Ecology Ottawa

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Today’s letters: Don’t abandon green energy in Ontario

Ottawa Citizen

By Andrew Kavchak and others, Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor, September 29, 2016

Please don’t abandon green energy

Re: Green cuts will curb hydro hikes, Liberals say, Sept. 28.

I was shocked that the Wynne Liberal government announced on Tuesday it was cancelling $3.8 billion in green-energy plans. For years, scientists and environmentalists have warned us about climate change. Shortly after the last federal election, the government’s first major international event was participation in a climate change conference.

Feds launch task force on cycling and pedestrian safety

Ottawa Citizen

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, September 29, 2016

The federal government announced Thursday it will work with provinces and territories to create a task force on safety measures for cyclists and pedestrians with a focus on heavy trucks.

Gareth Davies, president of the Ottawa advocacy group Citizens for Safe Cycling, said he’s “pleasantly surprised” by the momentum in the past week to make safety initiatives a priority.

Pedestrian safety top of mind after "terrible" month

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, September 27, 2016

Ottawa police were focused on education and safety Tuesday afternoon after a rash of pedestrian collisions left at least three people fighting for their lives this month.

Sgt. Patricia Urquhart led an education blitz at the corner of Somerset and Bay streets, where police officers, paramedics and city staff handed out bike lights, reflector cuffs and information pamphlets to passers-by, explaining how to properly use the city’s new pedestrian crossovers.

They also spoke to drivers who weren’t obeying the nearby crossover, which gives pedestrians the right of way.

Conservation group says hydro increases send the wrong message

Metro News

By Haley Ritchie, Ottawa Metro News, September 28, 2016

Hydro Ottawa submitted an application to the Ontario Energy Board to change the rates in mid-August.Most electricity bills will see a modest uptick, but the increased rates don’t apply evenly.

Instead, households that use the smallest amount of energy will see the biggest increase, while large users of electricity will see the lowest increase.

City looking for input on future market stalls

By Michelle Nash Baker, Ottawa Community News, September 27, 2016

In the lead-up to the redevelopment of the George Street Plaza, the city is looking for help.

The city has issued a Request for Information – a business process which collects data — to help determine both the public's and business interest in developing unique stalls to border the plaza area near the heritage market building.

Ottawa airport to set up designated spots for ride-sharing companies like Uber

CTV Ottawa News

By Joanne Schnurr, CTV News Ottawa, September 28, 2016

Uber's ride sharing service becomes officially legal in Ottawa on Friday with full access to the airport.Ottawa’s largest taxi company is trying to come up with a strategy to compete; many drivers aren't convinced it will work.

As of Friday, the city's new bylaw takes affect that will regulate ride-sharing companies.For the Ottawa airport, it's a chance for them to the respond to the growing demand, they say, for companies like Uber.

Proposed Hydro Ottawa rate hikes highest for low residential users

Ottawa & Re

By Don Butler, Ottawa Sun, September 27, 2016

Hydro Ottawa is applying for rate increases in 2017 that will ding frugal residential users much more than average users.

The city-owned utility applied filed an application with the Ontario Energy Board last month seeking the increases effective Jan. 1, 2017 — the first rate adjustments since the OEB approved its five-year rate request in December 2015.

Uber, Ottawa airport reach deal to pick up passengers - Ottawa - CBC News

By Giacomo Panico, CBC News Ottawa, September 28, 2016

When Uber secures an operating licence and officially becomes legal in Ottawa — which could happen as early as Friday — Uber drivers will be allowed to make pickups and drop-offs at the Ottawa airport.

"Because we've always offered our passengers choice, it made sense to include[Uber] in the offering, particularly because our passengers have been demanding it," said Krista Kealey, vice president of communications and public affairs of the Ottawa Airport Authority, on Wednesday.

Krista Kealey, vice president of communications with the Ottawa Airport Authority, says the decision to welcome Uber was driven by customer demand. (Giacomo Panico/CBC)Last spring, the City of Ottawa passed new "vehicle-for-hire regulations" bringing ride-hailing services such as Uber in line with the city's taxi bylaws,

Ontario municipalities 'ecstatic' future green energy contracts are on hold - Ottawa - CBC News

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, September 28, 2016

Municipalities across Ontario are cheering the government's decision to suspend its competition for 1,000 megawatts' worth of big, new renewable energy projects.

But one industry association representing companies that were preparing to try to snag a contract is shocked at the sudden shift in the winds at Queen's Park.Ontario's energy minister minister said Tuesday there simply isn't the demand for power to go ahead with its second round of procurement.

Reevely: Liberals cut green-energy plans again, betting against their own climate-change policies

Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, September 27, 2016

Ontario’s Liberal government on Tuesday announced it’ll scrap plans to spend $3.8 billion on new green-energy contracts, hoping we won’t need that electricity because the province’s climate-change plans will turn out to be only somewhat successful.

“Our decision to suspend these procurements is not one we take lightly,” Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault said. But we just don’t need the 1,000 megawatts of power we were going to buy, he said, pointing to a new report from the Independent Electricity System Operator, the agency that plans Ontario’s power grid.

Bruce the moose is back on the loose

Ottawa Citizen

By Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen, September 27, 2016

Bruce the moose, who on Toosday was briefly loose in civilization, has been reintroduced to the wild, and is now rubbing against spruce (or whatever it is that moose do when they’re loosed).

An NCC conservation team was called to action at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday when RCMP employees noticed the 1,100-pound two-year-old wandering inside their fenced-in Technical and Protective Operations Facility compound on St. Joseph Boulevard in Orléans.

Ottawa council OKs controversial mountain bike park on Carlington Hill

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, September 28, 2016

The city greased the chain for a controversial new mountain bike park proposed for Carlington Hill on Wednesday, despite the concerns of a councillor who complained about the process and poor public consultation.

The Ottawa Mountain Bike Association has aspirations for a multi-phase bike park, but the city is prepared to only go ahead with a “pump track” and skills area on a grassy plateau. The city says it will spend a small amount of money to install signs in the area.