By the Editor, Ottawa Citizen, March 25, 2014
The National Capital Commission has long been criticized for often putting the cart before the horse in its dealings with Ottawa residents on important planning issues affecting the capital. Time and again the NCC has infuriated residents by making big decisions on land-use planning in the capital, and then presenting what can seems like a fait accompli to residents for consultations. Much of the animosity between the NCC and residents comes from this lack of proper consultation, and it is commendable that the federal agency is now doing things differently — or at least trying.
So kudos to the agency for holding public consultations on the future of the national capital region’s parkways before any decisions are made. The 120 kilometres of scenic parkways and driveways in both Ottawa and Gatineau are one of the defining characteristics of the capital, and as the commission says, represent values that are important to the city and Canadians at large. Ottawans take the city’s relationship to nature seriously. Many already walk, jog and cycle on pathways along the parkway corridors. But the parkways, built as they were for car traffic, can be sterile and even represent a barrier between the city and its natural features, such as the Ottawa River. The River is always there, part of the city, but it is seldom a destination. Places such as the Canadian Museum of History on the Gatineau side are the few exceptions that actually allow people to enjoy the River year-round. Much of the city’s infrastructure seems to be built to get us over the River, past it, around it.
By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen Blog, March 26, 2014
John Manconi sent a note around to city councillors after this story about the brakes on double-decker buses ran. Among other things, it specifically denied that there was a recall on the brakes, as the story claimed.
Here’s the note:
By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen, March 26, 2014
OTTAWA — Mayor Jim Watson is fond of saying that all the “heavy lifting” of the city’s business should be done at the committee level. He’s also lectured against political showboating at council — a hallmark of the former, “dysfunctional” group of city politicians, apparently — and is a self-described penny-pincher on behalf of taxpayers.
That’s why it was shocking to see Watson not only vote against a recommendation by the city’s planning staff, but to actually champion a move to overturn a decision by council’s own planning committee. In one fell swoop, our pragmatic mayor ensured the spending of $25,000 to $30,000 of taxpayers’ dollars on an Ontario Municipal Board appeal that the city might very well lose.
By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, March 26, 2014
OTTAWA — City council shocked developers and residents alike on Wednesday when it overturned a plan to build a nine-storey, privately owned student residence in Sandy Hill, with Mayor Jim Watson taking a hard line against the proposal.
The planning committee had approved the proposed mixed-use building at Laurier Avenue East and Friel Street at a Feb. 26 meeting, despite vocal opposition from some Sandy Hill residents and Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury.
By Alison Sandor, CFRA News, March 25, 2014
Does Ottawa have the worst road in Ontario?
Voting opens today for CAA's Ontario's Worst Road campaign.
The campaign brings awareness to the state of Ontario's deteriorating roads.
By Alison Sandor, CFRA News, March 25, 2014
The National Capital Commission is holding a public consultation at the Museum of History this evening to discuss its Capital Urban Lands Master Plan.
The plan identifies the NCC's key planning directions and will oversee the activities and uses of federal lands within the Greenbelt and the urban sector in Gatineau.
By CFRA News, March 25, 2014
Parks Canada starts draining the Rideau Canal on Wednesday.
They'll be removing water from underneath the ice, slowly destabilizing the surface.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, March 25, 2014
The Transportation Safety Board has mentioned no problems about the mechanics of OC Transpo’s double-decker buses, including any issues with the brakes, the city’s transit boss says.
“I personally met with the TSB shortly after the (Sept. 18) accident and I told the CEO of the TSB that if they found anything on those buses that would even compromise safety one iota, I would immediately ground the fleet, and I have not received anything from the TSB in that regard,” Transpo GM John Manconi said Tuesday.
By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, March 25, 2014
OTTAWA — Winter’s endless cold is ending, promptly on Wednesday night.
No, honestly, we mean it.
March has been far colder than normal, but Environment Canada says it will turn the corner for good after a chilly Wednesday night. You can’t hold back spring forever.
By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, March 24, 2014
OTTAWA — A long-awaited water strategy got the stamp of approval Monday from the city’s environment committee.
The 18-page plan — a key part of the effort to ensure the health of Ottawa’s watersheds for future generations — comes as the city seeks to promote drinking water, reduce beach closings, balance urban development with stewardship, and better adapt to extreme weather and climate change.