More time has been granted to those involved in the LeBreton Project mediation. The extension comes from the National Capital Commission (NCC) board of directors and allows Trinity Developments and the Ottawa Senators more time to fix their situation.

The goal is to allow the vision for the LeBreton Flats to move forward and to get past the existing dispute.

The extension comes after Warren Winkler, the veteran mediator overseeing the process, requested there be more time. Winkler is trying to help Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, Trinity founder John Ruddy, and project manager Graham Bird come to terms on the project. Winkler’s request for an extension of the termination notice was granted by the NCC.

The termination of RendezVous from LeBreton Flats issued by the NCC was supposed to take place in mid-January. It would bring the development deal to an end. Winkler made his request to extend the termination date to February 28^th, hoping it would give the group enough time to resolve the dispute. The extension of mediation was confirmed by the NCC following a board teleconference held to discuss Winkler’s request.

According to a statement issued by the Commission, “While the NCC has prepared next steps to bring forward at a future Board meeting, it respects the ongoing mediation process led by the Hon. Warren K. Winkler, Q.C., and will not take further actions nor make further statements on this matter at this time.”

Another major decision on the LeBreton Flats situation is expected to come at the end of January regarding the multiple lawsuits filed against one another by Melnyk, Ruddy, and Bird.