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Sylvia Holden not part of Lansdowne, says councillorMetro Ottawa, March 10, 2010
Tim Wieclawski
A community park next to the Lansdowne parking lot is being annexed for the design competition, insisted the ward councillor, who issued a hands-off warning yesterday.
"Sylvia Holden is not part of Lansdowne Park and should not be redesigned - it's just fine the way it is," said Capital Ward Coun. Clive Doucet. "This is more lipstick on a pig. It's the same tax-heavy, no-competition deal which will deliver 300,000 square feet of commercial space at no charge to the project promoters and $129 million from taxpayers for a stadium."
The park is a strip of green space that runs along Holmwood Avenue between Bank Street and Queen Elizabeth Driveway. At the east end, it expands to include two baseball diamonds, a childcare facility, playgrounds and a pool.
http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/473556--sylvia-holden-not-part-of-lansdowne-says-councillor
No green thumbs-up to replanting plan
Damage from Terry Fox Drive extension runs deeper than trees, ginseng plants
Ottawa Citizen, March 9, 2010, page C3
Kate Jaimet
The City of Ottawa will plant 602 new butternut trees and 100 new ginseng plants to compensate for the ones being ripped up by the Terry Fox Drive extension, according to a proposed agreement with the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources.
The agreement, recently posted for public comment on the province's Environmental Registry website, will allow the city to cut down 20 viable, mature butternut trees; transplant six butternut saplings; and relocate three wild ginseng plants, all of which are growing in the road's right-of-way. Both the ginseng and the butternut are listed as endangered under the province's 2007 Endangered Species Act.
"Replanting is good, but trying to find the same soil type as what they're demolishing?" said Cheryl Doran, chair of the Friends of the Greenspace Alliance, which opposes the road project. "It's kind of sad."
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/green+thumbs+replanting+plan/2659507/story.html
Cullen attacks bollards plan
Says proposal amounts to Ottawa losing lane on Sussex Dr. without compensation
Ottawa Citizen, March 9, 2010, page C1
Neco Cockburn
At least one city councillor isn't happy with an agreement to remove concrete barriers on Sussex Drive outside the U.S. Embassy and replace them with less unsightly bollards.
Bay Councillor Alex Cullen said the bollards will continue to take up a lane of Sussex and amount to "expropriation without compensation."
Cullen said nobody likes the concrete Jersey barriers that went up following the 9/11 terror attacks, but replacing them with bollards "means that we're replacing barriers that were put there on a temporary basis -- that's what the RCMP told the City of Ottawa back in 2002 -- but now we're replacing them with a permanent structure."
"That means that the city will lose a portion of Sussex Drive to the American embassy without compensation," he said.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Cullen+attacks+bollards+plan/2659499/story.html
Councillors Eye OC Transpo Routes
CFRA, March 9, 2010
Josh Pringle and Stephanie Kinsella
City Councillors are looking at OC Transpo routes to find future savings for the transit service.
There are suggestions the city could save money by changing or cutting some bus service.
Councillor Steve Desroches points out routes like the 145 in Gloucester South Nepean has few passengers, saying it only has 10 passengers a day.
Bob Monette points out Route 193 also has poor ridership, but he wants to expand the route.
The Audit, Budget and Finance Committee proposed $3 million in cuts to OC Transpo routes in the 2010 city budget, but those cuts were rejected by Council.
http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=71779
Candidate Wants to Charge Outsiders More to Board the Bus
CFRA, March 9, 2010
Josh Pringle and Stephanie Kinsella
An Ottawa City Councillor says the City of Ottawa has already studied the issue of forcing OC Transpo riders who live outside the city limits to pay more to board the bus.
Cumberland Ward Councillor Candidate Stephen Blais says OC Transpo is losing out on millions of dollars in extra revenue when it comes to people from outside the city using public transit.
Blais points out rural residents don't pay Ottawa property taxes.
But Councillor Rob Jellet says enforcement would be the issue, telling CFRA News you'd have to have inspectors check license plates at Park N Ride lots.
Jellet suggests a transit smart card could allow an extra charge to be applied to residents from outside the city.
http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=71778
Group urges citizens to think green and ‘vote municipally'
Metro Ottawa, March 8, 2010
Tim Wieclawski
During a campaign, politicians tend to talk big about the environment, but too often green programs are the first on the chopping block at budget time.
With the municipal election less than eight months away, Ecology Ottawa is launching a campaign challenging candidates to make environmental issues a key part of their campaign.
"We need to make sure we have a strong environmental mandate so that they are actually going to follow through with their promises," said Ecology Ottawa spokesperson Lori Waller.
"People have to realize how important the decisions made by city council are ... If you care about the environment, you've got to vote municipally."
Waller said they are concerned with development patterns that encourage sprawl and more cars, rather than pedestrians, cycling and transit. Ottawa is also falling behind other cities in terms of encouraging energy-efficient construction.
They are also concerned with pollution going into the Ottawa River.
http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/471533--group-urges-citizens-to-think-green-and-vote-municipally
Le fédéral profite de la Journée internationale de la femme pour octroyer plus de 350 000 $
Ottawa veut faire élire plus de femmes
Le Droit, le 8 mars 2010
Dominique La Haye
Le gouvernement fédéral a profité de la Journée internationale des femmes, hier, pour annoncer un financement de 361 265 $ visant à faire élire plus de femmes en politique municipale au pays.
La ministre d'État de la Condition féminine, Helena Guergis, était de passage à l'hôtel de ville d'Ottawa pour remettre la subvention à la Fédération canadienne des municipalités (FCM).
Cette enveloppe permettra à la FCM de mettre de l'avant son programme national « Championnes régionales » pour accroître la participation des femmes dans les gouvernements municipaux.
« Notre objectif est d'augmenter à 30 % le nombre de femmes élues à la table du conseil municipal d'ici 2026. Cela signifie que 2000 femmes devront se faire élire au pays », indique la conseillère municipale d'Ottawa qui participe au projet, Marianne Wilkinson.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/201003/08/01-4258644-ottawa-veut-faire-elire-plus-de-femmes.php
The stealthy shrinkage of Route 245
Metro News, March 8, 2010
Steve Collins
Public transit becomes a harder sell the further out of town you go, so it's sad to see cuts to existing rural bus runs, like OC Transpo Route 245, which will cease service south of Manotick next month.
There are arguments in favour of the cut. It's expected to save $25,000, and ridership on the cancelled portion was low, but it was done in a rather underhanded fashion.
During budget deliberations, the city's budget, audit and finance committee drew up a list of $3 million worth of proposed route cuts, and then backed down in the face of public opposition. Not a single one of those cuts was made.
http://www.metronews.ca/Ottawa/comment/article/471273--the-stealthy-shrinkage-of-route-245
One-day designers envisage eco-friendly museum with grey-water, geothermal systems
Ottawa Citizen, March 8, 2010
Tony Spears
"Flow" was the key word in the winning design of a reimagined, ecologically-friendly Canada Science and Technology Museum.
Seven post-secondary students from Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto beat out 49 of their peers to claim victory in the one-day Ottawa Eco-Logical Competition, presented by Carleton University, the Ottawa chapter of the Canada Green Building Council and the museum.
The 56 students, who are studying various related disciplines, were put into seven teams, each tasked with designing a "green" museum for LeBreton Flats. The teams spent Saturday designing, and the winning team was chosen Sunday.
The museum is planning to build a new facility in the not-too-distant future.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/designers+envisage+friendly+museum+with+grey+water+geothermal+systems/2652640/story.html
Remplacement du barrage de sécurité en béton devant l'ambassade des États-Unis
Une «expropriation sans dédommagement» selon Cullen
Le Droit, le 8 mars 2010
Dominique La Haye
Un conseiller municipal d'Ottawa estime que le projet de remplacer le barrage de sécurité en béton protégeant l'ambassade des États-Unis par des bornes de protection plus esthétiques représente une «expropriation sans dédommagement ».
Le conseiller Alex Cullen, aussi candidat à la mairie aux élections municipales d'octobre prochain, fait valoir que le conseil municipal avait approuvé de façon temporaire l'installation des barrages sur l'avenue Sussex en mai 2002. Ceux-ci devaient être enlevés rapidement, soutient l'élu.
« Ce qui est proposé maintenant est un changement permanent sur Sussex et Mackenzie en éliminant une voie de circulation et en remplaçant les barrières par des bornes, dit-il. Il s'agit d'une expropriation sans dédommagement. »
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/201003/08/01-4258649-une-expropriation-sans-dedommagement-selon-cullen.php
Ambassade des États-Unis: fini le barrage de béton
Le Droit, le 7 mars 2010
Catherine Lamontagne
Près de dix ans après son installation, le barrage de sécurité en béton protégeant l'ambassade des États-Unis sur la promenade Sussex sera remplacé par des bornes de protection plus esthétiques d'ici 13 mois.
Le ministre des Transports et de l'Infrastructure du Canada, John Baird, en a fait l'annonce, samedi, en compagnie du nouvel ambassadeur des États-Unis au Canada, David Jacobson.
« Si le Canada a une rue principale, il s'agit certainement de la promenade Sussex. Il est important pour les touristes, mais surtout pour les résidants locaux que cette rue soit un synonyme de fierté », a indiqué le ministre Baird.
L'investissement, d'une valeur de 3 125 000 $, comprend également l'aménagement d'une piste cyclable, sur le côté est de la voie, de la rue George jusqu'à la rue St-Patrick. Le gouvernement du Canada, l'ambassade des États-Unis et la Ville d'Ottawa se partageront le coût des travaux.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/201003/07/01-4258252-ambassade-des-etats-unis-fini-le-barrage-de-beton.php
Ecology Ottawa Prepares for Election
CFRA, March 5, 2010
Josh Pringle
Ecology Ottawa wants to set the bar on environment for candidates for Mayor and Councillor in the October 25th municipal election.
The group says it is mobilizing residents in all wards to challenge candidates to take a stand on key environmental challenges facing the city.
Chair Graham Saul says "those who want to represent us at City Hall need to show that they understand, care about, and are prepared to take action on pressing environmental issues."
Ecology Ottawa is also preparing a questionnaire for all candidates, which will ask them to take positions on key environmental issues like air and water pollution, threatened biodiversity, and waste.
http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=71692
La Ville d'Ottawa attend toujours la réponse du fédéral
La patience est de mise pour le train léger
Le Droit, le 5 mars 2010
Dominique La Haye
À la lumière du budget fédéral dévoilé jeudi, la Ville d'Ottawa devra patienter encore avant de savoir si elle aura droit à une subvention de 700 millions $ pour réaliser son projet de train léger.
Le budget du ministre des Finances, Jim Flaherty, ne fait aucunement mention du projet totalisant 2,1 milliards $ et qui vise à construire un corridor pour train léger des stations Blair à Pré Tunney, incluant un tunnel au centre-ville.
« On devient impatient, car on a déjà mis de l'argent de côté en 2010 pour aller de l'avant avec notre projet, alors on aimerait qu'ils fassent une annonce à leur tour », indique le conseiller municipal Georges Bédard, membre du comité de transport en commun de la Ville.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/201003/05/01-4257959-la-patience-est-de-mise-pour-le-train-leger.php
Residents demand changes to King Edward Avenue
CTV Ottawa, March 5, 2010
Residents who live near one of Ottawa's busiest and most dangerous streets are demanding the city make changes to King Edward Avenue to make the area safer.
A forum was held Thursday night to gather feedback on what kind of changes residents would like the city to make to a section of the road between Rideau Street and Sussex Drive. Among the proposed changes are reducing the number of lanes on the busy thoroughfare.
The street is a critical artery for traffic in downtown Ottawa, linking Ontario to Quebec. It's also part of the route used by many transport trucks that are regularly heard rumbling through the city's core.
Over the years, King Edward Avenue has been the site of numerous fatal and serious collisions, causing concern for residents living in the area.
Feedback from the forum will be presented to the city's transportation committee in May.
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100305/OTT_King_Edward_100305/20100305/?hub=OttawaHome
Students get with the concept of green design
Contest offers up science and tech museum as test subject for innovation, sustainability
Ottawa Citizen, March 5, 2010
Maria Cook
Anita Song, a fourth-year architecture student at Carleton University, has taken to heart the words of one her teachers.
"Our professor believes we are the solution for saving nature, for saving our earth. It may sound funny, but I also believe that," said Song. The 24-year-old is one of 56 post-secondary students taking part in a three-day competition to develop a conceptual design for a green museum.
The first Ottawa Eco-Logical Competition takes place at Carleton University today through Sunday.
Students in engineering, architecture, urban planning and interior design will be placed on one of seven integrated teams to compete for $7,000 in cash and prizes.
They are from Carleton, the University of Ottawa, Algonquin College, La Cité Collégiale, Ryerson University, McGill University and Concordia University.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Students+with+concept+green+design/2642904/story.html
Coup de pouce important pour l'industrie agroalimentaire de l'Outaouais
Les produits locaux bientôt identifiés
Le Droit, le 4 mars 2010
Mathieu Bélanger
Les consommateurs de l'Outaouais pourront d'ici quelques semaines identifier facilement et en un seul clin d'oeil les produits régionaux au moment de choisir ce qu'ils mettent dans leur panier d'épicerie.
Plus souvent qu'autrement noyés dans une mer de produits provenant de partout dans le monde, les viandes, les fromages et les légumes de l'Outaouais passent la plupart du temps complètement inaperçus dans les supermarchés de la région. Cette époque sera bientôt révolue, a appris LeDroit. Des étiquettes de couleurs et de formes distinctes seront installées sur les tablettes de plusieurs épiceries pour indiquer clairement aux consommateurs qu'ils sont en présence d'un produit provenant de la région.
L'importante campagne de visibilité organisée par la Table de concertation en agroalimentaire de l'Outaouais, en collaboration avec l'Association des détaillants autonomes (ADA), doit voir le jour d'ici la fin du mois d'avril, confirme Vincent Philibert, président de la table de concertation. « Il y a un intérêt croissant pour les produits de la région, explique-t-il. Les consommateurs recherchent de plus en plus des produits frais provenant de leur région et les supermarchés en sont conscients. Cette campagne permettra à la fois aux détaillants de démontrer leur appui aux producteurs locaux et à ces mêmes producteurs de différencier leurs produits des autres sur le marché et ainsi se faire connaître du public. »
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/economie/201003/04/01-4257543-les-produits-locaux-bientot-identifies.php
Species protected, but not their habitat
Plight of endangered turtle, ginseng in path of Terry Fox Drive extension highlights oversight
Ottawa Citizen, March 4, 2010, page C1
Kate Jaimet
Endangered species in the way of the extension of Terry Fox Drive in Kanata are protected by provincial law, but the habitat they need isn't -- at the construction site or anywhere else in Ontario -- according to the area supervisor for the ministry responsible for protecting them.
Rick Watchorn, the area supervisor for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Kemptville, said as long as city workers or contractors do not directly kill or harm protected butternut trees, ginseng plants, or Blanding's turtles, the city can begin work on the road even without the province's approval.
The part of the law ensuring habitat protection won't come into effect until regulations for each individual species are written, which could be as late as 2013.
"In this instance, Blanding's turtle falls under the same category as butternut and ginseng, in that they have species protection, but not habitat protection," Watchorn said.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Species+protected+their+habitat/2639167/story.html
Gatineau mayor vows 'abusive' tree cutting won't reoccur
Area cleared for snowshoe trail
Ottawa Citizen, March 4, 2010, page C2
Dave Rogers
Gatineau Mayor Marc Bureau says the city mistakenly allowed the cutting of a wide swath of trees in Parc Lac Beauchamp to create a snowshoe trail and will make sure that similar "abusive" tree cutting does not happen again.
Ecologist Ian Huggett said a logging crew cut 30 per cent of the urban forest in the park at Maloney and Lorrain boulevards.
Huggett complained to the city's ombudsman in March 2009 that two Gatineau employees had allowed a three-person logging crew from the Montebello area to cut trees unnecessarily in a swath up to 15 metres wide on both sides of the trail.
The complaint said Bureau and city manager Robert Weemaes ordered a four-metre-wide trail, but the park manager allowed cutting to continue. Huggett said the city did not pay the loggers but allowed them to keep the money they received from selling the wood.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Gatineau+mayor+vows+abusive+tree+cutting+reoccur/2639177/story.html
Sécurité nucléaire
Les CANDU présentent un risque
Radio-Canada, le 4 mars 2010
Le Devoir a publié jeudi les conclusions d'un rapport secret de la Commission canadienne de sécurité nucléaire (CCSN) dans lequel l'organisme estime que les réacteurs de type CANDU doivent changer de combustible.
Selon le document, ces réacteurs risquent d'être victimes d'emballement similaire à celui qui a détruit Tchernobyl en 1986.
La CCSN estime qu'un arrêt brusque provoqué par un accident ou un acte terroriste pourrait provoquer un emballement des réacteurs, dont les dommages seraient d'une gravité exceptionnelle.
À la lumière de ces conclusions, la CCSN recommande aux sociétés détentrices de CANDU de changer le combustible. L'organisme fédéral préconise la substitution du combustible « naturel » par l'uranium légèrement enrichi.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/National/2010/03/04/002-CANDU-risque-CCSN.shtml
Ontario not considering a coyote cull following string of 'rare' attacks on dogs
Canadian Press, March 4, 2010
Ontario has no plans to cull coyotes after a series of attacks on dogs.
Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey says there's no evidence that coyotes are posing any risk to people or that incidents involving pets are on the rise.
She says the case of a small dog snatched Monday while on a walk in the Rouge River ravine just east of Toronto is an isolated and rare incident.
Jeffrey says she understands it's upsetting to lose a pet, but adds that several incidents around Toronto and Ottawa are not enough to justify a cull.
It isn't unusual for coyotes to go into neighbourhoods toward the end of a season when there's less game for them to catch in conservation areas, Jeffrey says, especially as neighbourhoods infringe on their territory.
http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/canada/article/468139
Transit route supporters go unheard
Committee decides against listening to presentations in favour of Route 245
Metro Ottawa, March 2, 2010
Steve Collins
Ottawa's transit committee yesterday refused to hear from residents trying to stop cuts to OC Transpo's Route 245.
During budget deliberations, council decided to eliminate service south of Manotick next month because of low ridership. The cut is expected to save $25,700.
The transit committee voted against making an exception to procedural rules and hearing the petitioners.
Coun. Jacques Legendre, who was among the nays, said that while 170 people had signed a petition, as few as four people actually ride the bus.
http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/466248--transit-route-supporters-go-unheard
Nouvelle augmentation des tarifs aux usagers de 7,5 % depuis hier
Les années se suivent et se ressemblent chez OC Transpo
Le Droit, le 1 mars 2010
Dominique La Haye
Pour une troisième année d'affilée, OC Transpo a haussé ses tarifs, hier, qui ont grimpé en tout de 22,5 % depuis 2008.
Depuis hier, les usagers d'OC Transpo doivent payer 7,5 % de plus en moyenne pour se déplacer en autobus ou en train.
Le conseil municipal a approuvé cette hausse durant l'adoption du budget 2010 en janvier dernier.
Le prix d'un voyage en autobus payé en argent comptant est ainsi passé de 3 $ à 3,25 $, alors que le prix des billets d'autobus a grimpé de 2,30 $ à 2,50 $.
Les résidents qui empruntent le O-Train doivent maintenant payer 2,75 $ le billet, plutôt que de 2,50 $ comme c'était le cas avant la hausse tarifaire.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/201003/01/01-4256494-les-annees-se-suivent-et-se-ressemblent-chez-oc-transpo.php
Tree clearing begins along Terry Fox
Endangered flora being fenced off to await removal
Ottawa Citizen, March 1, 2010
Kate Jaimet
Work began Monday on the controversial extension of Terry Fox Drive in Kanata. Crews began clearing trees and underbrush in a one-kilometre stretch between Flamborough Way and Second Line Road after the federal government gave its approval to the first part of the proposed roadway last week.
Although endangered butternut trees and ginseng plants grow in the road's right-of-way, they are being fenced off until the city signs an agreement with the province allowing them to be removed, said Bruce Mason, the city government's manager of design and construction for projects funded by the federal and provincial economic-stimulus programs.
He said both sides of the road will also be fenced off to prevent endangered Blanding's turtles from wandering on to the road and being killed. Culverts to allow the turtles to cross beneath the roadway are also planned.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Tree+clearing+begins+along+Terry+Drive/2629140/story.html
OC Transpo
Hausse des tarifs
Radio-Canada, le 1 mars 2010
Utiliser le transport en commun coûte plus cher depuis lundi. Tels qu'adoptés dans le budget 2010 de la Ville d'Ottawa, les tarifs d'OC Transpo subissent une augmentation moyenne de 7,5 %.
Ainsi, la carte mensuelle régulière pour adulte coûte désormais 91,50 $, soit une hausse de presque 7 $. Pour les étudiants, le laissez-passer mensuel augmente pour sa part de 8 $ pour un coût total de 73,25 $.
Le coût d'un seul billet se vend maintenant 3,25 $ au lieu de 3 $.
La hausse des tarifs permettra de couvrir l'augmentation du prix de l'essence, l'achat d'équipement et la hausse des salaires des employés d'OC Transpo.
Il s'agit de la troisième hausse annuelle d'affilée.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2010/03/01/003-oc-transpo-hausse-tarif.shtml
Residents fight to save rural bus route
Metro Ottawa, March 1, 2010
Tim Wieclawski
Transit users in rural south Ottawa are fighting to keep their bus service after city council decided to axe it in a spur-of-the-moment budget decision.
Today, the transit committee discusses a motion to end Route 245 south of Manotick as of April, in order to save OC Transpo $25,700 in 2010.
Rideau-Goulbourn Ward Coun. Glenn Brooks put the motion forward during January's budget deliberations.
According to OC Transpo staff, the southern section of Route 245 is getting 10 to 12 customer trips each day in February. At that ridership level, for every dollar OC Transpo spends to maintain the route, it collects nine cents in return.
http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/465347--residents-fight-to-save-rural-bus-route
The fight for Route 245
Even their own councillor says the route should be cancelled. But these riders, who live south of Manotick, are making their voices heard, Joanne Chianello reports.
Ottawa Citizen, March 1, 2010, page D3
Joanne Chianello
Dorothy LaPlante has lived in Kars for more than a decade. But Tuesday, she's meeting with a real estate agent to put her home up for sale. Almost every day for the past four years, the 60-year-old has been taking the bus to her job as a floral designer for an Ottawa funeral home.
"The bus strike almost killed me," she says. But the proposed cuts to the OC Transpo Route 245 bus service south of Manotick in April "is just unbelievable. I can't take it anymore."
John Cree lives in North Gower and has used Route 245 to get to his government job since OC Transpo was first available in his area, about eight years ago. He has a medical condition that does not allow him to drive.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/fight+Route/2627136/story.html
Fare hike unpopular with commuters
Ottawa Sun, March 1, 2010
Justin Sadler
Need to make it across town? Well, $3 just won't cut it any more.
Not since OC Transpo increased fares Monday, much to the dismay of many morning commuters.
A regular adult monthly pass is $91.50, up from $84.75, and a student monthly pass now costs $73.25, an $8 increase. Seniors will also be paying extra with passes rising to $36 from $31.75.
And hang onto your quarters because the regular adult cash fare will cost you $3.25.
Ottawa student Mark Horsman, who avoided the rate hike when he bought his annual student pass, said higher transit fares are a necessary evil if the city is expected to continue improving services and move forward with light rail.
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/03/01/13072391.html
17M litres of sewage spills into Ottawa R.
Ottawa Sun, March 1, 2010
Jon Willing
Three large overflows and one smaller incident combined to dump more than 17 million litres of untreated sewage and wastewater into the Ottawa River last week.
Ottawa environmental services general manager Dixon Weir informed city councillors on Monday that 5.5-million litres of wastewater spilled into the river on Thursday and 9.8-million litres more overflowed into the river Friday.
The rain and snow melt forced the combined sewer overflows, Weir wrote to councillors.
There was also a combined sewer overflow of 2.1 million litres on Wednesday.
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/03/01/13069906.html
La capitale veut mettre en place une politique d'accès libre à ses données
La Ville d'Ottawa compte devenir plus transparente
Le Droit, le 1 mars 2010
Dominique La Haye
À l'instar d'autres grandes villes canadiennes et américaines, la Ville d'Ottawa veut devenir plus transparente en rendant ses données « libres et accessibles » aux résidents.
En adoptant une pratique « d'accès libre aux données » ou Open data en anglais, la Ville rendrait ses informations accessibles au public, c'est-à-dire sans restriction de droit d'auteur, brevet ou autre mécanisme de contrôle comme c'est actuellement le cas.
Le personnel de la Ville a présenté un rapport sur la question, hier, au sous-comité municipal de la technologie de l'information, suggérant d'imiter d'autres municipalités dont Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Washington D.C., San Francisco et New York qui ont déjà mis en place une politique d'accès libre aux données.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/201003/01/01-4256496-la-ville-dottawa-compte-devenir-plus-transparente.php
City, province, working on Transitway deal
Ottawa Sun, March 1, 2010
Jon Willing
The city is hammering out a deal with the province to use land along Hwy. 417 to build a Transitway extension in the west end.
The 12-acre parcel of land between Pinecrest Rd. and Holly Acres Rd. is in provincial hands and the city needs it for the preferred path of the extension. The two sides have been at odds over how much the land is worth, with the province asking about $4 million. The city thinks it's only worth $2.6 million.
The city and the province haven't budged on their individual assessments since August 2007.
An enhanced Transitway would improve traffic flow on the highway and the city is hoping that fact will help establish a "corridor sharing" agreement with the province.
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/02/28/13059256.html
