Ecology Ottawa

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Aylmer wants transit as an election issue

Election 2015

Ottawa & Region

Ne

By Kabriya Coghlan, Ottawa Sun, October 4, 2015

Ottawa's LRT project is expected to make it a lot easier to travel through the city. But for people commuting into the city from the other side of the river, public transportation is a still a major problem -- and an important talking point in this election season.

Although the federal candidates running for election in Hull-Aylmer have different ideas about how to improve public transportation in the riding, they all seem to agree that something needs to be done.

Top 5 areas of Ottawa city budget scrutiny

Ottawa & Region

News

Ottawa Sun

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, October 4, 2015

With the city in a financial hole, the Sun took a look at the areas that will likely face extra scrutiny ahead of the 2016 budget.

Transit

About 15% of the city's $3-billion tax budget goes to transit. OC Transpo spends more than $500 million annually using taxes and fare revenue to run the bus and Trillium Line service. Ridership is stabilizing, but it hasn't been growing. Riders are using cheaper Presto card functions. It could cause transit managers to take a hard look at the fare structure to offset bus expenses until LRT is operating in 2018. At the same time, managers think travel habits might be changing, which could prompt them to consider where Transpo needs to shift service. All that, and the city is needs to renew its contract with bus drivers. The deal expires at the end of next March.

Island Park Drive 100-year development plan nearing expiry - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, October 4, 2015

Rules covering what kinds of homes can be built alongside Ottawa's Island Park Drive for 100 years are now a few years away from expiring, leading the area's councillor to start looking ahead to what may happen early next decade.

The Ottawa Improvement Commission, a precursor to the National Capital Commission, signed a deal with Robert H. Cowley on Feb. 9, 1922.

Naomi Klein, Avi Lewis bring 'This Changes Everything' to the Mayfair - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, October 4, 2015

Bestselling writer Naomi Klein and filmmaker Avi Lewis are bringing their new film to the Mayfair Theatre Sunday night.

The documentary, based on Klein's book This Changes Everything, follows the stories of communities around the world responding to the impact of climate change and capitalism through activism.

Lewis says the film is meant to have a hopeful message about what people can do​ about climate change.

Urban nature exhibit explores Ottawa through fresh eyes

Metro News

By Ottawa Metro News, October 2, 2015

If you’re looking for Eryn O’Neill, try an urban path or perhaps the great lawn at Lansdowne.

She’ll be the one with the camera, possibly photographing empty benches or overgrown planters. But don’t judge: the full-time artist has turned those photos into a new solo show, which opened at the Orange Gallery in Hintonburg last night.

Her 16 oil paintings all centre around the relationship between manmade and natural features.

Canterbury student heads north to learn about climate change

By Erin McCracken, Ottawa Community News, September 30, 2015

Zoë Perkins is heading north in hopes of returning with an Arctic perspective to teach her fellow students and teachers what they can do to protect Canada’s north from the impact of climate change.

“There are so many people who want to do something about this, but they just don’t know how,” said the Grade 12 Canterbury High School literary arts student.Perkins, a Rockcliffe Mews resident, will spend 10 days aboard the Amundsen, a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker, with eight other students and two teachers from across Canada to learn from Canadian and international scientists who are studying how climate change is affecting the Arctic.

U of Ottawa profs demand divestment from fossil fuel companies

Ottawa Citizen

By Blair Crawford, Ottawa Citizen, October 2, 2015

A group of 90 present and retired professors at the University of Ottawa is demanding the university divest its endowment fund and pension plan of fossil fuel investments as a way of battling climate change.

The professors, from 14 departments, have signed an open letter to university president Allan Rock and the board of governors that says the move “is not only morally necessary, but also financially wise.”

OC Transpo plans tax hike to balance budget

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, September 30, 2015

OC Transpo is raising its transit tax 2.5 per cent in 2016 as the transit operator faces rising costs and flat-lining ridership.

An early budget report released Tuesday asks staff to craft a transit budget that finds $24.5 million in new money while limiting the transit tax increase to 2.5 per cent.

Between the $9 million extra collected through that hike and another $6.9 million more coming from fares, OC Transpo will still have to find $8.6 million in ‘efficiencies’ to avoid going into deficit.

Federal election neighbourhood profile: Ottawa's Chinatown

Metro News

By Haley Ritchie, Ottawa Metro News, October 1, 2015

Election season comes with lots of complaints about the clutter of candidates signage – but there’s one neighbourhood is already so colourful that the signs give it some visual cohesion.

Welcome to Ottawa’s Chinatown, a place with arguably more murals and public art per square foot than any other place in the city.

Like it or not, Uber not going away

SHERRING

Ottawa & Region

News

Ottawa

By Susan Sherring, Ottawa Sun, September 30, 2015

It will come as no surprise to either Uber or its customers that the cheeky company providing rides to Ottawans is clearly here to stay.

Perhaps the only one who might still be having trouble accepting that fact is Mayor Jim Watson -- who vowed when the company first arrived in town that it couldn't operate in the city illegally.

Really?

Taxi drivers, city of Ottawa closely watching Toronto Uber debate - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, September 30, 2015

Taxi drivers in Ottawa watched Toronto city hall closely Wednesday as councillors debated how to bring Uber under its regulatory wing.

The upstart ride-hailing service, which allows passengers to hail cabs using a smartphone app, has thrown the traditional taxi industry for a loop and created regulatory headaches for cities across Canada and beyond.

Enbridge Line 9 pipeline gets OK to send oil east from Western Canada - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, October 1, 2015

The National Energy Board has given Enbridge Inc. the go-ahead to start sending oil from Western Canada through its Line 9 pipeline from Sarnia, Ont., to Montreal.

Line 9 is a pipe, about 76 centimetres in diameter, that runs parallel to Highway 401 in eastern Ontario, through communities including Cornwall, Brockville and Kingston. Further west, it goes through heavily urbanized parts of Toronto and on to Sarnia, Ont.