Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Transportation committee votes to study traffic congestion

Ottawa Citizen

By Aidan Cox, Ottawa Citizen, April 6, 2016

The city should study causes of traffic congestion without focusing specifically on road tolls, the transportation committee voted Wednesday. The motion, tabled by Capital Coun. David Chernushenko, passed by a vote of 7-3 after being amended by Cumberland Coun. Stephen Blais.

“The changes to the motion during the course of the meeting were really to study the causes of congestions as opposed to purely what might the possible solutions be. It’s always better to understand what the causes are, particularly because they are often very local,” Chernushenko said.

Affordable housing a fair exchange for clean-up dollars: Jim Watson

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, April 5, 2016

If developers want tax dollars for site decontamination, they should have to build some affordable housing in return, Mayor Jim Watson said Tuesday.

Watson asked staff at the finance committee to look at options for including such a requirement in future brownfields grant agreements.

The issue was raised as councillors considered a $15.8-million grant to help the Regional Group clean up the former Oblates land on Main Street to build a 900-unit residential complex. Once approved by council, it will be largest payout in the program’s history.

City to begin offering planning concièrge program to community associations

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, April 5, 2016

The city is expanding a special initiative that provides developers with a concièrge in the planning department to representatives from community associations.

Last summer, city officials recruited staff to act as “client relationship leaders” — a fancy bureaucratic term for people assigned to work one-on-one with two dozen of the busiest development companies in Ottawa to improve communication and identify ways to improve the city’s planning processes.

Finance committee OKs $15.8M brownfield grant, special Alta Vista levy

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, April 5, 2016

Companies asking for the city’s help to clean up contaminated sites slated for redevelopment should be required to provide affordable housing units in exchange, Mayor Jim Watson said Tuesday after the finance committee approved the largest ever brownfield grant application.

“It’s not a question of being punitive. We’re actually being very helpful to these companies who are cleaning up sites, but I think there’s a bit of a quid pro quo where we want the companies to recognize there are over 10,000 people on a wait list for affordable housing and every project should have some component of affordable housing within it,” the mayor said.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Part of Nicholas Street to close to cars permanently Monday :: News - Article

By Ted Raymond, CFRA News, April 3, 2016

The City of Ottawa says a section of Nicholas Street, from Rideau Street to Besserer Street, will be permanently closed to vehicular traffic starting Monday, as construction begins on a new pedestrian space called Ogilvy Square.

The City is working with Cadillac Fairview, the owners of the Rideau Centre, on the project as part of the renewal of Rideau Street. The planned pedestrian space will support cafés and outdoor space for art installations and special events, according to the City. Ogilvy Square will also include street trees and bicycle parking.

Queen Mary kids put on their walking shoes

By Michelle Nash, Ottawa Community News, April 4, 2016

On a very cold April morning a new walking school bus got rolling.

Despite the fact that spring has already made an appearance, it was during frigid winter temperatures that Queen Mary Public School celebrated the launch of its new Walking School Bus program. Operated by the Ottawa Transportation Authority, it follows a specific route and schedule and hires a leader to pick up children along the route to walk to school.

The authority launched four new walking school buses this month, with three schools in Ottawa’s east end, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth Public School and R.E. Wilson Public School. The fourth school is in Ottawa’s west end for school children that attend Devonshire Community Public School.

Ottawa weather forecast calls for a chilly week ahead - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, April 4, 2016

That "polar vortex" we kept hearing about has arrived and the forecast calls for chilly temperatures to stick around throughout the week.

Monday's forecast calls for cloudy skies with a 40-per-cent chance of snow in the morning. The skies should then clear to bring a little mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon, wind from the northeast at 20 kilometres per hour, and a high of – 2 C.

2 dozen Bohemian waxwings healing at wild bird centre - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, April 4, 2016

About two dozen Bohemian waxwings are recovering at the Ottawa Wild Bird Care Centre with a range of injuries from bruising and swelling to broken bones and internal bleeding after crashing into windows, most notably at City Hall, during their migration north.

"They range from being just a little bit stunned to pretty serious condition right now," said the centre's Patty McLaughlin.

Mississippi Mills residents want water answers from Health Canada - Ottawa - CBC News

By Julie Ireton, CBC News Ottawa, April 4, 2016

Residents living near a National Research Council facility who found out their well water is contaminated with toxic chemicals say a recent technical briefing with NRC officials has left more questions than answers — and they'd like the answers to come from Health Canada.

Homeowners neighbouring the fire safety testing facility in Mississippi Mills, Ont., found out in December their water had been contaminated with chemicals often found in firefighting foams.

By the Numbers: A city of cyclists

Ottawa Citizen

By Ottawa Citizen, April 4, 2016

From the 2016 Ottawa Report on Bicycling, released April 2:

412,000: Number of bike trips counted on the Laurier bike lane in 2015.

61,625: Number of trips across the Portage Bridge in its busiest month, July.

53: Percentage of people who feel safe along cycling and walking paths during the day (Ottawa Police 2015 Public Survey).

Poilievre asks minister to derail idea of reducing lanes on parkway

Ottawa Citizen

By Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen, April 4, 2016

The former Conservative minister for the National Capital Commission wants his Liberal successor to kibosh any plans to reduce the number of lanes along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway.

Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre, who was responsible for the NCC from February 2015 until the former Conservative government’s defeat last October, made the request in a letter to Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, the minister now responsible for the NCC.

Windows covered after more bird carnage at city hall

Ottawa Citizen

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, April 4, 2016

Brown paper covers the glassy skywalk at city hall where dozens of birds were killed over the weekend.

It’s not the first time a flock of Bohemian waxwings have knocked themselves out flying into the windows of the skywalk, which connects the contemporary and heritage buildings of city hall.

Safe Wings Ottawa, a group advocating for mitigation measures to prevent bird collisions, counted at least 34 dead birds at the base of the skywalk.