Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Adam: Mayor Jim Watson's retirement opens the door for a more democratic city council

By Mohammed Adam, Ottawa Citizen Op-Ed, December 16, 2021

Jim Watson’s impending retirement from politics should allow the city to take a deep breath and think about how to reboot Ottawa council and improve local democracy. We need a better council than what we have now.

...In a changing city beset by new issues and challenges such as climate change, the rising cost of public transit, homelessness, and lack of affordable housing, the budget has often not reflected the city’s needs.Should transit fares for instance, be increased every year, and become increasingly unaffordable? The city declares a climate emergency, but shouldn’t there be funding to implement the policy.

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Hydro Ottawa commits to being net-zero by 2030

By Yahoo Finance, December 15, 2021

OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 15, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, the Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. Board of Directors announced the company would be taking its commitment to sustainability one step further by accelerating its transition to net-zero operations by 2030; a first for any municipally-owned utility company in Canada. The company is developing a detailed action plan to guide its journey to net-zero, and will be engaging with its customers, employees, partners and the regulator to reach this important milestone. This commitment is aligned with the company's refreshed corporate strategy for the 2021-2025 period.

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Free transit movement making inroads, advocates say

By Alistair Steele, CBC News Ottawa

...According to advocates, some 100 jurisdictions around the world are currently experimenting with at least some form of fare-free bus, tram or train service in a bid to ease road congestion, reduce carbon emissions and make life more affordable for the low-income residents who form a sizable portion of the transit-riding population in most cities.

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Pellerin: A few planet-saving priorities for Ottawa's next mayor

By Brigitte Pellerin, Ottawa Citizen Op-Ed, December 10, 2021

...We have several crises in this city that are right now hurting real people and threatening to get much worse. There is a climate emergency and a housing emergency, for starters. Politics as usual will no longer do and not just because progress does not actually rhyme with asphalt.

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Community groups call for Ontario government to reject council-approved official plan

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, December 3, 2021

Several community leaders have jointly written a letter to Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark, asking him to reject the official plan recently endorsed by a majority of Ottawa city council.

Daniel Buckles, who has helped coordinate the People’s Official Plan project in response to the city’s official plan, said they knew chances were slim that they could convince the Ontario Progressive Conservative government to overturn council’s decision.

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City of Ottawa launches loan program for green home retrofits

By CBC News Ottawa, December 5, 2021

The City of Ottawa has launched its program to help homeowners retrofit their homes to become more environmentally friendly, but more staff and resources are needed at the municipal level to cut Ottawa's greenhouse gas emissions, according to a local not-for-profit.

Sana Badruddin, a project co-ordinator with Ecology Ottawa, says while subsidies for retrofits exist at all levels of government, people are needed to make them effective.

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'Red revert' intersections here to stay despite concerns for cyclists' safety

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, December 1, 2021

One Ottawa city councillor has tried but failed to get rid of a traffic-flow technology that he says endangers cyclists at intersections.

Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper asked his colleagues on the city's transportation committee Wednesday to do away with so-called revert red lights. All of Ottawa's 1,200 intersections are equipped with sensors that allow a vehicle or bicycle to trigger a signal change. The function isn't used at the 200 intersections where the timing of the signals is fixed.

If a vehicle or bicycle moves past the sensors in the asphalt too soon, the busier cross-traffic that had a red light for a few seconds can get a green light again. Leiper said that leads to close calls for cyclists.

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E-scooter safety upgrades still not enough, say accessibility advocates

By Kimberly Molina, CBC News Ottawa, November 30, 2021

(Kate Riccomini) and other members of the city's accessibility community are worried not enough is being done to keep pedestrians safe from tripping over improperly parked e-scooters or from being hit by riders.

The city's second e-scooter pilot project season ends Tuesday.

In advance of a potential third season, the city's three companies — Bird Canada, Lime and Neuron — say safety is their top priority. They've been in talks with Ottawa's accessibility community and e-scooter stakeholder groups about ways to make them safer, both for those with visual and mobility impairments and the general public.

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Pellerin: What if snow-clearing prioritized sidewalks and stairs first?

By Brigitte Pellerin, Ottawa Citizen Op-Ed, November 29, 2021

As the mayor of Stockholm has said, driving a car in 10 centimetres of snow is not a problem. You just need to slow down. But walking in 10 cm of snow is a lot more difficult.

...Barbara Greenberg, an active transportation advocate and member of the board of Bike Ottawa, recently tweeted about closed stairs near the Bytown Museum.

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Today's letters: The costs and benefits of electric buses

2 letters to the Editor, Ottawa Citizen

1. A little skepticism about e-buses, please, by Bill Turner

2. Cleaner, yes, but more expensive, by Ron Sarich

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City, feds break ground on Chief William Commanda Bridge pathway slated to open next fall

By Megan Gillis, Ottawa Citizen, November 29, 2021

A project is officially underway to turn a disused rail bridge into a new way to get between west-end Ottawa and Gatineau for work or play.

City and federal officials broke ground Monday on the multi-use pathway on the Chief William Commanda Bridge over the Ottawa River, including structural repairs to the bridge and deck work.

...City hall now says that, as a multi-use pathway, the bridge will serve as a year-round commuting and recreation link for walking, running, rollerblading, cycling and cross-country skiing.

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COMMUNITY NOTES: from the desk of Councillor Gower

By Glen Gower, StittsvilleCentral, November 28, 2021

... DECEMBER 8: Walkable Ottawa workshop
Ecology Ottawa is holding a workshop for residents of the Stitsville community, led by Walkable Ottawa’s founder Rosaline Hill and volunteer Carolyn Mackenzie. The purpose of the workshop will be to identify and map the barriers to walkability in your neighbourhood, and the missing pieces required to make your neighbourhood a complete community.

Find the whole article here.