Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

The big 7: 2016 federal budget items that matter to Ottawa - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, March 22, 2016

Ottawa's unique position as the national capital means the city is on the receiving end of a significant portion of new infrastructure spending in the budget, while the city's many public servants will be tasked with implementing the plans.

Here are a few highlights:Public transit money

The federal government could foot the bill for a bigger chunk of Ottawa's ambitious second phase of light rail — as much as 50 per cent — according to the budget introduced on Tuesday.

Editorial: The budget with the electric car

Ottawa Citizen

By the Editor, Ottawa Citizen, March 22, 2016

It all comes down to the electric vehicle.

In a budget stuffed with ambitious spending on a variety of social goals — from much needed aid for Indigenous Peoples to reforming child and seniors’ benefits; from an expanded public service to plugging infrastructure gaps; from flooding the CBC with money to reopening veterans’ support offices — even with these moves, the symbol of the government’s confidence in its own ability seems to be the electric car.

Your letters for Tuesday, March 22: Sparks Street, gun safety, the NDP

Ottawa Citizen

By Ken Dale, Carolyn Herbert and Barry Davis, Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor, March 22, 2016

Pedestrian malls can be made to work

Re: Let’s Kill the Sparks Street Mall, March 18.

I was executive director of the Sparks Street Mall during the 1990s. During those heady times, I fought with five levels of government trying to drag the original 1967 “pedestrian concept” into the ’90s with little success. The best that could be done back then was to “animate this five-block summer playground” with festivals (yes, Ribfests, Busker festivals) and any other events that brought noise, awareness and fun to an otherwise dull shopping mix of T-shirt and shawarma shops.

Federal transit funding could speed city’s LRT plans

Ottawa Citizen

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, March 22, 2016

A pledge from the federal government to fund as much as 50 per cent of transit improvements over the next three years presents a huge opportunity for Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson as the city plans a $3-billion LRT expansion.

“We think it’s a very positive signal on the part of the federal government that they understand that there are a number of municipalities that don’t have the full financial capacity to pay for all of these projects,” Watson said Tuesday after the federal Liberals released their budget.

New York transportation guru drawing large crowds in Ottawa

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, March 21, 2016

Ecology Ottawa may have to find a larger venue after more than 650 people signed up to hear from New York’s cycling and pedestrian goddess.

Janette Sadik-Khan, former New York City transportation commissioner, is coming to Ottawa's Horticulture Building April 27, although that may change if interest continues to grow.

Without even advertising, hundreds of people have already RSVPed to Ecology Ottawa’s free event, which is part of Sadik-Khan’s North American book tour promoting Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution.

“Its great to see such interest in Ottawa for reimagining our city and improving our public spaces,” said Liz Bernstein, event organizer and co-founder of the environmental non-profit group.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: First of eight public consultations on new water rate structure Monday :: News - Article

By Ted Raymond, CFRA News, March 21, 2016

The City of Ottawa is asking for the public's input on a new rate structure for the cost of operating and maintaining Ottawa's water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

The City is holding eight public consultations in late March and early April. Seven were originally planned, with an eighth added in mid-MarchThe City says its goal is to make sure its water operations happen in a way that is fair, sustainable, and affordable.

Paramedics warn motorists to be more watchful of pedestrians

By Megan DeLaire, Ottawa Community News, March 18, 2016

Paramedic spokesman J.P. Trottier used social media to remind Ottawa motorists to watch for pedestrians on March 15 after vehicles struck four pedestrians in two days.

“Keeping an eye out for pedestrians is important anywhere,” Trottier said from the paramedic service’s official Twitter account. “Two calls today for pedestrians hit by vehicles in shopping centre parking lots.”

Public should have say on photo radar in Ottawa: Liberal MPPs

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, March 20, 2016

The city must consult with residents if it wants to make a compelling case for using photo radar on Ottawa roads, say several local Liberal MPPs, whose government could ultimately decide whether to give municipalities such a power.

As council gears up this week to debate Coun. Riley Brockington’s motion — which seeks only to have Mayor Jim Watson write Premier Kathleen Wynne to formally ask for the option of using photo radar on local streets — provincial politicians are taking a cautious, wait-and-see approach to the issue.

Reevely: Sparks Street Mall needs a double life, not death, says its former boss

Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, March 21, 2016

The problem with Sparks Street is that it has one mode and it needs two, says the guy who spent two years trying to revive it.

Les Gagne was the executive director at the Sparks Street merchants’ association, the “business improvement area,” until late 2014, when the board abruptly told him he wasn’t any more. He is not ready, as I am, to give up on Sparks as a pedestrian mall.

Uber drivers are no longer picking up at Ottawa airport

CTV Ottawa News

By CTV News Ottawa, March 18, 2016

Just like Uber's presence in Ottawa, its decision to no longer allow drivers to pick up passengers from the Ottawa Airport is getting mixed reviews.

"I don't think it's right. I think everyone should be able to pick everyone up," said one woman.

Proposed Westboro drive-thru café 'completely inappropriate,' says Leiper - Ottawa - CBC News

By Trevor Pritchard, CBC News Ottawa, March 20, 2016

An Ottawa city councillor says he's preparing to fight a proposal to build a drive-thru coffee shop on the site of a heritage-designated Westboro gas station.

Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper told CBC Ottawa the proposed addition by developer Main and Main to the former Champlain Oil gas station is "completely inappropriate," and would make the neighbourhood significantly less walkable.

Editorial: Photo radar not the answer to traffic woes

Ottawa Citizen

By the Editor, Ottawa Citizen, March 18, 2016

Whether photo radar is simply a tax grab is a debate surely raging at kitchen tables across Ottawa. That likely will intensify when Coun. Riley Brockington introduces a motion at city hall Wednesday to ask the province to allow photo radar on city streets.

The technology, which automatically snaps a photo of a speeder and mails the vehicle owner a ticket, is already in use elsewhere in Canada, though the Mike Harris Conservative government ended the practice in Ontario more than 20 years ago.