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This article was published 26/1/2015 (2062 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman offered no quarter to Winnipeg's downtown development agency by demanding competition to a downtown development plan arranged with True North Sports & Entertainment.

City council's executive policy committee has approved a plan to release construction company Stuart Olson ‎from its obligation to build a hotel to serve an expanded RBC Convention Centre - and demand CentreVenture to open up public bidding to anyone interested in building on the former Carlton Inn site.

EPC voted unanimously Monday afternoon to release Stuart Olson from its hotel-building obligation - and a potential $16-million holdback - in exchange for $3.75 million in liquidated damages.

The cash would offset CentreVenture's $6.6-million purchase of the Carlton Inn, a transaction made in 2012 as part of an effort to help Stuart Olson build that hotel.

EPC approved the settlement but amended the plan to demand CentreVenture allow other bidders access to the Carlton Inn site.

MELISSA TAIT / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Curt Vossen, chair of CentreVenture, listens to Richard Olfert, secretary/treasurer, at a special EPC meeting regarding the convention centre hotel deal Monday afternoon.

In September, True North ‎signed an option on the Carlton Inn site in September, spokesman Scott Brown confirmed in a statement.

The press release was issued moments after CentreVenture board chair Curt Vossen and secretary-treasurer Richard Olfert told city council's executive policy committee the option was signed on Sept. 24. True North chairman Mark Chipman resigned from CentreVenture's board in July, they said.

The effective date on ‎True North's option was June 12, said Bowman.

Bowman said if True North's plan is as spectacular as promised, it will surely win a bid.

Chipman endorsed Bowman's mayoral run in 2014. True North is planning to develop a larger project involved both the former Carlton Inn site at 220 Carlton St. ‎and a vacant surface lot, owned by Manitoba Public Insurance at 225 Carlton St.

Vossen said the project will involve a hotel, retail and office space and a residential component.

MELISSA TAIT / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Members of Executive Policy Committee listen to a presentation from Bob Silver, chair of RBC Convention Centre.

The option on the land expires in June 2015. True North would be required to purchase the former Carlton Inn site at a price set by an independent appraisal.

Mayor Brian Bowman asked to see the option but was told he could not unless True North agreed. As honourary CentreVenture board chairman, he is not legally entitled to see the option, lawyer Phil Sheps s‎aid.

Vossen and Olfert said the president of Stuart Olson's parent‎ company approached former Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz and former CentreVenture CEO and president Ross McGowan with the settlement plan in April 2014.

CentreVenture was convinced Stuart Olson had no intention of building the hotel, based on its refusal to contribute to Carlton Inn demolition costs.

Bowman and other members of EPC grilled Vossen and Olfert, with the mayor admonishing CentreVenture for not providing answers to questions posed late last week.

Convention centre board chair Bob Silver also appeared before the committee and was subjected to a less aggressive grilling.

The $3.75 million settlement and Carlton Inn disposition plan will now come before city council as a whole on Wednesday.