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The revised schedule calls for construction to start between 2019 and 2020, but the two sides still have at least a year’s worth of negotiating on the final deal.

What they have now is an agreement on the business terms, including the cost of the land deal.

The NCC, however, wouldn’t say how much money it will receive. The price won’t be public until after the federal cabinet approves the final transaction.

“The federal taxpayers will benefit from this deal over the long term,” NCC CEO Mark Kristmanson said after the board meeting.

Part of the deal depends on the decontamination of the land, but Kristmanson wouldn’t provide specifics, citing the confidential nature of the commercial agreement.

However, the cost of the decontamination will be deducted from the price of the land, he said.

The NCC said the preliminary agreement takes into account the “fair market value” of the land.

Ottawa’s municipal government has a rebate program to help developers pay for the cost to clean up contaminated land. Mayor Jim Watson said he still believes the municipal brownfield program isn’t in play and that the feds should be responsible to remediate their land.

Watson is a non-voting member of the NCC board. He said he supports the development plan.

The city will now negotiate with the NCC and RendezVous to make sure municipal interests are protected. They will sort out city hall’s responsibilities on a redeveloped LeBreton Flats.

The development scheme will happen in two phases instead of the original three phases. The first phase will be the eastern half of the site, including the 18,000-seat NHL arena and “public realm elements,” such as an abilities centre and a pedestrian concourse. The second phase on the western half approaching Bayview station won’t start until 2032.