Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Residents want development axed from Rideau Street CDP

By Jen McIntosh, Ottawa Community News, November 30, 2015

The city’s planning committee approved a community design plan for the stretch of Rideau Street between King Edward Avenue and the Cummings Bridge on Nov. 24.

Many of the residents who spoke at the meeting said they would like to see a disputed development axed from the plan.

The proposal for a 14-storey tower at 560 Rideau St. awaits a decision by the Ontario Municipal Board following a challenge to the city’s approval by Action Sandy Hill.

David Chernushenko urges city of Ottawa to boost emissions targets, match province - Ottawa - CBC News

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, November 28, 2015

The chair of Ottawa's environment committee wants the city to align its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the more aggressive ones set by the Ontario government.

Coun. David Chernushenko would also like to see the committee he chairs renamed the "environment and climate protection committee" to better reflect his personal aim of keeping global temperatures steady.

Ottawa climate change marchers send a message to Paris

Ottawa Citizen

By Chris Cobb, Ottawa Citizen, November 30, 2015

Thousands of banner- and placard-waving protesters urging action on climate change slowly marched to Parliament Hill from Ottawa City Hall Sunday.

From grandparents to parents with toddlers, many wore green clothing and hats, and numerous other green adornments, making the event reminiscent of a well-ordered St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

OC Transpo unveils 2016 fares ahead of budget

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, November 29, 2015

OC Transpo managers have detailed how they plan to raise transit fares an average of 2.5 per cent next July, just in time for the budget debate.

Transit commission chairman Coun. Stephen Blais unveiled how the increase will be spread across all types of fares last Friday, despite earlier claims the information wouldn’t be available until next year.

Climate march brings thousands together 'as single species'

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, November 29, 2015

When Hollywood’s aliens attack Planet Earth, humans come together to defend their common home. The same thing must happen to put an end to climate change, says environmental activist David Suzuki.

“We fight together as members of a single species,” Suzuki said over the cheers of an estimated 25,000 people, who gathered for the 100% Possible climate march on Sunday. “The urgency of the struggle is like a war.”

Local company concerned about possible carbon tax

CTV Ottawa News

By Matt Skube, CTV News Ottawa, November 27, 2015

Lloyd Griffith has been trucking for 53 years. But he fears that may be coming to an end.

"There's nothing left in it for the trucker," he says.

Griffith is one of many truckers concerned a possible carbon tax being introduced by the Ontario government. The 74-year-old owns a fleet of 15 dump trucks. He says the industry has faced an uptick in licensing fees, a new tax on tires and now the proposed carbon tax.

Some Rideau shops worried LRT construction will kill their business

CTV Ottawa News

By Joanne Schnurr, CTV News Ottawa, November 27, 2015

Black Friday should be a banner sales day for many retails stores. But several stores along Rideau Street say it's been a bit of bust, blaming construction along a two-block strip.

A two-block portion of Rideau Street will be closed for three years to cars between Mackenzie Avenue and Dalhousie Street for construction of the Light Rail Transit. Short term pain for long term gain. That is the point behind the construction on Rideau for the LRT. But some businesses say that ‘short term pain’ will push them out of business.

City to change water, sewer billing

Ottawa & Region

News

Ottawa Sun

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, November 27, 2015

The city appears ready to make a big move to help stabilize the revenue it gets from water and sewer bills, so that it can pay for needed infrastructure fixes.The challenge now could be selling it to residents.A new structure for water and sewer bills is on track for January 2017, councillors heard Friday.

Thousands descend on downtown Ottawa for climate change rally - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, November 29, 2015

Thousands of people descended on downtown Ottawa today for a climate change rally being billed as one of the largest the city's ever seen.

The 100% Possible climate march, which calls on governments to move toward 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050, is one of about 1,700 marches worldwide on Sunday, on the eve of the upcoming Paris climate change summit.

Today's march was organized by local environmental advocacy group Ecology Ottawa.

City Hall Blog: A fix for frozen pipes?

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, November 27, 2015

Last winter’s deep freeze wreaked havoc on underground water pipes, leaving some Ottawa residents with dry taps.

A Feb. 27 story in the Citizen reported the following: The city has seen a huge increase this year in calls for service, with more than 250 reports of frozen pipes since Feb. 7. Compare that to 2014, when there was a total of 134 instances of frozen water services in the entire 12 months.

Minor early morning quake shakes Cornwall

Ottawa Citizen

By The Citizen, November 28, 2015

Some Cornwall residents were shaken from their sleep shortly after midnight Saturday by a 3.6 magnitude earthquake.

Natural Resources Canada confirmed the disturbance had its epicentre about 15 kilometres southeast of the seaway city.

Tremors could reportedly be felt as far away as Montreal and through upstate New York.

David Chernushenko urges city of Ottawa to boost emissions targets, match province - Ottawa - CBC News

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, November 28, 2015

The chair of Ottawa's environment committee wants the city to align its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the more aggressive ones set by the Ontario government.

Coun. David Chernushenko would also like to see the committee he chairs renamed the "environment and climate protection committee" to better reflect his personal aim of keeping global temperatures steady.