Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Scrap Laurier bike lane for safer route, councillor suggests

By Laura Osman, CBC News Ottawa, April 4, 2018

An Ottawa city councillor is suggesting scrapping the Laurier Avenue bike lanes once a new cycling corridor is built nearby.

On Wednesday the city's transportation committee approved a new design for Slater and Albert streets that would largely replace existing bus lanes with separated cycling lanes.

Construction along the corridor is set to begin in 2019.

• Slater, Albert streets in for major makeover after LRT launch

"Knowing that buses are coming off these roads, are these safer routes?" Coun. Scott Moffatt asked during Wednesday's meeting.

Booth, Eddy streets closed as high winds spread debris

By Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen, April 4, 2018

Booth and Eddy streets across the Ottawa River are expected to remain closed until 2 or 3 a.m. Thursday morning as emergency crews deal with debris blown onto the Chaudière Bridge by high winds.

According to Ottawa police, the roof from a building at 6 Booth St. on Albert Island, between Wellington Street and Alexandre-Taché Boulevard in Gatineau, was split in two by the winds, which have produced gusts in the area in excess of 80 km/h.

Transportation committee approves LRT-era changes to Albert and Slater streets

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, April 4, 2018

Council’s transportation committee on Wednesday approved a redesign plan for two downtown streets as the city prepares to reduce the number of buses when the Confederation Line opens.

The bus-only lanes on Albert and Slater streets won’t be necessary when the LRT line is running through the tunnel under Queen Street in November. The number of buses cutting through the downtown will be reduced by half, and more in some locations.

NOTEBOOK: City gets $850,000 for main street revitalization projects

By Glen Gower, StittsvilleCentral, April 2, 2018

Any property owners on Stittsville Main Street who could use some financial help? You might want to get in touch with your councillor… there’s a fund of $850,000 available city-wide for main street revitalization projects. Here’s an excerpt from a memo sent last week to Ottawa’s mayor and city councillors from Stephen Willis, General Manager of Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development at the City of Ottawa:

“…As per the announcement, Ontario is investing up to $26 million in the Main Street Revitalization Initiative. The funding is to support capital improvements for energy efficiency, accessibility, aesthetics, and marketability of small businesses within main street areas, and encourage strategic public investments in municipal and other public infrastructure within main street areas that will support small businesses.

Bird groups rescue jaywalking turkey on the loose in downtown Ottawa

By Megan Gillis, Ottawa Sun, April 3, 2018

It was a fair end for this fowl thanks to the “turkey whisperer.”

Ottawa got a gander at the gobbler Tuesday morning when word spread on Twitter that one had been spotted downtown. It took some intrepid bystanders and the Safe Wings Ottawa group to get the young hen safely out of traffic and into a wooded area near Shirley’s Bay.

Gatineau to consider lifting ban on dogs in most city parks

By CBC News Ottawa, April 3, 2018

Gatineau dog owners may soon be able to take their four-legged friends for walks in many more parks across the city.

The city of Gatineau will be looking at lifting a ban that prohibits owners from walking their dogs on a leash in almost all of the city's 353 parks.

On Tuesday, city council will hear a presentation on the revised regulation.

It proposes increasing the number of dog-friendly parks in Gatineau from 18 to 250.

Train automation is manager's biggest concern as city moves toward LRT launch

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, April 3, 2018

John Manconi, the city’s general manager of transportation, isn’t stressed about LRT stations, tracks and vehicles being constructed by the fall. His focus is on making sure computers can operate a train 12.5 kilometres across the city without a hitch.

Confirming that the train automation works will be a major milestone for the city, but it’s one Manconi says he worries the most about, since there’s complex technology involved.

The “communications-based train control” system is being supplied by Thales Canada. When there are three trains running in automated mode on the eastern portion of the LRT line, there will be high-fives in the corner offices of city hall.

Today's letters: The kids will make it all right

By Jennifer Radley, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, March 31, 2018

You, too, can use your green bin properly

Re: Letter,  garbage in, garbage out, March 24.  

Unfortunately, the City of Ottawa will soon accept plastic bags in green bins, as a result of people claiming that they hate dealing with the sloppy mess. We’ll all pay the price for those bags to be stripped out and sent to the landfill.

My household is proof that green bins can be kept clean and dry, without plastic bags. We have never had a mess, and have used ours since they were introduced. Here is our simple strategy:

Bushtukah hosts cycling safety workshop on April 11

By StittsvilleCentral, April 1, 2018

Cycling Safely – The ABC’s of Awareness Wednesday, April 11 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Bushtukah is pleased to present this free clinic to help you stay safe on the roads this summer by ensuring that drivers and other riders on the road notice you.The ABCs of Awareness—Always on, Biomotion, and Contrast—are presented here in a good, better, best hierarchy. Using daytime running lights is a good way to be noticed, but a combination of daytime running lights, highlighting your body’s moving parts, and choosing gear that contrasts with the environment is the best option. The more of the ABCs you practice on every ride, the more you’ll stand out. Spaces are limited, click here to register & more information.

McKenna has 'no time' for climate change deniers

By CTV News, April 1, 2018

OTTAWA – Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says she has "no time" for political adversaries who don’t believe climate change is real.

During an interview with CTV Question Period host Evan Solomon, McKenna smacked down critics of the Liberals' climate change plan and price on carbon.

"I have no time for folks who are like, you know, 'We shouldn’t take action,'" she said. "I don’t have time for politicians that play cynical games about climate action."

Quebec cyclists could see fines jump by more than 400% under proposed bill

By CBC News Ottawa, April 1, 2018

Quebec cyclists could soon face much heftier fines for breaking the rules of the road, thanks to some amendments to the province's Highway Safety Code.

Under Bill 165, fines for cyclists caught without reflectors or running red lights would start at $80, up from the current $15 minimum.

The bill, which also aims to crack down on dangerous driving, was tabled at Quebec's National Assembly in December and contains 86 proposed measures.

Environment Canada warns of freezing rain Tuesday

By CBC News Ottawa, April 2, 2018

Spring seems far away, once again, this Easter Monday as the morning starts off with a low of -6 C and Environment Canada warns of freezing rain for Tuesday.

With the wind chill, today, it feels more like -10 C but temperatures will warm up, later in the day, with a high of 4 C.

Typically, the average high during this time of year is 7 C. Today, you can look for clouds, breaks of sun and even a stray flurry.

A special weather statement by Environment Canada warns of freezing rain and snow in Ottawa Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning.