No. H135/03 For release November 19, 2003CHANGE IN STATUS OF PARC DOWNSVIEW PARKOTTAWA - Transport Minister and Minister responsible for Parc Downsview Park Inc David Collenette today announced that Parc Downsview Park (PDP) Inc. is now reporting directly to Parliament. Downsview Park is a unique urban park and recreational green space created from the remaining lands of the former Canadian Forces Base Toronto. It is operated by Parc Downsview Park Inc. which is mandated to manage and develop part of the Downsview lands as an urban recreational greenspace to be held in trust and perpetuity for the enjoyment of future generations. "By making Parc Downsview Park Inc. an agent Crown corporation, the Government of Canada is further enhancing the accountability of PDP. Furthermore, PDP will now report directly to Parliament through the Minister of Transport, its designated minister," said Mr. Collenette. "The change in agent status will also provide PDP with increased financial flexibility, enabling it to complete the full development of the park in the shortest time frame," he added.The corporation is still expected to be self-financing, to develop Downsview Park using the revenues from leasing or selling its commercial lands, to retain at least half of the Downsview site as parkland, and to accommodate a continuing military presence on the site. The park, located in Toronto's North York community, will be more than half the size of the Downsview Lands. The change in status ensures that PDP conducts its business in accordance with Part X of the Financial Administration Act. In particular, each PDP director will be appointed by the appropriate Minister, with the approval of the governor-in-council. Parc Downsview Park Inc. has a twelve-member board of directors. The change in status necessitated the re-affirmation of the current board of directors by order-in-council, and two new members have also been appointed. "I am pleased that the current board of directors, chaired by Dr. David Bell, has agreed to continue to serve in the same capacity," said Mr. Collenette. "In addition, I am happy Mr. Bailey and Dr. Kerbel have agreed to accept positions on the board, and I know their experience will complement the skills of the existing board of directors." "With close to 600 acres of land, Downsview Park represents one of the largest urban redevelopment opportunities in Canada," said Mr. Collenette. "I wish the board well as they undertake their important work which will benefit all residents of Toronto." The Government of Canada is following through on its 1994 Budget commitment to develop and manage the Downsview Lands, while ensuring that it be held in perpetuity and in trust primarily as a unique urban recreational green space for the enjoyment of future generations. A backgrounder on members of the board of directors is attached. -30- Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. BACKGROUNDER PARC DOWNSVIEW PARK INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS John S. Bailey is a new appointment to the board of Parc Downsview Park Inc. He was appointed chairman and chief executive officer of Famous Players in 2000 and served in that position until he retired in March 2003. He also served as President from 1997, chief operating officer from December 1995 and executive vice president from 1992. Prior to joining Famous Players, Mr. Bailey was senior vice-president of financial planning for Paramount Picture Corporation. Mr. Bailey has contributed his expertise to the National Film Board, the Canadian Film Centre and the Toronto International Film Festival. Dr. David V.J. Bell currently serves as professor in Environmental Studies and the Director of the York University Centre for Applied Sustainability. Dr. Bell, a political scientist, received his undergraduate degree from York University in 1965, then his Ph.D from Harvard University in 1969. He has served on the Environmental Task Force of the City of Toronto, as a member of the Toronto Sustainability Task Force and the Toronto Sustainability Round Table. A consultant and advisor to governments at the local, provincial and national level in Canada and to the Government of Jamaica, Dr. Bell has also authored many papers on sustainability. Douglas Birkenshaw currently serves as a Senior Associate with Bregman & Hamann Architects in Toronto and has worked at a number of architectural firms in Canada and abroad. Mr. Birkenshaw has been involved in many projects, including the Renaissance ROM project in Toronto, the Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems at the University of British Columbia, the Integrated Learning Centre at Queen's University, and the expansion of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. He has lectured at many universities, written numerous research publications and holds Bachelor Degrees in Architecture and Environmental Studies. Rina Camarra is currently part of the management of Mastro's restaurant and operates a consultancy business for restaurants in the areas of marketing, promotion and operations. Ms. Camarra is a long-time member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of the Business Improvement Association involved in the revitalization of the Wilson Avenue Business areas. She was a member of the Community Advisory Panel involved with the planning and development of the Downsview Lands and has had involvement with a number of local charities.Elizabeth Dowdeswell has pursued a career in the public service which has spanned provincial, federal and international borders. Currently she serves as President of the newly-created Nuclear Waste Management Organization; a Visiting Professor in Global Health, Genomics and Ethics at the University of Toronto; a Commissioner of the Commission on Globalization; and an associate fellow of the European Centre for Public Affairs. Ms. Dowdeswell is a past Assistant Deputy Minister of Environment Canada, former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program. She holds a Master's Degree in Behavioral Sciences from Utah State University and numerous honourary doctorates. Dr. Jeffrey Gordon Kerbel is a new appointment to the board of directors of Parc Donswiew Parc Inc. He currently serves as the president and chief executive officer of Brampton Brick Limited. Dr. Kerbel holds a degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Guelph and also attended Cornell University. He has served as the chairman of the board of directors of Brampton Brick Limited and director of Richvale York. Dr. Kerbel was awarded Brampton Business Person of the Year in 1992. Reginald W. Lewis holds a Certified General Accountant designation, a diploma in Engineering and is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators. He has previously served as chairman of Defence Construction Limited, chairman of TEDCO and as a board member of CN Tower Limited. He has a long and distinguished military service record with the British Army and then the Canadian Army Active Reserves, in which he was appointed as Chief of Reserves (Major General) in 1985, and Honourary Colonel, Royal Regiment of Canada in 1991. Mr. Lewis, a member of the Order of Canada (1986), and has been actively involved in numerous community and military clubs and associations.John W. McCool holds an Advanced Management Programme degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. He has served as President of the Bank of Montreal realty Corporation and is the past President and CEO of the Rostland Corporation, a private real estate development company. Now retired, he works as a volunteer for a number of charitable organizations. Thomas H.B. Symons was educated at the University of Toronto and at Oxford and Harvard Universities. He is a professor and writer in the field of Canadian Studies, contemporary intellectual and rural issues, and international academic and cultural relations. He has served as vice-president of the Social Sciences sand Humanities Research Council of Canada, and as a special advisor to the Secretary of State on post-secondary education and human rights. He is the author of numerous studies and articles dealing with education, public affairs, heritage preservation, human rights, and international relations. In 1998, Professor Symons received the Governor General's International Award for Canadian Studies. Mr. Symons is a past President of Trent University and a Companion of the Order of Canada. Toni Varone received his bachelor of arts degree from York University, and also attained a bachelor of commerce from the University of Windsor. He is currently completing a bachelor of administrative studies from York University. He is currently president of Varone Group Inc., a group of companies involved in the hospitality, home building and property ownership industries. He is a past chairman of Villa Charities Inc. and Columbus Centre, as well as a past director of the Northwestern General Hospital. Mr. Varone is currently a director of Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation, which is an internationally recognized academic health centre affiliated with the University of Toronto. November 2003
