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McGuinty “has been associated with Trinity in an unknown capacity (whether as an employee, consultant, lobbyist or adviser has never been made clear) since at least 2015,” according to the lawsuit.

On July 11, 2018, Ottawa city council approved Trinity’s “controversial” plan to develop 900 Albert “with unprecedented density and height,” including the tallest building in Ottawa. “Trinity and Ruddy were able to obtain this political coup through the efforts of McGuinty, who advocated for Trinity’s interests with the City and the mayor without being registered as a lobbyist, and Bird, a former Ottawa City Councillor,” the lawsuit claims.

We are kind of short on reality

In an email, McGuinty told the Post “the claim is 100 per cent false.”

The allegations in the lawsuit, not yet tested in court, make it difficult to believe Melnyk and Ruddy will jointly put a ceremonial shovel in the ground at LeBreton Flats, let alone erect a glittering arena and a retail and condo palace.

Melnyk confirmed as much to the Post.

“As an organization, we just didn’t have the confidence and the comfort that we would actually be building a viable project for the city at LeBreton, instead of a white elephant.”

In a statement Friday, Ruddy was equally forceful. “Trinity strongly denies the allegation in CSMI’s lawsuit and intends to vigorously defend the claim. For over 30 years, I have sought to make a contribution to the communities in which Trinity operates, and in particular my hometown of Ottawa. I will always find ways to build Ottawa up and continue to make a contribution to our great City.”

The NCC clings to the dream, at least officially. But the starkness of the situation is no doubt settling in.

As NCC board member Aditya Jha, a plainspoken entrepreneur, said at Thursday’s meeting of the NCC, the whole LeBreton venture has been “so long on process and patience, and we are kind of short on reality.”

— With files from Maura Forrest in Ottawa and Tyler Dawson in Edmonton.

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