Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Ottawa sets rainfall record

By CFRA News Ottawa, October 30, 2017

It’s officially the rainiest year in Ottawa's history, and more rain is on the way today.

A Rainfall Warning continues for Ottawa and eastern Ontario.Environment Canada says 39 mm of rain fell on Sunday, setting a record for greatest rainfall on October 29. The previous record was 17.4 mm set in 2003.The 39 mm of rain on Sunday pushed 2017 into first place for most rain in a year. Ottawa has received 1028 mm of rain this year, with two months left. Ottawa received 1000.7 mm of rain back in 2006.

Record rain means less food for Ottawa Food Bank

CTV Ottawa News

By CTV News Ottawa, October 29, 2017

The fall storm underway right now in Ottawa has pushed 2017 to be the wettest year on record, according to Environment Canada data.

Rolf Campbell with Yow Weather Records says since January more than 1000mm of rain has fallen in the capital this year. With so many businesses relying on weather - it is a record not everyone wanted to reach.

The Executive Director of the Ottawa Food Bank says 2017 is the worst growing season they have experienced.

“We grew 25 per cent less produce than we would in a typical year,” said Michael Maidment. The food bank grows about one hundred thousand pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables annually for their 40-thousand users.

City doesn’t want to cover LeBreton Flats cleanup costs, report reveals

Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, October 27, 2017

LeBreton Flats needs to be a showpiece neighbourhood once it’s rebuilt, the city says, as long as it costs the city government as little as possible.

It wants nothing to do with cleaning up contaminated ground in the former industrial neighbourhood, for instance. It wants users of a new hockey arena there to pay for extra transit service for games and concerts. It doesn’t want new parks and civic spaces there to be too fancy to maintain.

OC Transpo will start testing fare gates next month

Metro Ottawa

By Kieran Delamont, Ottawa Metro News, October 25, 2017

The city will begin testing its fare gate system on the O-Train Trillium Line on November 1, according to a memo sent to members of council by transit boss John Manconi.

The fare gates at Carling station will be operational as of November 1, followed by Carleton, Confederation and Greenboro stations, which will be activated on November 3, 6 and 8, respectively.

Bayview Station, which will be the transfer point between the Trillium and Confederation Lines once the latter opens, will not have fare gates installed at this time.

Hydro rates to remain stable through 2020: energy plan

Metro Toronto

By Ottawa Metro News, October 26, 2016

Ontario electricity rate hikes will be held to the rate of inflation over the next four years, according to the province’s latest Long-Term Energy Plan.

In the first energy blueprint since 2013, the Liberal government said prices will actually be lower than forecast four years ago — thanks to the 25 per cent rebate known as the Fair Hydro Plan that took effect this past summer.

(...)The government estimates that the equivalent of 8.6 per cent of supply is coming from conservation efforts.

There are no new major energy projects announced in the plan — the Liberals believe existing infrastructure as well as increased small green-energy, such as roof-top solar panels, will be enough to meet demand over the next 18 years.

Human cases of West Nile up significantly in 2017

Metro Ottawa

By Kieran Delamont, Ottawa Metro News, October 26, 2017

Human cases of West Nile Virus in Ottawa increased tenfold this summer, compared to 2016—the highest number Ottawa Public Health has ever recorded.

All told, there were 20 human cases of the mosquito-born virus this year— a figure that is greater than the total number of cases seen in the city since 2006.

“This year, as everyone knows, we came within a half millimetre of setting an all-time record for rainfall,” said Dr. Monir Taha, an associate medical officer of health at OPH. “The main driver this year was lots of water and sufficient temperature.”

Citizens' associations call for action on OC Transpo

Metro Ottawa

The Federation of Citizens’ Association, an organization that connects small community groups, is calling on the city to take immediate steps to increase the number of people who walk, bike, and take transit.

“Our members support the [Transit Master Plan’s] goals and are not willing to wait until 2021 to update the TMP,” said FCA president Sheila Perry, in a statement. “We have concrete suggestions that council can undertake now to meet its transportation goals.

”The city’s transportation master plan was initially slated to be updated in 2018, but was pushed to 2021 because of the introduction of the LRT and delays with Ontario Municipal Board hearings.

Why are trees still green in late October? - Ottawa - CBC News

By Ian Black, CBC News Ottawa, October 26, 2017

It's almost November, but many parts of Ottawa are looking decidedly summery.While there are splashes of fall colour here and there, and some trees have started to shed their foliage, plenty of others remain green.

Why, you ask?

The days are surely getting shorter, which is normally a signal for trees to shut down for the winter and drop their leaves.

But it's been a very warm fall. The average daily high temperature so far this October is 18.9 C — well above the normal of only 12.7 C. Basically, some trees have been "tricked" into staying green far past their normal time.

Report: Ontario turned blind eye on pollution in Indigenous communities

Metro News

By Ottawa Metro News, October 24, 2017

The Ontario government has, for decades, turned a blind eye to “outrageous” pollution causing serious health effects in Indigenous communities, the province’s environment watchdog said Tuesday.

In a report delivered to Queen’s Park, Ontario environmental commissioner Dianne Saxe recognized progress in recent years, but condemned years of inaction by the provincial government in the Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley, and in mercury-contaminated Grassy Narrows in northwestern Ontario. Both have been subjects of Star investigations.

“The conditions faced by these Indigenous communities would not be tolerated elsewhere in Ontario, yet have long been deemed unworthy of priority, effort or expense,’ said Saxe. “After decades of neglect, the province is finally taking some steps, but the pollution that these communities still face is outrageous.”

Ottawa looking at new road standard saving money and cyclists

Metro Ottawa

By Kieran Delamont, Ottawa Metro News, October 24, 2017

The city is updating its recommended designs for arterial roads, doing away with medians, giving cyclists more protected space all while saving money.

In a report presented to planning committee Tuesday, head of traffic services Phil Landry laid out the recommendations, created as part of the ‘Building Better and Smarter Suburbs’ review, for the cross-section of major roads.

The most significant changes are the recommendations planners eliminate medians on streets with speed limits at or below 70 km/h, and drastically reduce the size of the medians on roads with speed limits at or above 80 km/h.

Councillor finds plans for Rochester Field unacceptable

OttawaCommunityNews.com

By Melissa Murray, Ottawa Community News, October 24, 2017

A National Capital Commission plan to develop part of Rochester Field is unacceptable to the local councillor.

A meeting last month about the rezoning for the Westboro green space — located between Richmond Road and the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway at Broadview Avenue — brought out about 60 people. It was tense, according to Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper.

“People have a lot invested in Rochester Field. It is very much a treasured green space in the community and any changes to it are naturally going to engender some questions and discomfort,” he said.

Sewage tunnel dig to begin later this fall under Kent Street - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, October 24, 2017

The City of Ottawa has reached an early milestone on its other major underground project — the sewage storage tunnels meant to keep sewage overflows from entering the Ottawa River.

The Combined Sewage Storage Tunnel is a $232.3-million project funded by all three levels of government, but it's been overshadowed by work on the multi-billion-dollar light-rail transit system.

Work began in June 2016 on an access shaft to the site of the future sewage tunnel at the intersection of Kent Street and Chamberlain Avenue.