Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

StittsvilleCentral.ca

By Howard C. Pierce, StittsvilleCentral Letter to the Editor, April 2, 2017

On the north side of Liard Street from Stittsville Main Street to the corner of Basswood, the ditches were reconstructed in September 2016, allowing the water to flow from the paved road into the ditch, decreasing the shoulder so the water would flow through the ditch rather than along the pavement.

Now the shoulder is at best two feet from the edge of the pavement to the slope of the ditch, and when a vehicle parks pointing east on the shoulder it occupies at least half of the pavement, limiting the traffic to one lane.Recent construction of subdivisions on the south side of Fernbank has resulted in increased traffic cutting through on Liard Street. Having no sidewalks creates a dangerous situation for all pedestrians. Many are school children. There’s also an additional danger where the street makes sharp bends and the children do not always face the oncoming traffic.

MP decries potential costs for decontamination of hospital lands

By Melissa Murray, Ottawa Community News, April 3, 2017

A vocal opponent of the site for a new Ottawa Hospital Civic campus is calling out the Liberal government for potential costs associated with the new site.

In a recent press release, Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre has asked for the price difference between locating the future hospital at the Sir John Carling location versus putting it across the street from the existing building.

(...)He’s pointing to costs associated with decontamination of the lands, which according to Public Services and Procurement Canada, would cost about $11 million to remediate

Feds announce final funding for LRT to reach Trim, airport

By Brier Dodge, Ottawa Community News, April 3, 2017

The federal government will fund LRT Phase 2 all the way to Trim Road and the airport, Orléans MP Andrew Leslie said at a budget breakfast presentation on April 3.

The federal budget was released on March 21, but it usually takes some time to figure out specific local impacts.

Leslie said the budget means all 22 light-rail stations will be funded, which includes stations at Trim Road and the airport spur that were proposed in addition to the original Phase 2 line.

Boil water advisory remains in Picton and Bloomfield - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, April 2, 2017

A boil water advisory issued on March 30 remains in place for residents connected to the Picton and Bloomfield water system despite the successful recovery of a partially submerged barge in Picton Bay on Saturday afternoon.

A bulk water station where residents can purchase potable water has been set up in Wellington at the Wellington and District Community Centre on 111 Belleville St.

Ottawa, Gatineau traffic updates for April 3 - Ottawa - CBC News

By Doug Hempstead, Ottawa Citizen, April 3, 2017

Ideas for bicycle licence plates

"If you own a car (or two) you will receive a bicycle plate with every car plate you purchase, that way when you are not in your car you can prove you have paid for your share of the infrastructure. If you don't have a car then you must purchase a plate for your bicycle.

"I am sure that within the cities there are hundreds of cyclists who do not own cars but get the benefit of bicycle lanes free of charge. Cyclists should also be mandated to carry insurance. Not all collisions are the fault of the car owner."

Scoffield: Politics matters – Transit, Trump and corporate subsidies

Ottawa Citizen

By Heather Scofield, Ottawa Citizen, March 31, 2017

TRANSIT

Cabinet ministers fanned out across the country this week to highlight last week’s budget moves, but some of the biggest dollars came from budgets of the past.

Trudeau was in Toronto Friday putting $1.8 billion of federal money towards improving GO Transit connecting Toronto to its suburbs. The money was set aside under the Stephen Harper government but had not yet been earmarked. With provincial contributions, the project is getting a $4.4-billion injection, what Trudeau called the largest project Ottawa has ever invested in.

Smaller projects across Ontario also got a boost from infrastructure money set aside last year.

The spending on transit has multiple goals: shortening commuting times and congestion, lessening pollution, creating jobs and spurring economic growth. Indeed, the federal Liberals are counting on that growth to boost federal revenues, curtail their deficit challenge and help them fund the remainder of their election promises.

Rats! Infestation forces firefighters from Riverside South station

Ottawa Citizen

By Megan Gillis, Ottawa Citizen, April 2, 2017

They smelled a rat. Quite a few, in fact.

Firefighters have temporarily moved out of Station 37 in Riverside South after the discovery of as many as 30 rats, which exterminators believe have gotten into the walls.

Firefighters hoped to be back in the station on Earl Armstrong Road by Sunday night or Monday morning, Ottawa Fire Services Deputy Chief Kim Ayotte said.

Help River Ward preserve its crown as city’s reigning e-waste collector

By Erin McCracken, Ottawa Community News, March 31, 2017

Have a clunky TV or computer monitor that’s taking up space? If so, you could help River Ward preserve its title as the city’s reigning e-waste collector.

“I’m happy to report that River Ward had the highest e-waste collection in the city last year. We are No. 1 in the city,” said River Coun. Riley Brockington, who is again hosting an e-waste collection drop-off during his second annual ward-wide Earth Day celebration April 22.

City planners share potential challenges at future Moodie LRT stop

By Megan Delaire, Ottawa Community News, March 31, 2017

City councillors showed confidence during a February announcement revealing a proposed light rail transit stop on Moodie Drive. But that was somewhat tempered in a public meeting about western LRT expansion in March.

More than 75 people gathered at Maki House in the Crystal Beach neighbourhood to hear city staff present a sober report on the city’s plan for a Moodie light-rail stop, and its backup plan, in the event that a Moodie Drive stop isn’t feasible.

The city’s plan to extend light rail to Moodie by 2023 as part of LRT Stage 2 hinges somewhat on its ability to find maintenance and storage space west of Bayshore station, planner Charles Mueller said during the March 22 meeting.

Canadian Museum of History needs to cut ties with Big Oil

Ottawa Citizen

By Katie Perfitt, Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 2017

I was 10 years old the first time that I set foot in the Canadian Museum of History. I remember the awe of seeing the world’s largest indoor exhibit of totem poles the first time, and the slight terror of seeing a larger-than-life polar bear on the museum’s state-of-the-art IMAX screen. With every visit to the museum, I left with a deeper appreciation for this beautiful planet.

But today, the Museum of History has a dark secret: Big Oil is using it to sell environmental destruction and rejection of climate change.

This summer, the museum is unveiling the brand new Canadian History Hall, an exhibit sponsored by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), Canada’s most dangerous Big Oil lobbyists. This sponsorship is anything but a gift.

Outaouais transit service back to normal as drivers, mechanics call halt to pressure tactics

Ottawa Citizen

By Ottawa Citizen, March 31, 2017

It should be business as usual on Société de transport de l’Outaouais routes Friday as unionzed drivers and mechanics put an end to pressure tactics to try to reach a contract deal.

An agreement to go to arbitration was reached Thursday night, following a day of high-level meetings between union and transport company leadership, as well as a session with Gatineau Mayor Maxim Pedneaud-Jobin.

Mainstreeter » Paved River Pathway Coming to OOE This Year

By John Dance, Mainstreeter, February 2017

By the end of this year, Old Ottawa East will finally have a multi-use pathway along most of its Rideau River corridor.One of the pathway’s key components – the ramp from Clegg Street into Greystone Village – just opened.

When it is completed, the new Rideau River Western Pathway will run from Brantwood Park to Sandy Hill where the already-built portion goes on to Strathcona Park and the Adàwe footbridge.