Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Wynne opens door to carbon tax in Ontario

By Ottawa Community News, January 14, 2015

TORONTO - Premier Kathleen Wynne opened the door open Wednesday to a new tax to combat climate change, just months after saying a carbon tax was not part of the Ontario government's plan.

"That is not part of our plan. It is not in our plan," Wynne said after winning a majority government last June. "But we do need to have a minister who is paying attention to climate change in a way that I believe we have not done before."

Reevely: Tories’ opposition to conservative climate-change policy is a big problem (with video)

Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, January 15, 2015

The Liberal government in Ontario is taking up the most conservative way anybody has yet thought up to fight greenhouse-gas emissions. Naturally, Ontario’s Conservatives are against it.

The notion that the province will try to put a price on carbon dioxide emissions isn’t new. It’s been in the works for years and Premier Kathleen Wynne last fall signed a deal with Quebec to share information about how its experiment in trading government-issued carbon-emissions permits is going. But now that a specific plan is due in the spring, it’s the object of new hate.

Church opposes city’s preferred western LRT route

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, January 15, 2015

An Ottawa church has come out against the city’s preferred option for the western LRT extension, saying the current routing through its Cleary Avenue property is “unacceptable.” First Unitarian Congregation owns a 2.4-hectare parcel of land adjacent to where the proposed Cleary station would be located. In addition to the church, the property contains a seniors’ residence and daycare, both of which are also opposed to the city’s plan. via Church opposes city’s preferred western LRT route | Ottawa Citizen.

Plasco no longer exclusive, the city in search for partners - News - Orléans Star

By Pascal Laplante, Orleans Star, January 15, 2015

WASTE. Not having been able to meet an ultimatum from the City of Ottawa, Plasco Energy has lost its exclusive right to waste management in the City. Now, a call for new companies has been launched.

Plasco Energy has lost its exclusive right to waste management in the City.

Only five days after notifying the company, the City of Ottawa has resubmitted a new deadline. Companies have until February 5 to re-submit a business proposal to the City of Ottawa.

Ottawa plans to make Rideau Street area more pedestrian friendly

Metro

By Lucy Scholey, Ottawa Metro News, January 13, 2015

With the Rideau Street area already under a major overhaul, the city is now looking to make the area more pedestrian-friendly with wider sidewalks, more bike lanes and trees. The Rideau Arts Precinct plan, which was released on Tuesday, looks at the area between Rideau Street, Laurier Avenue, Colonel By Drive and Waller Street – essentially the area that encompasses the Rideau Centre, the future Arts Court redevelopment, a leg of the light rail Confederation Line and a section of the University of Ottawa campus. via Ottawa plans to make Rideau Street area more pedestrian friendly | Metro.

Arms-length board could control Byward Market

Ottawa & Region

News

Ottawa

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, January 14, 2015

A not-for-profit organization could soon oversee the Byward Market as the city tries to bring the historic shopping district back to its glory days. "What we've learned is the old model of running it from city bylaw doesn't work," Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury said. "It's to no one's fault on the ground. It's to the processes we have given them." via Arms-length board could control Byward Market | Ottawa & Region | News | Ottawa.

Ottawa LRT airport link praised in principle by city, airport authority - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, January 14, 2015

The proposed link to the Macdonald-Cartier International Airport in the proposed O-Train “Trillium Line” expansion was in the spotlight at an open house in south Ottawa Tuesday night. Part of “phase two” of Ottawa’s light-rail plan includes extending the current five-stop O-Train line to Bowesville in Riverside Park South while adding stops at Gladstone, Walkley, South Keys and Leitrim. via Ottawa LRT airport link praised in principle by city, airport authority - Ottawa - CBC News.

Changing trains likely for proposed O-Train airport link

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, January 14, 2015

Passengers using a rail link to get to or from Ottawa’s international airport, if such a link is ever built, would likely have to change trains at South Keys station, residents learned this week at an open house showcasing the ambitious plan to expand O-Train service. The city’s preferred option for extending the north-south Trillium line from Greenboro station to Riverside South — for which it is currently conducting an environmental assessment — includes a spur to the Macdonald-Cartier International Airport and the EY Centre. via Changing trains likely for proposed O-Train airport link | Ottawa Citizen.

Last stage of Rideau Canal to open to skaters Thursday

Ottawa Citizen

By Ottawa Citizen, January 14, 2015

As of Thursday morning, it’s clear skating on the Rideau Canal. The National Capital Commission says the full 7.8 kilometres of what is billed as the world’s largest rink will be open from downtown Ottawa to Hartwells Locks, which adjoin Carleton University. via Last stage of Rideau Canal to open to skaters Thursday | Ottawa Citizen.

O-Train upgrade targeted for late-February completion

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, January 14, 2015

The completion of the long-awaited upgrade to the O-Train system is still more than a month away, a city official said Wednesday. The $60-million project, which council approved in June 2011, was supposed to be finished by last September, but delays have now pushed that date into late February. via O-Train upgrade targeted for late-February completion | Ottawa Citizen.

Journal La Gatineau - Le Trottibus finaliste d'un concours

Gatineau 8 janvier 2015 22 LAGATINEAU- Le Trottibus, l’autobus pédestre de la Société canadienne du cancer, figure parmi les six finalistes de « Jeu d ’échange, déf i de vie active du Canada». Ce concours en ligne fait la promotion d’un mode de vie sain et actif.

De nombreuses études démontrent que les jeunes sont de plus en plus sédentaires. Ce phénomène ent r a î ne de g r ave s problèmes d’embonpoint et d’obésité dans l’ensemble du pays, ainsi qu’un risque accru de contracter le cancer plus tard dans la vie ( notamment le cancer du sein et le cancer colorectal). Af in d’inciter les jeunes à bouger davantage, la Société canadienne du cancer a lancé le Trottibus, l’autobus qui marche, dans la province de Québec.

Cet automne, le Trottibus a été actif dans 37 écoles primaires du Québec. Lors de l’édition 2013-2014, le projet a donc permis à une quarantaine d’enfants (985 au total) de se rendre à l ’école à pied chaque matin en toute sécurité, sous la surveillance d’adultes bénévoles. Et ce, dans la bonne humeur!

Le Trottibus sera présenté à l’occasion d ’une émission spéciale sur le réseau anglais de Radio-Canada (CBC) le 9 janv ier procha in, à 19 h. Tous les Canadiens seront alors invités à voter pour leur projet préféré. Le f inaliste ayant récolté le plus grand nombre de votes recevra jusqu’à un million de dollars pour mettre son idée en application. Il sera possible de voter du 9 au 16 janvier au www.playexchange.ca /vote. On peut également visionner une vidéo de 60 secondes à propos du Trot tibus sur YouTube.

Si le Trottibus remporte le concours, c’est l ’organisation toute entière de la Société canadienne du cancer qui sera en mesure d’aider à prévenir encore plus de cancers, principale cause de mortalité au pays. Le prix qui pourrait atteindre un million de dollars pourrait non seulement permettre de déployer le Trottibus dans l’ensemble de la province, mais également d’offrir de la formation et des outils aux autres provinces canadiennes qui voudront démarrer leur Trottibus.

Hopping on a train to catch your flight: New proposal includes light rail link to Ottawa Airport

CTV Ottawa News

By CTV News Ottawa, January 13, 2015

The O-Train is going to get a new name, new trains and new stations which could include a spur to the Ottawa International Airport. The $100 million expansion of the Trillium Line O-Train service will mean service will extend from Greenboro to Riverside South. The environmental assessment also includes the possibility of new stations at Gladstone Avenue, Confederation Heights and Walkley Road. via Hopping on a train to catch your flight: New proposal includes light rail link to Ottawa Airport | CTV Ottawa News.