Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

NOTEBOOK: Live music at Quitters, Huntmar’s truck problem

StittsvilleCentral.ca

By Glen Gower, StittsvilleCentral, September 26, 2016

They’re not pretty, but at least now there’s no excuse for truck drivers claiming they didn’t know that Huntmar isn’t a truck route.

New bilingual signs went up on either end of Huntmar this week reminding truck drivers that the road isn’t for trucks.

Credit to my Fairwinds neighbour Frank Boeres for continuing to press City Hall and Ottawa Police on this issue. Over the past few years officials have put up road signs, proactively contacted Hazeldean and Iber businesses by phone and mail, and handed out tickets to trucks that should be taking Terry Fox or Carp Road instead.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Ontario cancels plans for more green energy; has strong supply of electricity :: News - Article

By Canadian Press, CFRA News, September 27, 2016

TORONTO - Ontario's energy ministry is cancelling plans to sign contracts for up to 1,000 megawatts of power from solar, wind and other renewable energy sources to help keep rates down for consumers.

Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault says the decision is expected to save the province up to $3.8 billion in costs from its 2013 long-term plan, and will keep about $2.45 a month from being added to hydro bills.

Hydro One listening, but questions remain, say Riverview Park residents

By Erin McCracken, Ottawa Community News, September 26, 2016

Five metres on either side of a hydro corridor in the Riverview Park community will – for the most part – be saved when a transmission line is upgraded next year, giving many residents a signal Hydro One is paying attention to their concerns.

“They seem to be listening,” said Neil Irwin, whose home backs onto the 30-metre wide right-of-way corridor that will be turned into a construction site next year when the 1.8-kilometre line is upgraded. “I think they will hold true to their word.

”Hydro One recently softened its stance about which “encroachments” need to be taken out along the corridor between Balena Park and the Overbrook transformer station on Coventry Road by next spring when work begins on the line.

Urban cycling: Rules of the turn

Ottawa Citizen

By Robert Bostelaar, Ottawa Citizen, September 26, 2016

For many users of Ottawa’s bicycle lanes, the rule seems clear: The cyclist heading through an intersection has precedence over the vehicle driver alongside who wants to turn across the bike lane.

For proof, they point to the signs that line some routes instructing turning drivers to give way to bicycles.

Cycling advocates call a turn by a vehicle across a bicycle’s path a “right hook,” or surprise punch, and in online discussions suggest riding assertively to discourage such moves. “Take the right of way” is a frequent call.

Climate change must inform the heart of Canadian government policy

Ottawa Citizen

By Kate Heartfield, Ottawa Citizen, September 25, 2016

Twenty years is not a long time; perhaps three or four prime ministers, the career of an indie band, the lifespan of a really good T-shirt. Time enough, though, to witness “dramatic” and “unprecedented” changes to human civilization.

A new report from the National Intelligence Council in the United States looks at the security implications of climate change, not as some remote scenario, but right now.

Federal report casts doubt on future value of experimental farm’s climate science

Ottawa Citizen

By Andrew Duffy, Ottawa Citizen, September 25, 2016

A controversial new federal report suggests that most of the climate change studies at the Central Experimental Farm will wrap up by March 2018. The report was prepared by Environment and Climate Change Canada in response to a series of questions submitted by the commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.

It was recently published on the website of the Auditor General of Canada, but at least one federal scientist insists that it is plain wrong.

Amid war of words, MP seeks national safe-cycling strategy

Ottawa Citizen

By Robert Bostelaar, Ottawa Citizen, September 25, 2016

Even as the investigators arrived with their cameras and tape measures to try to determine how the young bicycle commuter had gone under the wheels of the dump truck, the online comments were unfurling as fast as fingers could strike keys.

Cyclists don’t follow rules. Drivers break the law. Cyclists should stay off busy streets.

Drivers need to share the road. Around and around it went.Driving expert Tim Danter sees the same argument, with the same hostility, play out on the streets.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Cockroaches in the classroom at Ottawa schools :: News - Article

By CFRA News, September 23, 2016

As many as 15 schools in the Ottawa Carleton District School Board have reported possible sightings of some uninvited guests this season... cockroaches.

The OCDSB has sent out a statement explaining they will have to undertake a complex procedure to manage the pests, including the use of glue boards, gels and insecticide dust in areas that students would not access.

Deans pushes for real time departure displays at O-Train stations

By Jennifer McIntosh, Ottawa Community News, September 23, 2016

Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans said she’s made peace with the fact that O-Trains won’t arrive every eight minutes – but she’d like riders to know when they’re leaving.

Deans said she hears from a lot of commuters who sprint to catch a train and then end up cooling their heels for another 10 minutes.

More than 400 attend consultation on Ottawa Hospital Civic campus

By Melissa Murray, Ottawa Community News, September 23, 2016

Hands off the Central Experimental Farm – that was the message heard loud and clear at the public consultation on 12 potential sites for the Ottawa Hospital’s new Civic campus hosted by the National Capital Commission on Sept. 22 at the Canadian War Museum.

Among the more than 400 people in attendance for the evening presentation and question and answer period were those wearing pins made from Mason jar lids with Save CEF written in black marker.

Rain gardens add function, beauty to Stewart Street

By Michelle Nash Baker, Ottawa Community News, September 23, 2016

What happens to rain water along Stewart Street in Sandy Hill is being taken very seriously. The city has installed new rain gardens along the street, from Friel Street to King Edward Avenue, in an effort to improve water quality and reduce storm water runoff.

The greening involved extending the existing boulevards and installing rain gardens. Rain gardens are planted areas that improve water quality and reduce storm water runoff using a combination of soil, plants and mulch.

Yasir Naqvi on the new Ottawa Hospital site, marijuana and bail reform

Ottawa

By Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Sun, September 23, 2016

On the search for a site for the Ottawa Hospital's new Civic campus:

As public consultation on a new site for the Ottawa Hospital's Civic campus officially began Thursday, Naqvi said his preference is that the hospital remains centrally located.

That means proposed locations along West Hunt Club Road aren't the best choices from a dozen available federal sites, according to Naqvi.