Save Union Station - Background

Background

Presentation by Lawrence David to City Administration Committee, November 5, 2002

In 1976, Elizabeth Willmot wrote these words: “the splendour of Union Station cannot be absorbed in full flight. Many unhurried visits are required to explore and discover its unique beauty. You sense that the station honours the historic contribution made by the railways and stands prepared to welcome the unknown.”

A lot has changed since 1976.

I agree that many unhurried visits are needed to understand this building and its site. But it can no longer welcome the unknown because this RFP process lacks political legitimacy and does not enjoy public confidence or professional acclaim.

Union Station has a unique place in the hearts of our community.

You can watch people walk into the Great Hall and see them stand a little taller. From any walk of life, people can feel like gods as they pass through it. You gaze up at the ceiling and feel like you can see the entire city, the entire country through it.

No other space in Toronto can inspire the civic pride that Union Station can and do it continuously, every single day since the day it was built.

Councillors, I think we have the best city on this continent but it is beset with divisions, from issues of violence, race, child poverty, homelessness, garbage, you name it.

Union Station’s revitalization and redevelopment should be the one thing this entire city can unify around, to inspire us to be greater than we already are.

But it is not.

The Public was never asked anything about it and everything possible was done to exclude public disclosure of any relevant details.

Councillors, in the interest of protecting the City’s confidential arrangements and negotiating position, you have alienated the Public to the point where nobody outside of City Hall believes anything City Hall says.

I am here to report to you today that the widespread opinion (rightly or wrongly) in the general public is that inferior proposal was chosen and the RFP’s evaluation was chiropracticly adjusted to produce just such a result.

Now I am sorry to say this because I know honesty and dedication are the rule and not the exception of our public servants, but THIS IS THE PERCEPTION out there.

For example, why did the original RFP list eight categories of evaluation but only six were reported to the public. Which categories were combined and which were eliminated and why? How did this affect the result?

By what process were the weightings of the categories chosen and why was the Public’s input not sought?

What are we to make of rumours that a French figure skating judge found a way on to the Selection Committee and awarded anomalous scores in one category, enough to affect the final result.

The solution to this perceived mess is entirely within your hands, Councillors.

Make public all of the internal documents surrounding this RFP.

Disclose the reports of the review teams; the methods of evaluation performed by the Selection Committee and the actual scores and weightings of the evaluations performed by the Selection Committee.

These documents do not breach financial confidences or undercut the city’s negotiating position. On the contrary, Public acceptance STRENGTHENS IT!

The secrecy of this RFP does not protect it. IT ENDANGERS IT with Public cynicism and apathy.

Dispel this cloud of suspicion and allow the Public input before the deal is done. Union Station deserves the most considered process and has not gotten it!

Let the Public in NOW! It’s their heritage. They own it. They want it.

Unify our community and end the secrecy.