Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Ontario gives municipalities $333M from gas tax for public transit - Toronto - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, November 12, 2015

The province is giving 95 Ontario municipalities a total of $332.9 million this year for public transit projects, an increase of $11.4 million from last year.

Ontario generates about $2.4 billion a year from its 14.7 cents-a-litre tax on gasoline, and gives two-cents a-litre to cities and towns to expand public transit.

The government says the funding leads to more riders on improved public transit systems, and also helps ease traffic congestion and reduce pollution by getting more people out of their cars.

Council approves roadside memorial policy, new bike lanes

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, November 12, 2015

A new policy that will allow ghost bikes and other impromptu roadside memorials to people killed on Ottawa’s streets to remain in place for up to six months was approved Thursday by city council.

City staff initially said such memorials should only be allowed for 90 days, but some councillors felt that wasn’t long enough so the transportation committee voted to double the timeline.

‘Contaminated’ substance prompts water-use ban in Gatineau neighbourhood

Ottawa Citizen

By Vito Pilieci, Ottawa Citizen, November 12, 2015

The City of Gatineau issued an advisory Thursday for residents in a Buckingham neighbourhood to stop using municipal water sources.

According to the advisory, a contaminated substance had infiltrated the system in that area. The city would not specify what the substance was.

A total of 400 homes were believed to be affected.

Reevely: Steady-as-she-goes Ottawa budget glides past residents’ complaints

Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, November 12, 2015

Mayor Jim Watson has made a tradition of presenting the city’s budget for the next year with a speech, and in the one he gave on Thursday he struggled mightily to fill out his minutes.

The word “continuing” came up a lot. Watson is pleased that the city is “continuing Stage 1 of the O-Train Confederation Line light rail transit project.” Well, no kidding. It’s a multi-year megaproject with a hole dug most of the way under downtown — had anybody thought about stopping? We’re continuing to build a new Arts Court, continuing to fund an “exit strategy” to help young people leave gangs when they want to, finishing a nearly finished footbridge across the Rideau River, continuing to run a water system, and continuing to have paramedics.

Parking could pave the way for more grocery stores in downtown Ottawa

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, November 11, 2015

Food deserts like Centretown and Mechanicsville might finally get local grocery stores, thanks to changing parking rules.

A city report says grocery stores smaller than 1,000 square metres (about 10,700 square feet) shouldn’t have to provide parking if they’re along main streets or in certain mixed-use centres, to help create more walkable communities.

Albert Street highrise gets approval from planning committee

By Jen McIntosh, Ottawa Community News, November 10, 2015

Thomas McVeigh said he’s worried about clusters of development in the downtown core.

The president of the Centretown Citizens Community Association said a proposed highrise on Albert and Slater streets is being viewed in isolation by planning staff, despite other developments on nearby Sparks and Bay streets.

Reevely: Assumptions, not cuts, are Ottawa budget’s sneaky secret

Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, November 11, 2015

When the city’s 2016 budget lands Thursday morning, the hardest part won’t be finding the quiet cuts it’ll take to balance Ottawa’s finances. It will be finding the bogus assumptions they’ve used to avoid cutting even more.

Finance types and politicians should have to justify every dollar they spend so they can justify every dollar they tax. Their job isn’t supposed to be easy.

Adami: Trash ‘donations’ cost Sally Ann thrift shops thousands

Ottawa Citizen

By Hugh Adami, Ottawa Citizen, November 11, 2015

Even if the Salvation Army Thrift Store sold used mattresses, a better place for the “donation” to its Smiths Falls outlet Sunday would have been an incinerator. And whoever used that mattress last should still be soaking in bleach.

It was that disgusting. When resident Dave Pringle, a former social worker, spotted a young couple in a shiny new van dumping the filthy, ripped mattress in the drop-off area, he gave the two a piece of his mind.

Q&A: Watson shares expectations for ‘frugal’ Ottawa budget

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, November 10, 2015

How the city plans to address a projected revenue shortfall — or deficit — of $36.3 million next year should become clear Thursday when the 2016 budget is tabled at Ottawa City Hall.

Mayor Jim Watson talked to the Citizen about what it could mean for taxpayers.

GUEST POST: Knocking on doors, answering questions about pipeline

StittsvilleCentral.ca

By Mike Fletcher, Stittsville Central, November 9, 2015

FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROPOSED ENERGY EAST PIPELINE TWO YEARS AGO, and after researching it, came to the conclusion that this project must be stopped.

My “get off the couch moment” saw me joining Ecology Ottawa and joining people in Stittsville and West Carleton to oppose the project that’s a complete no win for our community and our country.

Developers reveal plans for new Manotick subdivision

By Megan DeLaire, Ottawa Community News, November 6, 2015

A panel of developers, engineering consultants and city staff gave residents an overview of a proposed 16-lot subdivision develpoment targeted for Manotick at a meeting on Oct. 29 in the second last step toward gaining approval.

During the public meeting at the Manotick Arena and Community Centre, representatives of Cavanagh Construction detailed plans to develop land situated between Mud Creek to the east and First Line Road to the west by adding a westward extension of McManus Avenue, a public park, a pedestrian bridge over Mud Creek and a walking path beside it, and preparing the land for 16 new single family homes.

Planning committee OKs proposed Slater Street tower

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, November 10, 2015

Planning committee chairwoman Jan Harder poured cold water all over a downtown councillor’s attempt to secure a grocery store in the ground floor of a Slater Street redevelopment.

“We can’t say, ‘The only way you can build this tower is to include a grocery store,'” Harder said Tuesday, minutes after her committee unanimously approved a proposal by Broccolini Construction Inc. to construct a 27-storey tower at 383 Slater St., replacing a two-storey building occupied by Alterna Savings and Credit Union.