Mayor lashes out at Melnyk as LeBreton deal falls through

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson lashed out at Eugene MelnykWednesday, telling reporters the Senators owner has been difficult to deal with throughout the now-collapsed LeBreton Flats redevelopment process.

Watson's comments came as the National Capital Commission confirmedmediation between RendezVous LeBreton partners Melnyk and John Ruddyhad failed.

In a statement, Melnyk saidhis organizationwas "devastated" by the impasse, but would nevertheless continue to look for a new central location for its arena.

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In Watson's most candid public comments to date, the mayor let his exasperation show.

"There's a lot of frustration dealing with Melnyk on a number of fronts.I don't think he's made this process easy," Watson said Wednesday.

LeBreton deal officially dead after mediation fails

6 years ago

Duration 0:40

Mayor Jim Watson and Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez said on Feb. 27 that the failure to revive the LeBreton Flats development is disappointing.

"I think his musingsabout not going downtown, [then] going downtownhurt his credibility and hurt the team's credibility," the mayor said.

"We'd been putting in a lot of effort the city, the NCC, the communityto get an arena at LeBretonbecause we'll have two LRT stations there, and then he just sort of off the top of his head muses we don't even have to go there."

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In his statement of claim against Ruddy, Melnyk claimed Watson's chief of staff had responded with "threats and intimidation" to rumours that the Senators were considering pulling out of the LeBretonproject during last fall's municipal election campaign.

Watson said Wednesday he hadn't spoken recentlywith either Melnykor the NHL about the planfor a new downtown arena.

Watson, who sits as a non-voting member on the NCC's board, said groups that bid on the LeBreton redevelopment can always apply again, depending on how the NCC decides to proceed.