Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Speeding concerns on St. Laurent prompt lane reductions (with video)

Ottawa Citizen

By Nicholas Galipeau, Ottawa Citizen, December 15, 2014

Protesters gathered on the corner of St. Laurent Boulevard and Karen Way on Monday afternoon chanting “Easy on the Speed” to slow traffic in advance of the 2015 reconstruction to reduce the number of lanes on St. Laurent, which will slow the pace of reckless traffic permanently. “I think that they should at the very least have a pedestrian crossing sign here and, I think, a crosswalk because people just don’t stop,” said Jasmine Robillard, a young mother who frequently crosses St. Laurent to take her four-year-old son to Grandir Ensemble, a francophone daycare. “You have to jaywalk, which is illegal, to get to where you need to be.” via Speeding concerns on St. Laurent prompt lane reductions (with video) | Ottawa Citizen.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Uber rolling out new service for group trips :: News - Article

By Josh Pringle, CFRA News, December 13, 2014

Uber is rolling out big new rides in Ottawa.Just in time for Christmas and New Year's Eve parties, the app-based ride sharing service has introduced "UberXL."

Uber says new high occupancy vehicles in the fleet have room for up to six riders. Fares for the new service are more expensive than the regular Uber rides.

Nic Rivers: Are low oil prices good for the environment?

Ottawa Citizen

By Nic Rivers, Ottawa Citizen, December 12, 2014

The price of oil has fallen by almost half in the last six months. This affects both our transport choices as well as investments in oil extraction, so it is difficult to pin down exactly what the effect is on greenhouse gas emissions. World leaders met in Lima this week to negotiate an agreement on climate change; it is important to consider what effect the major slump in world oil prices over the last six months has on the environment. Recent history provides some clues. The long surge in the price of crude oil from around $20 per barrel at the beginning of the millennium to a high of almost $150 per barrel in 2008 brought about fundamental changes in energy markets. Car companies made significant investments in alternative drive trains, such that fuel-sipping hybrid vehicles now make up a small but growing share of vehicles, and such that the fuel efficiency of the entire new vehicle stock is poised to reach double today’s level within a decade. Last year, Tesla’s elegant new sedan was the first ever electric vehicle to be universally praised as the car of the year, and a wave of similar vehicles from other companies is likely to carve out an important niche in the car market of tomorrow. via Nic Rivers: Are low oil prices good for the environment? | Ottawa Citizen.

Convent Glen and Orléans Wood residents get behind tree planting

By Brier Dodge, Ottawa Community News, December 12, 2014

A Dec. 3 meeting with Ecology Ottawa and members of the Convent Glen and Orléans Wood communities at the Bob McQuarrie Recreation Complex had a strong turnout. Graham Saul, Ecoloy Ottawa’s executive director, said residents made it clear that the future of trees in their community is important. via Convent Glen and Orléans Wood residents get behind tree planting.

Mice population boom keeps Ottawa exterminators busy - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, December 12, 2014

Exterminators are reporting a record number of mice-related calls, and some homeowners who say they've never had a rodent problem are finding themselves overrun. Todd Babin, owner of Nature's Way Property Services in Manotick, says he's getting about six to 12 mice-related extermination calls a day. via Mice population boom keeps Ottawa exterminators busy - Ottawa - CBC News.

Ideas for a linear park

Ottawa Citizen

By Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen, December 12, 2014

Here are some ideas proposed for different sections of a planned park along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway by participants in an NCC workshop last May: Bayview to Parkdale: Prince of Wales Bridge (the rail bridge across the Ottawa River) has great potential for a historic garden; via Ideas for a linear park | Ottawa Citizen.

Online attacks show nasty side of Uber taxi war

Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, December 12, 2014

A few defenders of Ottawa’s conventional taxi industry have gone online to pursue businesses and individuals who’ve spoken up in favour of car-hiring service Uber. They’ve promised to send customers away from restaurants, dug up details about people’s personal lives and told bosses their workers support lawbreaking. via Online attacks show nasty side of Uber taxi war | Ottawa Citizen.

Put Ottawa’s Sir John A. Parkway on a ‘diet,’ NCC told

Ottawa Citizen

By Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen, December 12, 2014

The National Capital Commission should narrow or relocate the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway. That’s the message the NCC has heard from citizens as it moves to develop a plan for a new linear park along the Ottawa River. A report posted to the NCC’s website this week says the agency expects to complete the plan for a linear park — an urban park that’s substantially longer than it is wide — from the Canadian War Museum to Britannia Park, by the end of 2015. via Put Ottawa’s Sir John A. Parkway on a ‘diet,’ NCC told | Ottawa Citizen.

Long-awaited cycling safety for Bronson Avenue coming next summer

By Laura Mueller, Ottawa Community News, December 11, 2014

After two years of political delays, permanent cycling safety improvements are on the way for Bronson Avenue. Capital Coun. David Chernushenko said he is pleased with the solutions being proposed for construction next summer, including a new “crossride” to allow cyclists to safely traverse Bronson north of Sunnyside Avenue. via Long-awaited cycling safety for Bronson Avenue coming next summer.

Plasco mulls smaller plant as financing deadline approaches - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, December 11, 2014

The new chair of Ottawa's environment committee says the city will need to move quickly if Plasco fails to meet its latest financing deadline because the city doesn't have a plan B. David Chernushenko environment committee chair Plasco Dec 11 2014Coun. David Chernushenko, the new chair of the city's environment committee, says he and council need proof "very soon" that Plasco can deliver on its promises. (CBC) The waste-to-energy company has until Dec. 31 to raise enough money to build a full-scale plant.Plasco has missed financing deadlines twice before and each time the city granted an extension. via Plasco mulls smaller plant as financing deadline approaches - Ottawa - CBC News.

How Ottawa — and the Senators — could finally get a downtown arena (with video)

Ottawa Citizen

By Don Butler and Robert Bostelaar, Ottawa Citizen, December 11, 2014

Whether you love the idea or hate it, a new downtown arena is looking more and more like a live option for the development of LeBreton Flats with news that Senators Sports & Entertainment is “actively considering” the opportunity. It’s far from a done deal, though, and there are numerous implications to the move from Kanata to the city centre. Here are some of the issues and reaction from key players: via How Ottawa — and the Senators — could finally get a downtown arena (with video) | Ottawa Citizen.

Community group opposes Ottawa Senators moving stadium downtown

Metro

By Trevor Greenway, Ottawa Metro News, December 10, 2014

An Ottawa community association president in Dalhousie doesn’t like the idea of the Ottawa Senators building a new NHL arena at LeBreton Flats and says the land should be used for more inclusive development. Dalhousie Community Association President Michael Powell, who is also a half-season ticket holder, says moving the team downtown is a good idea, but he argues the land at LeBreton Flats, which has been empty for 50 years, should be used for something a little more unique than a hockey rink – perhaps a museum or an aboriginal centre. via Community group opposes Ottawa Senators moving stadium downtown | Metro.