By Robert Benzie, The Toronto Star, March 27, 2019
The environmental commissioner, whose job was eliminated when the political climate changed at Queen’s Park, warns Ontario is not doing enough to conserve energy and curb greenhouse gas emissions.
In her final report to the legislature, Dianne Saxe on Wednesday blasted Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government for “very inadequate” climate change plans that leave her “very frightened.”
By Johan Hamels, Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 2019
As citizens of the world, we in Ottawa know that future summers, winters and our weather in general will become more extreme. Climate change is happening and is having a direct impact on our neighbourhoods, on our infrastructure and on our individual and collective budgets.
We also understand that we must lower our greenhouse gas emissions and invest in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Such major changes in transport, construction and behaviour require a high level of public legitimacy and commitment of citizens, businesses and the city.
Mobilizing citizens for such changes demands a clearly expressed vision and implementation tools, and supports that enable individuals, households and local businesses and organizations to participate in this transition. Doing this well can make climate change policies a winning strategy for the city and residents alike.
(...)As a G7 capital city, we should aim for zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Yet, Ottawa completely missed the mark to promote this energy neutral vision during recent consultations on the new public library and the Official Plan. The public library project is an investment for the next 50+ years, yet the consultation process makes no mention of energy use or energy production potential.
By Bill Eggertson, Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 2019
If we assume that most people now understand the reality of our changing climate, perhaps this is a good year to drastically change what we do during Earth Hour.
Launched in 2007, this annual ritual asks us to turn off all non-essential lighting from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. The admirable gesture has raised public awareness of the need to take action on climate change — but the event is badly flawed in almost all other aspects.
First, how can there be any non-essential consumption of any energy at any time Someone must pay for that waste. If any company or politician expects a pat on the back for briefly turning off lights that should not be on, the appropriate response is public condemnation … not commendation.
(...)Earth Day on April 22 is another example of a false starter. For years, Ottawa has planted a tree in a park; heaven forbid we would offer free transit on that day, or do anything to encourage residents to adopt greener behaviours, or promote the many available options that can reduce carbon emissions.
Thousands of students united in cities across the world and marched in protest as part of the Global Climate Strike on March 15. The global cry for change was aimed at political leaders, calling on them to start taking meaningful action to combat climate change.
“There’s been a really awesome push from young people to claim their voices and empower themselves, as a result of lack of leadership from ‘adults’ on climate issues,” said Lauren Latour, renewable city organizer with Ecology Ottawa.
(...)Latour, got her start in climate activism in school with the fossil fuel divestment movement, when she was a student at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick.“The fossil fuel divestment movement was taking young people who were really passionate about environmental issues and taking action on climate and politicizing them, and teaching them the importance of community organizing and movement-building.”
By Robyn Miller, CBC News Ottawa, March 28, 2019
Some Kanata residents are playing the environment card in an effort to stop a proposed gas station in their neighbourhood.
Nearly 1,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the City of Ottawa to reject an application for a Shell station and car wash near the intersection of Kanata Avenue and Terry Fox Drive.
(...)"This gas station would be in a residential area and also across from a sensitive environmental area, so there is great concern in this community about that," Brown said.
By the Canadian Press, 1310 News, March 21, 2019
Personal tax experts are reminding Canadians to claim all of the tax credits they may be eligible for when they file their income tax return this year including the new climate-related tax credit and other oft-forgotten deductions.
The climate action incentive can be claimed by those who are 18 or older and resided in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario or New Brunswick as of the end of last year.
The payment is limited to those four provinces because they will be charged a federal carbon tax credit starting this April, which consumers will pay for at the gas pump or through their home heating bill, said Lisa Gittens, a senior tax expert at H&R Block.
By Sandra Abma, CBC News Ottawa, March 25, 2019
A group of water experts, students and former councillors is urging the City of Ottawa to ban bottled water in all its arenas and facilities.
The Ottawa Water Study Action Group(OWSAG)gathered at City Hall on Monday to both celebrate the quality of local drinking water and ask the city to get out of the plastic water bottle business.
"Ottawa tap water is terrific, it is much better than bottle water," said former city councillor Diane Holmes at the meeting.
By Lesley McKay, StittsvilleCentral, March 22, 2019
Today, the City of Ottawa received a maximum of $1.208 billion to build the Ottawa Stage 2 Light Rail Transit (LRT) project from the Province of Ontario.
Premier Ford visited Ottawa to make this announcement. “Building a quality transit system is a big step forward in making sure Ottawa is open for business and open for jobs,” said Ford. “The people of this great city deserve a world-class transportation system that gets both them and the economy moving. This investment puts people first.”
“I am very appreciative that the Government of Ontario is investing with us to make Stage 2 LRT a reality for the residents of Ottawa,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “Stage 2 will extend our LRT network to communities farther east, west and south. It will bring 77 per cent of Ottawa residents within five kilometres of fast, efficient, clean and reliable rail service.”
By Chris Selley, Ottawa Citizen, March 22, 2019
OTTAWA — In his post-politics career, Preston Manning has always cut a unique figure within the Canadian conservative movement: He was born (literally) into the Western populist tradition, and helped guide that wing of the movement to primacy in a united federal party that governed for a decade; but in more recent years he has been seen very much as an establishment figure. Probably no issue has highlighted the disconnect more than carbon pricing.
In Ottawa, Alberta and Saskatchewan, the spiritual heirs to Reform have long been virulently opposed to a carbon tax. In Ontario, not so long ago, Progressive Conservatives seemed willing to tolerate adopting the federal “backstop” carbon price as party policy. But when party leader Patrick Brown resigned that was over in a heartbeat: Every candidate to replace him opposed it, and none more bitterly than the eventual winner, now-Premier Doug Ford. The same was true of every candidate to replace Stephen Harper as federal Conservative leader — except one, Michael Chong, who was booed every time he brought it up, and not in a friendly way.
By Vito Pilieci, Ottawa Citizen, March 22, 2019
The City of Ottawa has revealed the results of a year-long public consultation that it hopes will help shape the future of Sparks Street.
The future of the downtown street, which became Canada’s first pedestrian-only mall in 1967, has been keenly debated for decades. Joining Elgin and Lyon streets, Sparks is seen as an important corridor given its proximity to Parliament Hill, hotels and downtown restaurants
(...)New interlock pavers, bike racks and small green spaces are suggested. Interactive water features (like fountains), digital wayfinding boards — maps that can be used to display signage — and increased lighting are proposed, along with temporary pop-up facilities for outdoor entertainment, such as concerts or displaying films..
By Megan Gillis, Ottawa Sun, March 22, 2019
The Gatineau bus service cancelled dozens of trips and accessibility service Friday because of possible steering problems with the articulated buses, affecting 57 STO buses.
Nova Bus, which manufactured the buses, asked for spot checks after finding a technical problem with the steering systems of hybrid buses delivered between 2016 and 2019.
A total of 600 buses in the fleets of nine Quebec municipal bus services, almost half of them in Montreal, were affected.
Nova Bus has identified a “permanent solution” to the steering issue, but does not have enough parts on hand to fix the problem immediately.
By CBC News Ottawa, March 23, 2019
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is keeping the door open when it comes to talks about funding a west-end light rail transit extension for Ottawa.
The premier was in town on Friday to ink the provincial government's $1.2-billion contribution towards the Stage 2 LRT project.
During the funding announcement, Ford was asked whether his government would commit to filling in that last big piece.