Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

All LRT trains built and in testing, but still no launch date

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, April 2, 2019

All trains for the $2.1-billion Stage 1 LRT system have been built and are in the testing phase, according to the city’s transportation boss, who on Tuesday also defended the construction quality in the downtown tunnel.

John Manconi, the general manager who oversees rail construction and OC Transpo, told the finance and economic development committee that all tunnels leak and there are sump pumps in place to capture water. He reminded Mayor Jim Watson and councillors that the LRT tunnel was built under a waterway, the Rideau Canal.

This newspaper’s Tuesday edition reported that a Rideau Transit Group inspector flagged “non-conformance” waterproofing in the tunnel in 2018. The inspector found “varieties of issues” with the waterstop installation in the tunnel, the non-conformance report says. It was too late to fix the work since it was covered in concrete, so an engineer recommended RTG be prepared to fix any leaks related to the deficient waterproofing.

Today's letters: Carbon tax will have an impact on Canadians

By Lorne Hess and Grant Wilkinson, Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor, April 2, 2019

The carbon tax is going to cost us

Starting Monday, the cost of gas has gone up 4.4 cents per litre due to the federal government’s $20-per-tonne carbon tax. It’s proposed the tax will increase to $50 per tonne by 2022, so it’s reasonable to expect a corresponding increase in gas prices of 11 cents per litre, using current numbers

(...)Environment advocates should practise what they preach

Re: It’s time to go beyond Earth Hour, March 30.

Bill Eggertson writes that Earth Day accomplishes almost nothing and that all of us can and should do more to reduce our carbon emissions. It’s difficult to disagree with the argument. However, it is even more difficult to buy the argument when it is most often coming from hypocritical politicians and other self-styled promoters of a greener life.

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Waterproofing 'non-conformance' flagged during inspections of LRT tunnel in 2018

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, April 2, 2019

Taxpayers might have to live with a leaky LRT tunnel, along with the threat of water accumulating in stations and damaging infrastructure, and there’s not much the City of Ottawa can do about it.

An inspection report filed last year suggests there are areas of the Confederation Line tunnel where the “waterstop” material wasn’t installed properly.

“Varieties of issues were identified with waterstop installation that may compromise their effectiveness,” a Rideau Transit Group (RTG) inspector wrote in a report that was started on April 18, 2018. “These issues range from discontinuities to premature saturation of the hydrophilic materials.”

Canada says global carbon pollution must be reduced to 'near zero' to limit harsh impacts

By Carl Meyer, the National Observer, April 1, 2019

Canada is heating up at double the average rate of the planet, according to a stunning peer-reviewed scientific report involving dozens of government and academic authors, and it is likely that the majority of this warming was caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels.

Canada’s Changing Climate Report, released April 1, 2019, shows how climate change has already altered Canada and is expected to lead to heightened risks of heat waves, wildfires, floods and declining freshwater availability.

The report uses careful language to express varying levels of confidence in scientific research, showing how climate change has already altered Canada & is expected to lead to heightened risks of heat waves, wildfires, floods and declining freshwater

How LRT will change campus life, commutes next fall

By Jacob Hoytema, The Fulcrum, March 30, 2019

While we don’t yet have an opening date for Ottawa’s new light rail transit (LRT) system, it’s a safe bet that the new train will be carrying students to and from campus for the start of the new academic year in fall according to OC Transpo head John Manconi.

The new Confederation Line, which will run through downtown and the University of Ottawa, has largely been touted by the city council and OC Transpo as the next big step forward in Ottawa’s transit system, and our maturity as a city. But the new train has its costs, depending on how short-term our thinking, or how long-distanced our commute to campus.

Let’s deal with the obvious positives first: the train will make things a lot clearer both at U of O and in the downtown core in general. Mackenzie-King Bridge, behind the Rideau Centre, will be free of hundreds of express buses thanks to the new tunnel, meaning improved air quality for the bus-jammed street.

Carbon tax bumps up gas prices in 4 provinces — will it change consumer behaviour?

By Maham Abedi, Global News, April 1, 2019

Gas prices went up for consumers in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick on Monday as the federal carbon tax kicked in.

The tax has drawn heat from across the country, from politicians and Canadians in general, who say it will harm the economy and put too much of a financial burden on consumers.

READ MORE: Federal carbon tax kicks in for Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has been one of the most vocal opponents, repeatedly calling the move a “tax grab.” On Monday, Scheer spoke in New Brunswick saying he’ll scrap the tax if he becomes prime minister.

Cost increase for Hawkesbury street rebuild approved, councillor wants action on sidewalks

By James Morgan, The Review, April 1, 2019

The estimated price of a major street reconstruction project in Hawkesbury has increased.

A section of Cameron Street is to be rebuilt this year with new sewer and watermains, traffic lights, and a new asphalt surface. However, staff determined during a review of the plans that a sidewalk should be added to the west side of the street in order to improve pedestrian accessibility.

Doug Ford slams federal carbon tax that takes effect in four provinces today

By Alison Jones, the Candian Press, CTV News, April 1, 2019

TORONTO -- Canada's most populous province and the federal government engaged in a pitched battle for public opinion over the carbon tax as it launched Monday, just six months ahead of the federal election.

Ontario is one of four provinces, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, where Ottawa imposed the levy because they opted not to impose their own pricing schemes on carbon emissions.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau framed the move as a win for the environment, tweeting that "it's no longer free to pollute anywhere in Canada." But Ontario Premier Doug Ford took the opportunity Monday, as drivers started paying about 4.4 cents a litre more for gas, to hammer his populist, anti-carbon tax message.

Park-and-cycle could be coming to Andrew Haydon Park

By CBC News Ottawa, March 31, 2019

Cycling commuters are getting a handful of spots in a west Ottawa park, but they will have to arrive early if they want to park and bike downtown.

Former councillor Marianne Wilkinson kicked off the debate last year after a handful of cyclists who travelled in from Kanata, parked in Andrew Haydon Park and then cycled downtown, were ticketed. She wanted the city to explore finding legal places for people to park and cycle.

The city is proposing 10 spaces in Andrew Haydon Park that would be open on a first-come, first-served basis on a three-year pilot project. A report on the issue is going to the city's transportation committee next week. The National Capital Commission allows cyclists to park in its lots to travel downtown.

Warning issued as Rideau River floods low-lying areas

By Megan Gillis, Ottawa Citizen, April 1, 2019

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority issued a flood warning Sunday after weekend rain combined with the runoff from melting snow increased Rideau River water levels and flows enough to flood some low-lying areas.

The areas that are experiencing flooding — “or will be very soon” — include:

• The smaller creeks and streams in the lower Rideau Valley watershed, including the low-lying roads and waterfront properties adjacent to the Jock River (near Richmond) and Stevens Creek (near North Gower), and any connected creeks or ditches;

Canada warming at twice the global rate, leaked report finds

By CBC News, April 1, 2019

Canada is, on average, experiencing warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world, with Northern Canada heating up at almost three times the global average, according to a new government report.

The study — Canada's Changing Climate Report (CCCR) — was commissioned by Environment and Climate Change Canada. It says that since 1948, Canada's annual average temperature over land has warmed 1.7 C, with higher rates seen in the North, the Prairies and northern British Columbia.

City eyes baseball stadium, Tom Brown arena for development

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, March 29, 2019

Tom Brown arena, the Bob MacQuarrie recreation complex in Orléans and the baseball stadium on Coventry Road could one day be redeveloped for affordable housing, according to a new city inventory of 20 sites that are within walking distance of future light rail stations.

"With the launch of LRT, we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to locate a number of affordable housing projects on public lands near transit stations," said Mayor Jim Watson during his state of the city speech in January.

For the past year, a working group has been taking stock of publicly held lands within 600 metres of Stage 1 and Stage 2 light rail stations for future development of affordable housing units.