Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Ottawa’s 8 new city councillors step into the spotlight

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, November 3, 2014

Last week, Ottawa voters elected eight new city councillors. As the rookies gear up for councillor boot camp — which covers everything from meeting procedures and office management to budgets, transit and trash collection — the Citizen caught up with the councillors-elect for profiles. via Ottawa’s 8 new city councillors step into the spotlight | Ottawa Citizen.

Reevely: Civic Hospital to be rebuilt on Experimental Farm property

Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, November 3, 2014

The Ottawa Hospital is getting 60 acres of federal property to rebuild its Civic campus on Carling Avenue, a long-term project the hospital’s chief executive hopes will eventually lead to a major realignment of health care in Ottawa. “The timelines, historically, would be beyond a decade at best,” said Dr. Jack Kitts. “We couldn’t plan in a vacuum with no land.” via Reevely: Civic Hospital to be rebuilt on Experimental Farm property | Ottawa Citizen.

Agnes Cadieux: Ottawa’s Park and Ride dilemma

Ottawa Citizen

By Agnes Cadieux, Ottawa Citizen, October 31, 2014

The leaves have blown off the trees and the temperature is dropping. Brace yourselves: winter is coming, and we all know what that means: parking ticket time. More specifically, parking tickets at the Park & Rides. Anyone to uses the Park & Rides around Ottawa knows what a struggle it is to find parking, especially if you’re there any time after 8 a.m. Either from desperation or frustration or both, I often see drivers invent creative and unique parking spots: along the curb, on top of the curb, on the grass, or even on those fancy painted lines meant to organize the flow of cars within the lot. But drivers don’t do this out of spite; we do this because we have no choice. In business suits, scrubs, and casual-wear, we are at the mercy of the bus schedule, scrambling to get on our ride so we aren’t late again because we spent too much drive driving round and round looking for a spot via Agnes Cadieux: Ottawa’s Park and Ride dilemma | Ottawa Citizen.

Wind, solar fuel energy price hikes: Fraser Institute

Ottawa Citizen

By Vito Pilieci, Ottawa Citizen, October 30, 2014

A new report from the Fraser Institute is providing wind for the sails of Ontario renewable energy opponents by suggesting that the province’s rising energy prices are largely a result of investments into wind and solar generation. The report, released Thursday, says wind and solar production accounts for just four per cent of the province’s energy needs but is responsible for 20 per cent of all energy costs paid by Ontarians. via Wind, solar fuel energy price hikes: Fraser Institute | Ottawa Citizen.

City Hall Blog: City committee need citizens like you

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, October 31, 2014

The civic-minded among us might want to take note — the city is recruiting members of the public to join its various committees or boards. If you live in Ottawa and are 18 years of age or older, this could be a volunteer gig with your name on it. (...) Transit Commission (4 members) * Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (4 members) * South Nation Conservation (2 members) *

Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (3 members) *

Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee (9 to 11 members) *

  via City Hall Blog: City committee need citizens like you | Ottawa Citizen.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Go back on energy transformation and curb hydro rates, report says :: News - Article

By CFRA News Staff, October 30, 2014

A Fraser Institute report says that if the provincial government doesn't reverse its transformation on the province's energy system, hydro rates will "continue to soar."

They reference the Liberal government's introduction of the controversial green energy act as one of the reasons why hydro rates are on the rise. They'll be going up again on Nov. 1.

Tory energy critic John Yakabuski says despite the damning think tank report, his party won't be encouraging the government to take town existing projects.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Energy East pipeline submitted for approval :: News - Article

By CFRA News Staff, October 30, 2014

A pipeline set to pass along the outskirts of Ottawa has been sent in for approval.

TransCanada submitted their formal application for the Energy East Pipeline to the National Energy Board.

Ecology Ottawa planned to protest the pipeline by setting up Jack-O-Lanterns outside the Prime Ministers office Thursday evening.

Ecology Ottawa pipeline community organizer Ben Powless told CFRA the controversial pipeline could pose a danger to the community."We're putting out the message there that this pipeline is a bit of a nightmare for climate and for our communities here in Canada," Powless said. "Particularly here in Ottawa where the pipeline would run right under the Ottawa river and eventually would flow into the Ottawa River."

27-storey building proposed for Ottawa’s Medical Arts Building site

Ottawa Citizen

By Carys Mills, Ottawa Citizen, October 30, 2014

A 27-storey development is being proposed for Metcalfe Street, but it would require amendments to both an official plan and a major zoning bylaw. The high-rise would intensify a site now home to the six-storey, yellow-brick Medical Arts Building, at Metcalfe and Nepean streets. Most of the existing heritage building, 80 per cent of it, would be maintained and integrated into the development, according to plans filed to the city by Toth Equity Ltd. via 27-storey building proposed for Ottawa’s Medical Arts Building site | Ottawa Citizen.

Tobi Nussbaum’s first crack at municipal politics wins him city council seat

Metro

By Joe Lofaro, Ottawa Metro News, October 28, 2014

Senior bureaucrat Tobi Nussbaum didn’t expect to win by a landslide in Rideau-Rockcliffe Monday evening.

It was his first foray into municipal politics and he was running against Coun. Peter Clark – a seasoned politician who has 15 years of municipal politics experience.

But by nearly 3,000 votes Nussbaum soared past Clark in the polls to capture nearly half the votes cast by residents in the ward.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: AMO looks to change the way businesses pay to recycle the waste they create :: News - Article

By Sarah Anderson, CFRA News, October 29, 2014

Changes could be coming to the way industrial, commercial and institutional waste is kept out of landfills and to how recycling is paid for.

Right now property taxes pay for over 50 per cent of the actual Blue Box Program costs across Ontario.

Outgoing city councillor Peter Hume has been Ottawa's representative on the Association of Ontario Municipalities AMO.

Ottawa downtown councillors talk of 'urban caucus' - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, October 29, 2014

The councillor-elect for Somerset ward said there is strong support from other urban councillors to form a caucus to discuss issues that affect all of the inner-city wards. Fresh off her victory Monday night, Catherine McKenney is set to take over for Diane Holmes in Somerset ward when the new council convenes.Catherine McKenney Catherine McKenney says she thinks she and other urban councillors could collaborate on pushing forward a number of common issues. CBCBut she's already held informal talks with winners from Kitchissippi, Rideau-Rockcliffe, Capital and Rideau-Vanier wards about creating an "urban caucus." via Ottawa downtown councillors talk of 'urban caucus' - Ottawa - CBC News.

Trick or sleet? Flurries — or at least rain — expected for Halloween

Ottawa Citizen

By Robert Bostelaar, Ottawa Citizen, October 29, 2014

Those hoping for a snow-free October — and a pleasant night for trick-and-treating — might be in for a letdown. Environment Canada says there’s a 60-per-cent chance of flurries or rain showers for Friday, the final day of the month. A high of 4 C and a low of -2 C are expected. via Trick or sleet? Flurries — or at least rain — expected for Halloween | Ottawa Citizen.