Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Young Canadians plan to sue federal government over climate change

By Cherise Seucharan, Star Vancouver, October 23, 2019

VANCOUVER—A group of young Canadian activists are suing the federal government over climate change — they’re at the forefront of a new legal strategy that could hold governments around the world to account, after decades of attempts to sue companies for the effects of climate change have failed.

In a joint media release, Our Children’s Trust and the David Suzuki Foundation said that 15 young people from across Canada will file a lawsuit Friday claiming that the security of the person — which are guaranteed under Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms — by contributing to high greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.government has violated their rights to life, liberty and

Documents show confusion, misinformation during LRT delays

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, October 24, 2019

Wrong PA announcements.

Wrong information on the overhead signs.

OC Transpo staff who “weren’t given enough time to move customers” when an LRT delay occurred.

And somehow, the wrong recorded announcement was able to “override” the correct one on the PA system.

These communications gremlins faced OC Transpo on the Tuesday of its first week of LRT service, during its first significant delay, which slowed the system for about 40 minutes. Details in an internal “sit rep” (situation report) were released through an access to information request after this newspaper could not get the information about that day’s LRT delay through regular channels.

'If we take the life out of our water, what have we done?': Perth mayor promises changes to rocky ramps

By Desmond Devoy, InsideOttawaValley, October 22, 2019 Perth’s rocky ramps are used to getting a rocky reception from residents. That’s why the ramps got a rough ride from residents during a public meeting on their future in the town council chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 15. But before residents had a chance to air their grievances, there had to be some managing of expectations.

“We’ve heard about this for months, low flow on the Tay,” said Mayor John Fenik. “We have to have a plan moving forward. The situation can’t continue as it is.”

The moderator was Jeff Kohl, who told attendees that “an action plan will be forthcoming after tonight"

Wild pigs on the loose in eastern Ontario

By Laurie Weir, InsideOttawaValley, October 22, 2019 There are wild pigs in the area. Wild ... pigs. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry say they’re an invasive species, albeit only a few sightings have been reported in the Ottawa Valley.

And they can be destructive, says Jolanta Kowalski, media specialist with the MNRF.

Invasive species like wild pigs can cause damage to habitats and native species and can be nearly impossible to get rid of once they become established.

Why did our children stop walking to school?

By Naomi Buck, the Globe and Mail, October 19, 2019

(...)As a kindergarten student in 1977, I set out every morning into the vastness of North Toronto. Having been ditched by my older brother at the first hill (he had a reputation to maintain), I would join dozens of other neighbourhood kids on the migration to school. We walked – or biked – not to be virtuous or to make a statement or to get a sticker when we got there, but because it was the obvious thing to do. The decline in active school transport, as the experts call it, has prompted a florescence of research correlating walking or cycling to school with everything from improved alertness to mental health, social competence and physical fitness. As our grandmothers could have told us: It’s good to start the day with a little fresh air and exercise.

And yet, we opt to drive. Why?

Environment committee likes big biogas-to-energy upgrade at sewage plant

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, October 15, 2019

A $57.2-million project to upgrade the biogas-to-energy system at the City of Ottawa’s sewage plant received the environment committee’s full endorsement Tuesday.

The city wants to replace aging “cogeneration” engines that convert methane into electricity. There are three engines at the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre that produce electricity for part of the plant, but city wants to replace them with more powerful engines and add a fourth one.

Councillors were most concerned about the $41.8 million the city would have to take from the waste water reserve account for the project, leaving $29.4 million in the reserve for other critical work.

Upgrading Ottawa's biogas-to-energy convertors at the sewage plant would cost $57M

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, October 11, 2019

Slashing greenhouse gases will cost the City of Ottawa big money to upgrade special equipment that converts sewage gas into energy.

City council could be faced with a decision later this month on a staff recommendation to spend $57.2 million to swap out the “cogeneration” engines at the municipal sewage treatment plant, almost four times what it had been anticipating to spend on equipment improvements.

The details of the proposal are in a report produced recently by city staff.

All the wastewater collected by municipal sewers is sent to the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre off Shefford Road in the east end. The plant treats about 415 million litres of wastewater each day before emptying the cleaned fluids into the Ottawa River. Methane is produced during the treatment process.

How OC Transpo missed its best chance to get us on board with LRT

By Joanne Chianello, CBC News Ottawa, October 12, 2019

They say you only get one chance to make a first impression, but really, OC Transpo had two.

The first came on Sept. 14, when the Confederation Line finally — finally — opened its gleaming doors to the public. (More on doors later.)

Thousands filed aboard that pleasant Saturday afternoon. Most had no particular place to go; they just wanted to play some small part in a historic day. From Tunney's Pasture to Blair and back again the bands played, the public art impressed and the train operators waved as they pulled up to the platforms.

Everyone, it seemed, was smiling.

OC Transpo's second chance at a first impression came Monday, when suburban commuters long accustomed to getting to work on trusty old bus routes like the 95 were suddenly forced to transfer onto the LRT to complete their journeys, whether they wanted to or not.

Enjoy free transit on Nov. 11, but how we got there should worry you

By Joanne Chianello, CBC News Ottawa, October 12, 2019

The people of Ottawa will get to ride OC Transpo for free on Nov. 11, but how that decision came about is the latest in an ominous trend toward shutting down discussion around the council table.

This week, Remembrance Day beat out another suggested date for free transit for Ottawa's long-suffering transit users — the upcoming federal election day.

Didn't hear about the debate over free fare day? That's because there wasn't one.

Candidates talk environmental concerns, climate change crisis at Brockville Aquatarium

By Paulina Hrebacka, InsideOttawaValley, October 11, 2019 Sunfish, Fallfish, Walleye and other colourful species made a lively background at the Sept. 30 federal debate, as candidates discussed the effects of climate change on water resources, wildlife species and other environmental issues at the Brockville Aquatarium. It was standing room only at the crowded event, moderated by Bruce Wylie (104.9 JR FM) and Ron Zajac (Brockville Recorder & Times).

“We are seeing the effects of climate change, and the scientific consensus is that we have little more than a decade to turn things around,” said Wylie. “We see extreme weather events across the country, including wildfires, flooding, draughts, causing anxiety and worry, given their enormous financial and environmental impact.”

The first question asked the candidates to explain their parties’ action plans to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) pollution, as Canadians produce the most of all G20 industrialized nations with an average of over 20 tonnes per person.

Today's letters: On confronting PTSD, on dealing with climate change

By Aija Auzina and F. Dale Boire, Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor, October 1, 2019

(...)What to do after the climate strike

The question following Friday’s climate strike is what do you and I do now? Here are five easy steps.

• Take a pen, paper and envelope.

• Compose a letter to your outgoing MP and ask what they will you do to PROTECT, RESTORE and FUND the environment.

(...)A small but laudable step away from plastics

Clarmo Auto Repair is located on Victoria Street in the village of Metcalfe. On payment of an auto repair bill, the customer was always presented with a selection of candies in a small plastic bag. A few days ago, on settling an account with Clarmo, I was given the candies, but this time in a paper bag.

Bhushan: Global climate action – Canada must put its money where its mouth is

By Aniket Bhushan, Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2019

On global climate action, Canada talks a good game and craves the spotlight, but does not do enough. It is time for a new political consensus on what we need to do on the international stage.

The start of the Liberal mandate in 2015 coincided with agreement at the UN on the Sustainable Development Goals and a partly successful agreement at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. The first big global-development spending announcement of the mandate was a commitment to “double” the level of support for climate action in developing and emerging economies.

Establishing a Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, putting a price on carbon and promoting clean tech have also been important achievements, as was the commitment to spend $2.65 billion over five years (2015-2020) on climate action in developing countries and appointing an ambassador for climate change.