Warmer-than-normal September to follow summer defined by humidity

By Mike Vlasveld, 1310 News, August 29, 2018

As kids go back to school and local families settle back into their daily routines, many view the Labour Day weekend as the end of the summer.

But while vacations may come to an end, Environment Canada Senior Climatologist David Phillips expects residents in the capital region to be able to soak up the summer warmth for a little while longer.

Starting with the coming long weekend, he told 1310 NEWS' Ottawa Today with Mark Sutcliffe that the weather should hold out, with mostly sun and cloud predicted, plus temperatures three or four degrees above average.

Dead trees line streets in Arnprior

By Derek Dunn, Inside Ottawa Valley, August 28, 2018

One, two, three, four, five dead trees in a row are spotted when walking along Elgin Street in downtown Arnprior. Others along John Street North are also dead; like naked twigs jammed into sidewalk holes. At intersections, sections of new plant beds are empty as deserts.

“If the intention was for a prettier downtown to attract business and visitors, then we need to make sure downtown meets that vision and hold accountable those who planted trees and designed the landscaping of plant beds,” said Lisa McGee, a council candidate in the current election who raised the problem with Metroland Media. “Many trees have died, and the plant beds look like wild fields, with sporadic gaps.”

The municipality’s two-year, $10-million downtown revitalization saw the replacement of underground pipes along with a daring streetscape that favours pedestrians and nature over vehicles. Yet one year later and many of the saplings have not survived.

Loons could disappear from our region in two or three decades, analysis suggests

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, August 28, 2018

The common loon and its haunting cry could disappear from our region in two or three decades, as climate change drives the bird farther north, a new analysis suggests.

The National Audubon Society has published an analysis of how the “range” of birds — the map of their summer and winter homes — will shift in a warming climate.

It concludes that “314 species — nearly half of all North American birds — (are) severely threatened by global warming.” Many will have to adapt to new landscapes to live. Bird biologists say migration patterns of many species are already shifting.

Tesla wins case against Ontario government over electric vehicle rebates

By Hailey Salvian, CBC News, August 28, 2018

Tesla Motors Canada has won its case against the Ontario government over electric vehicle rebates.

"We're pleased with the Court's decision to strike down the [Ontario government's] transition plan as unfair and unlawful," a Tesla representative said in a statement Monday night.

Ontario Superior Court Judge Frederick Myers ruled Monday that the provincial government's decision to exclude Tesla from a grace period for an electric vehicle rebate program was arbitrary and had singled out Tesla for harm.

Hydro lines to be buried as part of Elgin Street renewal

By Mike Vlasveld, 1310 News, August 28, 2018

A major change has been announced for the Elgin Street Reconstruction project.

There won't be any power lines above ground. Hydro Ottawa will cover $1.9 million of the cost to bury power lines underground, while the City of Ottawa will pick up the remaining cost of $1.2 million.

A memo from the city infrastructure director states that the cost to bury the hydro lines can be done within the existing budget for the project.

(...)The project includes widening sidewalks, shared use lanes for cycling and vehicles and transit facilities, as well as traffic calming measures and reduced speed limits.

Tesla wins case against Ontario government over electric vehicle rebates

By CBC News Ottawa, August 27, 2018

Tesla Motors Canada has won its case against the Ontario government over electric vehicle rebates.

"We're pleased with the Court's decision to strike down the [Ontario government's] transition plan as unfair and unlawful," said a Tesla representative in a statement Monday night.

The Ontario government said it is reviewing the ruling.

In mid-August, Tesla Canada filed a suit against the provincial government alleging it has suffered "substantial harm" and lost sales following the cancellation of an electric vehicle rebate.

Today's letters: Ford's 'snitch line' should be called out

By Mary Back, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, August 25, 2018

(...)Efficient public transit makes a successful city

Re: Limiting transit fare hikes a tough issue for council, Aug. 15.

Thanks to Shawn Menard for his intelligent insight into improving bus transportation by making it available to everyone. He recognizes that efficient public transportation is a key factor in creating a sense of community in the city.

With available bus service, more people will use the bus, the frequency of buses will increase and new routes may be created. Thus people begin to investigate other neighbourhoods and businesses will flourish. As people find they can leave their cars at home, the long lines of traffic in and out of the downtown will diminish.

It is a mistake to describe his proposal as free bus service. Bus service would be available free of charge because everyone pays equitably and everyone benefits equally. This is cooperation at its best. As Menard points out, his plan would take place by phases, each assessed for benefits or problems and modified accordingly. Available bus service for everyone must be an important goal for city council.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office denies telling staff to stop using term ‘climate change’

By Shawn Jeffords, Global News, August 24, 2018

TORONTO – Emails from Ontario civil servants asking staff to stop using the term “climate change” on government social media accounts were based on false information, Premier Doug Ford‘s office said Friday.

Several internal emails published on a Toronto blog said Ford’s office had directed workers at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as well as Ontario Parks to not use the term online.

A spokeswoman for Ford said the premier’s office has never issued such a directive to anyone in government.

Forêt Gourmande to celebrate local food in Brownsburg-Chatham

By James Morgan, The Review, August 24, 2018

Ah, the smell of the forest! Pine, spruce, maple, oak, fresh air, and food! The third Forêt Gourmande (gourmet forest) is happening on Sunday, September 16 in Brownsburg-Chatham. The event is a fair of local food and artisan producers that takes place on the property of founder Jean-Noël Pilotte, who owns L’Éveil du printemps chocolates in Brownsburg village.

Pilotte said the local food fair started out when he got discussing things with Caroline Giroux, the municipal Community Development and Recreation Agent and it led to the first Forêt Gourmande in 2016. He said the event is about “new foods and new ideas,” and commented people are not aware of the wide variety of artisan food products that are produced in the local community and how easily available or affordable they are. Bison meat was one example Pilotte gave. He said many people think it’s expensive and difficult to get, but it is not much different in price than other meats and is produced locally. Pilotte said about 30 vendors take part and are assembled in a circular pattern in two acres of forest. In the middle, straw bales and boards are set up so visitors have an area to sit and enjoy their food. There is a medieval theme this year. People in period costume will be there and games for children will be included as well.

Cyclists taken action of their own to track down stolen bikes

By CTV News Ottawa, August 25, 2018

Ottawa Police say bike thefts have been a problem in Ottawa this summer.

Many cyclists who have had their bikes stolen have launched their own investigation on social media to try to track down their stolen property.

“Stolen Bike Ottawa” is a Facebook group that connects people who have had their bikes stolen. When it started, there were only 300 members- that number has grown to almost 1,300.

Gabriel Soloman is a member and tells CTV Ottawa he often walks downtown and if he find a bike that isn’t locked properly he will “target these bikes by flyering them with a little printout I made explaining how their bike is a target. If I run into the owner of the bike, I'll just explain to them how I noticed their bike pretty quickly, so a thief will eventually notice it too.”

Garbage not a big issue on the hustings, according to Jim Watson

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, August 26, 2018 Garbage isn’t a topic residents are bringing up at the doors so far during the municipal election campaign, Jim Watson says.

“I haven’t had one person raise it, with the exception of some people still complaining about the green bin and weekly garbage pickup, but I’ve said we’re not going to go and turn back the pages of time,” Watson, the mayoral incumbent, said Thursday during a campaign event. “We’ve got to move forward and we’ve got to try and find solutions that work and help prolong the life of the landfill.”

Watson this week released his answers to a candidate questionnaire distributed by Ecology Ottawa, which asks candidates if they would reverse council’s decision to allow plastic bags and dog feces in the green bin, increase funding for education on waste prevention and set a waste-diversion target of 65 per cent.

City could have tonnes of work to do to keep organics out of the dump

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, August 26, 2018

The city will still have tonnes of work to do to keep kitchen slop out of the dump if the province follows through with a proposal to begin phasing out organic waste from landfills.

According to a projection done for the city, 49 per cent of all household organic waste and 34 per cent of dog waste would be captured in curbside collection and sent to the Orgaworld plant in 2022 under a green bin program that includes plastic bags.

It suggests that if the province starts phasing out organics from landfills in 2022, the next city council will need to seriously consider stronger ways to get more residents to use their green bins.

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