to advocate against the development of the KGC lands in the name of public health, safety, and community protection.
We are open to all suggestions the City has to preserve and protect this land and our families.
Q12: Why isn’t the City pursuing an MZO (Ministerial Zoning Order)?
A12: MZOs are a provincial matter. Remember that Premier Ford suggested that he supports Mayor Sutcliffe in his opposition to the development (you’ll remember he wished our Mayor “good luck” in his efforts to protect our community) following the Supreme Court decision and then promptly sidelined himself. The City has previously stated that an MZO is not the preferred option, primarily because it is not necessarily permanent. MZO’s are political tools that and can be reversed. And, of course, you need a willing partner (in power) at Queen’s Park.
Q13: Are we going to have a town hall meeting?
A13: We know there’s interest in having a town hall, but we feel that it would be better to wait until we have more facts to share and discuss. A virtual Q & A seems like a better option at this time of year with the Holidays approaching. We will look for dates in early December, following the OLT hearing. Stay tuned.
Q14: In the meantime, how can the community get more answers?
A14: Sign up for our e-news and KGPC Facebook page (this one is really good for fast-breaking news) and sign up for Councillor Curry’s Ward 4 newsletter. We all work very hard to get accurate information out to the community as quickly as possible.
Q15: Can we still walk on the golf course? All year round, or just in the winter?
A15: The KGPC has a request for information into the City through Councillor Curry and others to understand what is allowed, given the loss of the 40% Agreement. Regardless, we remind you to please be respectful of other people’s property and always pick up after your dog.
Q16: What about the coyotes? Who will manage them?
A16: Wildlife issues should be addressed to the City via 311 unless it is urgent and an immediate threat or danger for which you call 911. Check out the city website for coyote information. They have a dedicated and trained person who will respond.