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November 2007
Membership in nuclear group sparks fear of waste dumping in Canada
CBC News, November 30, 2007
The Canadian government has announced it will join an international nuclear club in a partnership critics say could lead to more radioactive waste being dumped here.
The U.S.-led Global Nuclear Energy Partnership proposes the expansion of nuclear energy worldwide through the use of an unproven breed of reactors that burn nuclear waste — a practice effectively banned in Canada and the United States since the 1970s because of security reasons.
The group also suggests spent nuclear fuel should be returned to the country of origin for disposal.
As the world's largest uranium exporter, Canada would be responsible for a sizeable amount of radioactive waste if the proposal was adopted.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/11/30/cnd-nuclear.html
Les gestes individuels qui comptent pour le climat
Agence France-Presse, le 30 novembre 2007
Emmanuel Angleys
Des produits du terroir plutôt que des fruits exotiques, des déplacements en vélo ou en train plutôt qu'en voiture, des systèmes pour «compenser» sa pollution: chacun peut, par ses choix de consommation, limiter ses impacts sur le climat de la planète.
«Nos comportements quotidiens sont responsables de l'émission de 50% des gaz à effet de serre», indique l'Agence de l'environnement et de la maîtrise de l'énergie.
Le transport à lui seul représente plus du quart des émissions de CO2.
Or, la «voiture propre» n'existe pas, même si les constructeurs ont fait des efforts pour réduire le taux moyen de pollution des véhicules.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071130/CPENVIRONNEMENT/71130031/6112/CPENVIRONNEMENT
Le Canada se joint au Partenariat mondial pour l'énergie nucléaire
Presse Canadienne, le 29 novembre 2007
Le gouvernement conservateur a annoncé jeudi que le Canada se joignait au Partenariat mondial pour l'énergie nucléaire (GNEP), critiqué de verte façon par les écologistes.
Cette annonce, inattendue, fait suite à des mois de propos évasifs et de démentis de la part de ministres du gouvernement et de responsables ministériels, qui refusaient de se prononcer sur l'évaluation faite par le Canada du GNEP, initiative des États-Unis. Et elle pourrait signifier la fin de la relation, fortement subventionnée, entre Ottawa et Energie atomique du Canada limitée (EACL).
«Le Canada est reconnu pour son attachement à la sûreté et la non-prolifération», a affirmé par voie de communiqué le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Maxime Bernier.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071129/CPACTUALITES/71129289/6638/CPENVIRONNEMENT
Exploitation d'uranium
Un moratoire est hors de question
Radio-Canada, le 28 novembre 2007
Le premier ministre de l'Ontario, Dalton McGuinty, refuse de mettre fin à l'exploration d'uranium dans la province.
Une résidente de l'Est de l'Ontario a entamé une grève de la faim il y a plus d'un mois et demi pour forcer le gouvernement à interrompre des travaux près de Lanark, dans l'Est ontarien, où elle habite.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2007/11/28/004-uranium-protestation_n.shtml
Councillors feel 'used' by bridge funding offer
Ottawa Citizen, November 28, 2007
Mohammed Adam
The City of Ottawa won't accept federal funding announced this week for the construction of the Strandherd bridge because it will jeopardize future transit plans, some councillors say.
On Monday, Pierre Poilievre, the MP for Nepean-Carleton, announced $35 million in federal funding for the $105-million bridge.
City council had lobbied hard for the money to come from outside the $200 million set aside for the failed north-south rail project.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=4fbeedc6-5a87-4f21-b3aa-3b52fa9c5374
Councillor Warns of Massive Transit Cuts
CFRA, November 26, 2007
The Chairman of Ottawa's Transit Committee suggests proposed budget cuts are a "huge step backwards" for OC Transpo.
Alex Cullen says the proposed budget cuts to transit services to help deliver a zero per cent property tax increase next year will reduce projected ridership for 2008 by 6.8 million riders.
The 2008 draft budget contains three service reduction options to help achieve a zero per cent property tax increase.
The budget does recommend boosting bus fares by 5%.
http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=1&nid=53715
No more plastic bags for Vancouver shoppers?
CBC News, November 26, 2007
Vancouver councillor Tim Stevenson plans to introduce a motion at Tuesday's council meeting that would ask staff to investigate options to phase out plastic shopping bags.
Paul Richard, the chair of Kwantlen College's Environmental Protection Technology Program, said a move to reusable cloth bags would help the environment without extra cost to the merchants.
"It's very convenient and for the merchants … You have a walking placard for advertising. I don't see a downside here for the merchants," said Richard.
It's a step already taken in San Francisco, London, Paris, and Leaf Rapids, Man.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/11/26/bc-plasticban.html
City Café process brings public views to the table
Ottawa Citizen, November 25, 2007
Janice Kennedy
They came, they saw, they mapped the future.
With the sun just risen and a wintry mist still hanging over canal waters by Lansdowne Park, nearly 200 residents gathered over coffee and checkered tablecloths at the Civic Centre to take part in Ottawa's first-ever "City Café."
Modelled on the "world café" process of collaborative dialogue, the Ottawa version had residents discussing the future of the city as shaped by its official plan, currently being prepared for review.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=0884d9f4-f8e8-4f6b-8ae0-76db5592f379
Repenser la capitale
Radio-Canada, le 25 novembre 2007
Une centaine de citoyens d'Ottawa ont assisté, samedi, à un café-causerie pour partager leurs idées sur l'avenir de la capitale canadienne. La Ville avait identifié neuf enjeux, mais ce sont surtout le logement et le transport en commun qui ont retenu l'attention.
Un résident du quartier Côte-de-Sable, Martin Laplante, a expliqué que le développement doit s'harmoniser avec l'amélioration de la qualité de vie. Il dénonce notamment la construction de grandes tours d'habitation qui ne répondent, selon lui, qu'aux besoins d'une partie de la population.
De son côté, Roger Beauchesne a plaidé pour une amélioration du transport en commun. Ottawa doit investir dans un système de trains légers sur rail pour améliorer la qualité de l'air, d'après lui.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2007/11/25/001-urbanisme-Ottawa.shtml
Top transit bureaucrat backs $2B plan
Ottawa Citizen, November 24, 2007
Jake Rupert
Ottawa's top transit bureaucrat is urging city politicians to back a $2-billion plan for mass transit or risk setting the municipality back for decades.
Nancy Schepers, deputy city manager of transit, planning and the environment, said yesterday that the rationale behind the plan is rock solid and will benefit generations to come.
"This makes perfect sense. It allows for a phasing in of a citywide transit plan that will move people quickly and efficiently for years to come."
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=129f9a18-850d-4fdb-a8bf-3b2d220a293d
Budget transit before shopping
Ottawa Citizen, November 24, 2007
Randall Denley
Just when a reasonable person would have thought that Ottawa city councillors had written the book on incompetence in transit planning, they have come up with a whole new chapter.
In the latest twist in the never-ending story, they have brought the north-south light-rail plan back, sort of, as well as an east-end transit line that doesn't connect to anything while maintaining their fascination with a downtown tunnel. People in the west will get nothing more than a modestly improved transitway, but at least they will have the consolation of knowing the bus expansion is real. The rest of what councillors recommended this week is pure fantasy. Good thing, too, because it's not much of a plan. It reads as if it were written on the back of an envelope, and not a particularly large one.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=b14d779f-cd42-480b-8eef-3d042219c29d
A brief history of urbanophobia
Toronto Star, November 24, 2007
David Olive
This week brought another sample of the disdain leaders in senior levels of government have for cities.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities on Tuesday warned that close to 80 per cent of the nation’s urban infrastructure, including roads and bridges, water and waste-removal systems, and transit are past their service life. The tab for replacing it is a staggering $123 billion.
Yet pleas for help from the weakest level of government are almost always greeted by sophistry or condescension. This time the rebuffs came from the top tier of the federal government.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ideas/article/279405
Solidarité syndicale
Radio-Canada, le 23 novembre 2007
À l'issue d'une première rencontre commune en 50 ans, les syndicats représentant les 16 000 fonctionnaires de la Ville d'Ottawa se sont entendus pour tenter de convaincre le maire Larry O'Brien de la nécessité de préserver les services publics. Les présidents des huit syndicats ont discuté, vendredi, des conséquences prévisibles du gel budgétaire prôné par l'administration O'Brien.
La possibilité que certains services soient privatisés est une grande source d'inquiétude pour André Cornelier, président du Syndicat uni du transport des employés d'OC Transpo. Il estime que la privatisation ne signifie pas automatiquement des économies importantes pour la Ville.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2007/11/23/010-fonctionnaires-syndicats.shtml
Transit advocate slams new Ottawa plan
CBC News, November 23, 2007
A new transit plan put forward by a committee of Ottawa councillors earlier this week would make downtown congestion worse and is unlikely to get federal and provincial funding, says local transit advocate David Jeanes.
"They're going for a major expansion of bus transitways, even though nothing has been done to solve the capacity and congestion issues that buses are causing downtown," he told CBC in an interview aired Friday on Ottawa Morning.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/11/23/ot-transit-071123.html
Editorial: Rail back on track
Ottawa Citizen, November 23, 2007
Ottawans have every reason to be cynical about the latest plan for light rail. Residents have seen designs for heavy rail, light rail, diesel rail, electric rail, and combination diesel-electric rail.
They have seen tunnels, double tunnels, no tunnels, electrical street rail, rail that runs downtown and rail that doesn't run downtown. Ottawans have seen a lot of rail plans.
Unfortunately, we don't see any real, effective rail running in the city, save one clunky heavy-rail north-south line originally built as a demonstration project to see if Ottawans would embrace a light-rail version.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=c37fe111-7c6c-4744-95e9-393058a402ca
Opinion: Premier rejects bridge funding
Ottawa Citizen, November 23, 2007
Ken Gray
Money for the giant Strandherd-Armstrong bridge has struck a major roadblock. In fact, it is because the span is a road bridge that the project is in jeopardy.
The province will not release funding, designated for a city's scrapped light-rail project, to build the bridge.
"The $200 million is for public transit and not for a bridge," said Jane Almeida, Premier Dalton McGuinty's spokeswoman. The province does not see the bridge as a public transit project, she added.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=e1e9f1a0-3c91-42ab-9368-d710988dbf90
Des condos écolos à Vanier
Le Droit, le 23 novembre 2007
Caroline Barrière
Un vélo de ville et un abonnement à Communauto sont les incitatifs écologiques mis de l'avant par un promoteur immobilier qui veut transformer l'ancienne école Cadieux à Vanier en condominiums "verts".
Le projet Le Saint-Denis du ReDevelopment Group redonnera vie à l'édifice datant de 1959 et abandonné depuis quelques années. L'ancien bâtiment sera converti en 49 condominiums, tout en conservant l'architecture originale. La construction pourrait recevoir la certification LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), une référence pour la conception, la construction et l'exploitation des immeubles écologiques à haut rendement énergétique.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071123/CPACTUALITES/711230331/6790/CPDROIT
Gatineau to build 'urban village' as hub
Ottawa Citizen, November 23, 2007
Dave Rogers
Gatineau is planning a new "urban village" that will offer a school, community centre, park, cultural activities and shops within walking distance of residents living in the suburban Le Plateau neighbourhood in the Aylmer and Hull sectors.
"This will be a small city within a city," said Councillor Alain Riel, adding that he believes the project will be unique in Quebec.
"You see the same thing in Europe, where people arrive home and then walk to the store to buy a loaf of bread or some meat for the family."
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=bfe1de29-f7ee-4656-996b-20c978cf7ce7
Ottawa city committee passes new light rail plan
CBC News, November 22, 2007
A new long-term transit plan that includes light rail has been endorsed by an Ottawa city council committee, almost one year after city council cancelled its previous light rail project.
The new plan passed by the joint transportation and transit committee Wednesday includes:
- A north-south light rail line heading toward the city's southeast.
- A rapid transit line along the Cumberland Transitway.
- A downtown transit tunnel.
- Completion of the transitway.
The committee also approved a statement on a proposed environmental assessment for the downtown tunnel.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/11/22/ot-lrt-071122.html
Train léger
Un nouveau projet sur la table
Radio-Canada, le 22 novembre 2007
La Ville d'Ottawa ramène encore le train léger sur la table dans le dossier du transport en commun. Le comité des transports a présenté un nouveau plan, jeudi, qui inclut un prolongement du O-Train dans le sud et l'est de la capitale.
Le nouveau projet ferroviaire prévoit relier Bayview et Riverside Sud, et Cumberland au centre-ville. Ce nouveau plan relance aussi l'idée de construire un tunnel au centre-ville.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2007/11/22/007-train-leger-ottawa_n.shtml
LRT back on track
Ottawa Sun, November 22, 2007
Derek Puddicombe
It's full steam ahead for light rail transit in Ottawa -- again.
After council cancelled the $1-billion, 30-km, north-south LRT late last year, the city's transit and transportation committees agreed yesterday on a vision for the future of public transit that includes light rail. This time, instead of taking a north-south route, LRT would also head east.
"LRT has a heart beat," said Gloucester-South Nepean Coun. Steve Desroches. Desroches was a key supporter of last year's plan, which would have brought the rail line through Riverside South, one the fastest growing communities in the city.
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2007/11/22/4675430-sun.html
Record nuclear thefts raise fears about security failures
Ottawa Citizen, November 22, 2007
A record number of low-level radioactive materials, the kind terrorists could fashion into dirty bombs, have gone missing in Canada this year, raising concerns about the effectiveness of federal controls over nuclear materials.
News of the jump in thefts and lost material coincides with an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting in Europe at which nuclear counter-terrorism specialists were told this week of an almost four-fold increase in nuclear smuggling since 2006, a further indication that al-Qaeda-inspired radicals may be trying to obtain radioactive material for a bomb.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=cdd18a50-cb26-4fb7-91d8-77172d0b3deb&k=69601
Les syndiqués unis contre le maire d'Ottawa
Le Droit, le 22 novembre 2007
Caroline Barrière
Les différents syndicats qui représentent 16 000 employés municipaux à Ottawa veulent unir leur force face au maire Larry O'Brien. Ce dernier souhaite couper 500 postes afin d'économiser 50 millions $ et imposer des compressions budgétaires pour maintenir le gel de l'impôt foncier en 2008.
Sean McKenny, président du Conseil du travail d'Ottawa et du district, a confirmé hier qu'il dirigera une réunion regroupant les sept syndicats représentés à la Ville. "Nous allons nous rencontrer puisque nous discutons rarement entre nous. Nous parlerons du passé et du futur de la Ville. Les syndicats sont inquiets et les résidants le sont tout autant. Nous verrons quels aspects seront abordés par les représentants syndicaux à ce moment-là", a-t-il fait savoir. Il s'agira d'une première rencontre du genre en 50 ans.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071122/CPACTUALITES/711220330/6784/CPDROIT
L'air «très médiocre» du centre-ville d'Ottawa
Le Droit, le 22 novembre 2007
Caroline Barrière
Environ 86 000 personnes sont exposées de façon continue à de l'air de qualité très médiocre au centre-ville d'Ottawa alors qu'une mauvaise qualité de l'air nuit aux 82 000 résidants du quartier Beacon Hill dans l'est de la ville à cause des matières particulaires PM10.
"La qualité de l'air à Ottawa est bonne en général. Ces résultats nous donnent un aperçu en attendant le projet de cartographie de qualité de l'air qui va nous indiquer au cours des prochains mois où se trouvent les plus importantes concentrations en pollution de l'air", explique Birgit Isernhagen, planificatrice environnementale à la Ville d'Ottawa.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071122/CPACTUALITES/711220328/6790/CPDROIT
Kanata's founder weighs in on Greenbelt
Ottawa Citizen, November 22, 2007
Laura Drake
In the hopes of opening "a lively debate" on Ottawa's future growth, the man who founded Kanata belted out an innovative idea of his own last night.
Bill Teron's pitch addressed how the city might be able to develop land inside its existing Greenbelt to accommodate a doubling of Ottawa's population in the next 50 years.
In a talk at the National Gallery, Mr. Teron proposed that the National Capital Commission, which owns the 14,950-hectare crescent of land, should sell off about 6,000 acres of the existing Greenbelt to create a 37-kilometre long "belt inside the belt" for people to live in.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=027b4931-5e31-407b-90aa-67d53f1351cf
Opinion: Think big about Lansdowne
Ottawa Citizen, November 22, 2007
Nan Griffiths
The city's proposal that the competition to redevelop Lansdowne Park be shaped as a "right to development" call is very much removed from the potential that an architectural competition would engender, and has little, if anything to do with a vision of the park as a major public space which could become a jewel in the crown of the nation's capital.
The Glebe Community Association hosted an evening's discussion of desires and possibilities for the future of the park on Monday. It was very well attended with some 19 tables of discussion groups, with universal results coming out in favour of public uses with a restricted and judicious degree of any private residential/commercial development.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=0542b37b-7985-4fcc-8b08-fe301ac4f1d2
More service key to transit use, poll finds
Toronto Star, November 22, 2007
Tess Kalinowski
More direct routes and express service on public transit would significantly reduce the number of cars on Toronto-area roads, according to a poll commissioned by the region's new transportation planning body.
The Ipsos-Reid survey of 1,000 Toronto and Hamilton-area residents will help the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority figure out how to reduce road congestion and emissions. More transit use will be a cornerstone of the GTTA's plan, to be released in the spring.
"The survey showed 50 per cent of drivers really want to take more transit more often and they would if it was more available," said a GTTA spokesperson yesterday.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/278836
Editorial: Boosting bus ridership
Ottawa Citizen, November 21, 2007
The City of Ottawa issued a curious press release this week. It touted the fact that OC Transpo ridership had increased by 5.8 per cent in October compared to a year ago. However, the release said much of this growth could be traced to a 4.5-per-cent boost in service in September. That being the case, exactly how much is transit growing?
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=908910a3-8ecc-40fa-80fa-1bc62147eac6
Sundown on mayor's plan?
City's unions combining forces to fight O'Brien
Ottawa Sun, November 21, 2007
Derek Puddicombe
For the first time in almost 50 years, every union representing city employees will meet this week.
A city source told the Sun the seven unions representing about 16,000 employees are banding together as one voice in response to potential job cuts announced by Mayor Larry O'Brien.
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2007/11/21/4672450-sun.html
Fédération canadienne des municipalités
Des infrastructures au bord de l'effondrement
Radio-Canada, le 20 novembre 2007
La Fédération canadienne des municipalités (FCM) met en garde le gouvernement fédéral contre l'effondrement imminent des infrastructures au pays. Dans une étude rendue publique mardi, l'organisme évalue à 123 milliards de dollars le coût des réparations nécessaires pour éliminer ce qu'il appelle le déficit de l'infrastructure municipale au Canada.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2007/11/20/005-infrastructures-mun_n.shtml
Infrastructure needs $123B to avoid collapse: study
Further delay accelerates decay, says Federation of Canadian Municipalities
CBC News, November 20, 2007
Canada's three levels of government must spend $123 billion to fix the country's creaking infrastructure, says a report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
"If serious action isn't taken now, our infrastructure is headed for collapse," said federation president Gord Steeves at a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/11/20/ot-infrastructure-071120.html
OPG retrofits dams to squeeze out more hydro
CBC News, November 20, 2007
Ontario Power Generation hopes to generate more hydroelectric power in the province by upgrading its existing dams with new technology and building massive new ones in the province's north as Ontario prepares to phase out its coal-fired power plants.
In the past few years, the company has been going through its inventory of 64 hydroelectric plants and upgrading them with improved technology, which will cost about $72 million by 2012, spokesman John Earl said Tuesday.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/11/20/ot-dams-hydro-071120.html
Audio files from CBC News.
Vanier's toxic ground
CBC News, November 19, 2007
Ottawa Morning - RealAudio
http://cbc.ca/ottawa/media/audio/ottawamorning/20071119iretN19.ram
Bedard: Vanier's toxic soil; a problem not easily solved
CBC News, November 20, 2007
Ottawa Morning - RealAudio
http://cbc.ca/ottawa/media/audio/ottawamorning/20071120bedardN20.ram
For information about plug-ins/media players needed to listen to CBC Radio, visit:
http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/audio/.
The green middle
Ottawa Citizen, November 20, 2007
Kate Heartfield
At the beginning of November, I had lunch with David Chernushenko, one of Ottawa's best-known environmentalists. Two weeks later, I was in a meeting with Tom Donnelly, the local car dealer. There were points at which the two conversations took on a surreal similarity.
If there's a tipping point for environmentalism, I'm pretty sure Ottawa just went over the edge.
Mr. Donnelly and Mr. Chernushenko aren't much alike. But they're on the same team, now, or at least they'd like to think so. Everybody wants to wear the green uniforms, and nobody wants to be the kid who's picked last.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=0bfce1d3-ffaf-460b-9acc-29dcfc2da516
Residents back green Lansdowne Park plan
Ottawa Citizen, November 20, 2007
Green space got a thumbs-up and big-box stores a thumbs-down last night from the 150 people who showed up at a public meeting to discuss Lansdowne Park's future, according to Neil Brommell of the Glebe Community Association. The association hosted the meeting in order to start formulating a "Glebe-specific" opinion on the future of the park. It's also conducting an online poll at glebeca.ca. So far, more than 1,600 people have responded. Around 90 per cent think it should be redeveloped, with opinion almost evenly split between the park remaining in the public domain or being a mix of private and public.
Few residents laud tax freeze at first budget consultation
Ottawa Citizen, November 16, 2007
Laura Drake
A sparse crowd showed up at Jim Durrell Recreation Centre last night for one of the city's first budget consultations -- and the vast majority of the people who attended were united in their disdain for the service cuts necessary for a zero per cent tax increase.
"I think we've been labouring under the mantra of zero per cent. I have no trouble with a tax increase to support the standard of living we have in Ottawa," said Rick Strong, a River Ward resident.
"We can afford a four-per-cent or five-per-cent (increase) very easily. Extremely easily," he said to a round of applause.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=25f2ed68-caf3-4cf3-ae44-90c46ded23d0
"Ne coupez pas dans les services publics"
Le Droit, le 16 novembre 2007
Justine Mercier
Augmentez nos taxes municipales s'il le faut, mais ne coupez pas dans les services publics. Voilà le message qu'ont livré plusieurs citoyens, hier soir, lors de la consultation publique sur le budget préliminaire de la Ville d'Ottawa organisée pour les quartiers Rideau-Vanier, Rideau-Rockcliffe et Beacon Hill-Cyrville.
Les commentaires des citoyens déplorant d'éventuelles coupures de services se sont multipliés tout au long de la soirée. Lui-même propriétaire d'une entreprise, Ronald Bisson a déclaré qu'il serait insensé de voir la Ville être gérée comme dans le monde des affaires. "Les gens qui viennent à mon entreprise sont des clients, mais moi, quand je vais à la Ville d'Ottawa, je ne suis pas un client, je suis un citoyen, donc je n'ai rien contre des hausses de taxes de trois ou quatre pour cent", a-t-il lancé sous les applaudissements de la salle.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071116/CPACTUALITES/711160340/6784/CPDROIT
De l'inquiétude se fait sentir
Radio-Canada, le 16 novembre 2007
Plusieurs citoyens d'Ottawa sont inquiets devant les possibles compressions budgétaires que compte effectuer le conseil municipal. Plusieurs dizaines de résidents se sont rendus à une consultation publique, jeudi soir, pour faire connaître leurs préoccupations sur la disparition éventuelle de plusieurs services municipaux.
C'est devant une salle comble au complexe Saint-Laurent que les conseillers municipaux Jacques Legendre, Michel Bellemare et Georges Bédard ont discuté du budget 2008.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2007/11/16/002-compressions-inquietudes_n.shtml
Municipal buildings to draw on solar power
Toronto Star, November 16, 2007
Tyler Hamilton
City council is expected to approve an ambitious plan next week that will see up to 20 government buildings around Toronto get their heat from a new kind of energy provider: the solar utility.
Rather than pay the high upfront costs for its own solar energy systems, the city plans to select a company that will install, own and operate the solar thermal equipment on city buildings. In return, the city will sign a long-term contract – lasting 10 years or longer – agreeing to pay a fixed price for the renewable heat the systems produce at a rate that's equal to or less than the existing rate for natural gas.
But unlike natural gas, solar heat produces no emissions and isn't subject to price volatility.
"There's no downside to it," said Bruce Bowes, the city's chief operating officer and a forceful backer of the proposal. "It gives us more stable pricing ... reduces CO2 emissions, and it helps the city appear as one of the better renewable energy capitals in the country."
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/276957
Plan fails to address south-end transit woes
Ottawa Citizen, November 16, 2007
Jake Rupert
South-end councillors are angry that a list of $450 million in short-term transit priorities being recommended by city staff doesn't include anything for their growing communities, and they are gearing up to force the issue next week.
The report recommends completing and extending the city's bus transitway in the eastern and western parts of the city, as well as Barrhaven. It also includes reconfiguring Rideau Street between Sussex Street and King Edward Avenue, creating a transit route along Baseline Road between Woodroffe Avenue and Bank Street, and improving stations across the city.
However, there is nothing to improve transit links to south Gloucester and Riverside South, where the city is directing growth. The area would have been served by the now-defunct north-south light-rail plan.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=0e887ff4-3e01-411d-b80d-86222bac7150
Pas de train léger tant qu'il n'y a pas de tunnel au Centre-ville
Ottawa laisse tomber le projet d'Urbandale
Le Droit, le 16 novembre 2007
Caroline Barrière
La Ville d'Ottawa ferme la porte au projet de 1,1 milliard $ de train léger du promoteur immobilier Urbandale. La municipalité préfère attendre la construction d'un futur tunnel au centre-ville avant de se lancer dans une nouvelle aventure ferroviaire.
En août dernier, Urbandale, propriétaire de plusieurs terrains dans le secteur Riverside Sud, proposait de ressusciter l'ancien projet de train léger Nord-Sud et d'aller de l'avant avec la construction d'un tunnel au centre-ville, se rendant de Bayview à la station Via Rail. La seconde phase du projet prévoyait la construction du corridor Est-Ouest.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071116/CPACTUALITES/711160339/6790/CPDROIT
Invasive weed threatens Ottawa River species
Ottawa Citizen, November 16, 2007
Jessey Bird
An invasive plant species called the water chestnut has recently been identified in a bay of the Ottawa River at Chute-à-Blondeau's Voyageur Provincial Park.
Not to be confused with the popular water chestnut used in Asian cooking, the plant has been filling the waters of the northeastern United States since the late 19th century, and has the potential to suffocate existing species.
In 1997, it was spotted in Quebec in the Rivière du Sud, which is connected to the Richelieu River.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=96f6f87c-81cd-46f7-ad4c-e26bb30874ac
Cuts, cuts, cuts in city budget proposal
Ottawa Sun, November 8, 2007
Derek Puddicombe
The 2008 draft budget is taking a step back in time.
The Sun has obtained a copy of the 'Snapshot of the 2008 draft budget‚' prepared by city bureaucrats which outlines sweeping cuts to city services and program funding in order to hold the line on taxes -- a promise made by Mayor Larry O'Brien. To many city councillors, the document looks like the much-debated 2004 budget all over again.
Shutting down 28 community centres, closing some fire stations, wading and outdoor pools, day care centres, arenas and a skateboard park are just a snapshot of dozens of reductions and closures senior City of Ottawa employees say would be required to prevent a property tax increase.
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/BreakingNews/2007/11/08/4641097.html
Here's the truth: taxes will go up
Ottawa Citizen, November 8, 2007
Randall Denley
Despite all the buildup, Mayor Larry O'Brien's "budget plan" is not much more than useless bluster. The secret in his secret plan was that there was really no plan at all. After suggesting that he could tell the public how to save enough money to freeze taxes for three years, O'Brien yesterday delivered nothing more than high-level platitudes and half-formed ideas that have no short-term value.
The only big-dollar suggestion the mayor had was to cut the city's administration costs by $42 million. That might even be possible, but city manager Kent Kirkpatrick has already promised to provide $100 million in efficiencies over three years.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=b5214b1f-1fc7-45d9-a75d-2e7260558972
Mayor's Hydro proposal sparks debate
Ottawa Citizen, November 8, 2007
Jake Rupert
Mayor Larry O'Brien's suggestion to put Hydro Ottawa on the block should be explored and, if it makes financial sense, the utility should be sold, several councillors said yesterday.
At the same time, however, many also doubt it will make financial sense, and some think the mayor wants a sale to bring an influx of cash into the city's coffers that would allow him to keep political promises.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=f7c0a5d4-67e6-4f8b-bd36-94080ded31d3&k=11453
Privé, sous-traitance et coupes
Le Droit, le 8 novembre 2007
Caroline Barrière
Le maire d'Ottawa Larry O'Brien a dévoilé hier son plan permettant d'économiser des millions de dollars. Mais de son propre aveu, les idées qu'il a émises "ne contiennent rien de spécifique pour geler l'impôt foncier en 2008".
Il suggère plutôt de vendre Hydro Ottawa, dont la valeur comptable est de 282 millions $, de faire davantage appel au secteur privé et à la sous-traitance et de réduire la taille de l'administration municipale pour faire des économies d'ici les trois prochaines années.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071108/CPACTUALITES/711080366/5046/CPDROIT
Cities crumbling as GST cut, mayors say
Municipal leaders vow to continue their fight for equivalent to 1¢ share of federal sales tax
Toronto Star, November 9, 2007
Kerry Gillespie, Sean Gordon, Petti Fong
Canadian families may save $150 a year from the federal government's GST cut, but their cities will still be crumbling down around them, say mayors across Canada.
The mayors had pleaded with Ottawa to give them one cent on the dollar of the GST, instead of cutting the tax to 5 per cent. They say their cities are plagued by inadequate public transit, ancient water and sewer lines, potholed roads and needy neighbourhoods without services.
"Our cities can't succeed without proper investment, and we can only have the funds to invest properly if we have a share of taxes that grow with the economy," said Toronto Mayor David Miller.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/274684
Mississauga special tax aims to pay repair bills
Toronto Star, November 8, 2007
Phinjo Gombu
Mississauga councillors have voted to add an unprecedented 5 per cent surcharge to property taxes next year as the city tries to tackle an infrastructure crisis that could put the famously debt-free municipality in hock within five years.
The levy, to be imposed on top of a proposed 3.9 per cent hike in the city's share of property taxes, is expected to bring in about $12.5 million next year. It could make Mississauga the most heavily taxed city in the GTA. And it still won't be enough.
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/274687
Ontario in line for transit funding from Ottawa
CBC News, November 8, 2007
Ontario is being promised nearly $8 billion in infrastructure funding from Ottawa, but it has to negotiate with the Harper government to get it.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's new Building Canada plan will dedicate $33 billion over seven years for infrastructure projects across the country.
Ontario's share will be about $7.9 billion, and some of it could go to spending on transit, said a spokeswoman for Lawrence Cannon, the federal minister for infrastructure.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/11/08/transit-funding.html
Laval ouvre la porte à l'éolien
La Presse, le 8 novembre 2007
Sara Champagne
La Ville de Laval vient d'ouvrir la porte au marché de l'éolienne sur son territoire agricole. Et le maire Gilles Vaillancourt s'assure du même coup de faire main basse sur un éventuel projet de parc éolien, donc à plus grande échelle, comme ceux développés dans le Bas-du-Fleuve.
Les élus du conseil municipal ont approuvé, lundi soir, un changement de zonage qui sera soumis à des consultations publiques à la fin du mois. En gros, ce nouveau zonage stipule que les producteurs agricoles ont le droit d'installer des éoliennes sur leurs terres, sauf que la hauteur ne doit pas dépasser 12 mètres. Soit environ la hauteur d'un lampadaire.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071108/CPACTUALITES/711080787/6110/CPENVIRONNEMENT01
La CCN ouvre sa porte
Le Droit, le 8 novembre 2007
Justine Mercier
Accusée depuis plusieurs années d'agir en secret derrière des portes closes, la Commission de la capitale nationale (CCN) a présenté, hier après-midi, la toute première séance publique de son conseil d'administration (C.A.).
La rencontre a attiré une vingtaine de personnes, en plus des médias et des employés de la CCN. Mis à part un problème technique ayant provoqué une brève fermeture des micros et écrans, la réunion a satisfait la première dirigeante de l'organisme, Micheline Dubé. "On a eu des pépins techniques, mais on est fier de voir que le C.A. participe autant que quand on faisait ça à huis clos."
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071108/CPACTUALITES/711080372/6790/CPDROIT
Ottawa should sell Hydro, outsource: mayor
Contracting out city services and selling off Hydro Ottawa are two of Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien's ideas for digging the city out of its financial woes.
"There is no magic bullet," O'Brien said Wednesday during a speech at a breakfast meeting at city hall.
"But it will be hundreds and hundreds of small initiatives like I've just identified that will make the difference."
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/11/07/ot-obrien-speech-071107.html
Mayor Eyes Staff Cuts, Privatization
CFRA, November 7, 2007
Josh Pringle
Mayor Larry O'Brien's "secret" plan to find 90 million dollars in savings at Ottawa City Hall will be unveiled in a breakfast speech this morning.
CTV News and the Ottawa Sun report the Mayor will propose privatizing city services and cutting city jobs.
O'Brien tells CTV News the City of Ottawa can save 45 million dollars a year by reducing administration costs from 7.3 per cent to 5 per cent.
The Ottawa Sun says the Mayor's plan would cut 300 employees in the first year of the three-year plan.
http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=1&nid=53286
O'Brien plays smart card
Save millions by outsourcing support services, cutting jobs
Ottawa Sun, November 7, 2007
Mayor Larry O'Brien means business.
After months of talking about how he wants to revolutionize the corporate culture at city hall -- and with much speculation among staff and councillors about how he'll do it -- O'Brien unveiled his ambitious plan this morning.
In his speech, obtained by the Sun, O'Brien says he intends to achieve his goal by initiating some drastic measures that include out-sourcing, selling Ottawa Hydro and cutting staff -- about 300 employees in the first year of his three-year plan.
"We need to be bold," O'Brien said yesterday. "People have been waiting for me to put on my CEO hat."
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2007/11/07/4636711-sun.html
Mayor to announce privatization plans
Ottawa Citizen, November 6, 2007
Laura Drake and Jake Rupert
In his long-awaited speech today on the future of Ottawa's finances, Mayor Larry O'Brien will announce his intentions to save money by privatizing city services.
Mr. O'Brien said he has had several conversations with Sam Katz, the mayor of Winnipeg, about initiatives Mr. Katz has taken to privatize services in his city.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=498bea78-3360-476c-826a-e1caea9b8c96&k=67651
A tale of two cities that work
Toronto Star, November 6, 2007
Christopher Hume
It's not problems that make cities unique, but solutions.
The issues Toronto faces, such as crumbling infrastructure and an inadequate tax, are common to communities around the world. The difference is that some cities manage to deal with them.
Especially, it seems, in Europe. The mayors of Turin and Bordeaux shared the stage at the Royal York Hotel yesterday to talk about how they have revitalized towns that as recently as 10 or 20 years ago had bottomed out.
Speaking at a conference titled The Infrastructure Challenge, both men focused on familiar questions. But it was transportation that emerged as the key to urban regeneration.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/273885
Les Canadiens sont déterminés à réduire les gaz à effet de serre
La Presse, le 6 novembre 2007
Mathieu Perreault
Un sondage international commandé par la BBC montre que les Canadiens sont parmi les plus déterminés à combattre le réchauffement de la planète. Le pays est notamment l'un des rares où une majorité de répondants est en faveur de nouvelles taxes pour réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre.
Seuls huit des 21 pays du sondage, dont le Canada, avaient une majorité de répondants inconditionnellement en faveur des taxes sur le carbone.
Le Canada est ici en cinquième place, derrière la Chine (85%), le Chili et l'Australie (61%) et l'Allemagne (59%).
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071106/CPENVIRONNEMENT/711060901/6110/CPENVIRONNEMENT01
Delete
Les sanctions du prof Rancourt passent en arbitrage
Le Droit, le 6 novembre 2007
Justine Mercier
Le dossier du professeur Denis Rancourt, qui a défrayé les manchettes avec le cours controversé d'activisme qu'il donnait à l'Université d'Ottawa, est désormais entre les mains d'un arbitre qui a commencé, hier, à entendre les arguments des deux parties.
L'Université d'Ottawa reproche notamment au professeur Rancourt d'avoir modifié, à la session d'automne 2005, le contenu et l'approche pédagogique du cours intitulé Physique et environnement. Ayant constaté que le contenu du cours dérivait de ce qui était proposé dans la description officielle, la direction de l'Université avait immédiatement retiré le cours.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071106/CPACTUALITES/711060328/6790/CPDROIT
City planners back holding competition for Lansdowne Park
Ottawa Citizen, November 5, 2007
Jake Rupert
City staff have concluded that holding a competition on how to redevelop Lansdowne Park is the way to go - and their plan appears to have the political backing to become reality.
In a report for the planning committee meeting next week, planners outline a one-year process to get the best ideas they can for the park from top developers, architects, urban designers, and engineers.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=bb5d18a7-4715-4476-980e-cad1ebfb4969&k=59679
Baird has 'grave concerns' about Greenbelt plan
Ottawa Citizen, November 5, 2007
Patrick Dare
Environment Minister John Baird says he has "grave concerns" about a suggestion from new National Capital Commission chairman Russell Mills that some of Ottawa's Greenbelt could be developed.
In an interview with the Citizen's Randall Denley, published Saturday, Mr. Mills said it might be the environmentally right thing to build in parts of the Greenbelt so that not as many people would have to drive long distances to work or home.
Yesterday, Mr. Baird said the NCC's Greenbelt is a great natural feature of the capital and many communities in the region benefit from having the Greenbelt nearby.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=4341352b-4afb-4677-b2d1-4ed4e1f8ac12&k=57456
Mayor Ready to Unveil Budget Plan
CFRA, November 5, 2007
Josh Pringle
Mayor Larry O'Brien's secret plan to deliver a tax freeze to Ottawa residents will be unveiled on Wednesday
O'Brien will use a speech at the Ottawa Business Journal-Mayor's Breakfast series to outline the 90 million dollars in budget savings he has identified at City Hall.
O'Brien commissioned a consultant to examine department and city spending to help develop a strategy for finding efficiencies.
The Mayor met with City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick last week to discuss his plan to find savings.
The 2008 City of Ottawa draft budget will be presented to City Council on November 14th.
http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=1&nid=53229
De plus en plus de déchets radioactifs sont découverts dans les décharges
La Presse Canadienne, le 5 novembre 2007
Jim Bronskill et Sue Bailey
De plus en plus de déchets radioactifs sont découverts dans les sites d'enfouissement canadiens.
La Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire (CCSN) rapporte que l'alarme a été déclenchée à 119 reprises dans les décharges du pays, lors de la dernière année fiscale, un chiffre en forte hausse par rapport aux 13 alertes constatées l'année précédente.
Dans son rapport annuel, la CCSN, organisme gouvernemental indépendant qui réglemente l'utilisation de l'énergie et des matières nucléaires, avance que plus de 75 pour cent de ces alertes ont été déclenchées par de petites quantités de substances radioactives de courte durée de vie et d'origine médicale, «qui posent peu ou pas de risque».
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071105/CPENVIRONNEMENT/71105097/6108/CPENVIRONNEMENT
Radioactive alarm bells keep ringing
Canadian Press, November 5, 2007
Jim Bronskill, Sue Bailey
Alarms are literally ringing at a soaring number of Canadian landfills as radioactive waste is detected in loads of trash.
Alerts went off 119 times in the last fiscal year, up from 13 in 2005-06 and just three the year before, Canada's nuclear regulator reports.
More than 75 per cent of the alarms were triggered by small quantities of short-lived radioactive substances of medical origin "which pose little or no risk," says the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in its annual report. The document offers no details on the remaining cases.
But records obtained by The Canadian Press show several radioactive devices have accidentally wound up in landfill sites or in the hands of scrap metal dealers in the last five years.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/273546
Have buses, will travel
Ex-Transpo boss backs expanded Transitway
Ottawa Sun, November 5, 2007
Derek Puddicombe
The argument for building light rail in Ottawa will take another hit this week.
At Wednesday's transit committee meeting, the man largely credited with being the chief architect of Ottawa's Transitway network will speak about the benefits of expanding the bus rapid transit (BRT) system rather than focusing on light rail transit (LRT).
In his presentation to the committee, John Bonsall -- OC Transpo general manager from 1981 to 1993 and the city's director of transportation planning in the 1970s -- says completing the city's Transitway should take precedence over LRT because it's faster and more cost-effective.
http://ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2007/11/05/4631489-sun.html
Ah, the joy of cycling on the new path
Montreal Gazette, November 4, 2007
Janet Bagnall
All last week, I was able to cycle to work without worrying about the following:
Drivers whose attention is entirely devoted to their cellphone conversation opening their car door right into me.
Cab drivers who feel they and they alone should be on the road, because they're working.
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=f1701fd5-e497-45b5-a190-a90f84626854
Residents tackle social issues review
Ottawa Sun, November 4, 2007
Jon Willing
Britannia-area residents revisited a number of social issues yesterday with a goal of creating another state-of-the-ward report for city council.
Joined by service providers in Bay ward, residents formed small workshops to identify key problems and solutions related to issues concerning seniors, youth, poverty and safety.
The forum came three years after a 12-member task force prepared a report on social issues in the ward. The task force, chaired by Bay Coun. Alex Cullen, made 25 recommendations to the city.
City officials last spring provided an update on the recommendations, which concerned transportation, affordable housing, job-training, child care and policing.
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2007/11/04/4629700-sun.html
Developing Greenbelt too little, too late: observers
Ottawa Citizen, November 4, 2007
Geoff Nixon
The suggestion by the head of the National Capital Commission to develop the city's Greenbelt for environmental reasons appears to carry only limited favour with councillors and green-space advocates.
Russell Mills told the Citizen that the region should consider developing parts of its 20,000-hectare Greenbelt to minimize urban sprawl.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=0ad22a04-1ad3-41ea-a94a-a85ef13a8ec9
A radical idea for the Greenbelt
NCC chair suggests it might be time to develop parts of city's 'sacred cow'
Ottawa Citizen, November 3, 2007
Randall Denley
We should consider developing selected parts of the Greenbelt for environmental reasons, new NCC chairman Russell Mills says. In his first interview about where he wants to take the NCC, Mills said, "There is an awful lot of gasoline being burned in Ottawa every year by people driving through the Greenbelt. It's not environmentally sound.
"There needs to be some long-term assessment of the future of the Greenbelt," he says. It "was a good thing in its day, but it was intended to contain the growth of the city and it didn't."
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=f7fd4aff-c79f-446f-b540-6dfd421e08a4&k=80956
The plastic problem
Why it's a hard habit to break
Ottawa Citizen, November 3, 2007
Elizabeth Grossman
My moment of plastic panic came a few months ago. As a science writer, I've spent the past several years following the steady stream of research into the disturbing effects of the chemicals that leach into our bodies from everyday plastic objects.
I'd managed to stay pretty calm about these unsettling discoveries, but then I went to yet another presentation where renowned scientists described new, peer-reviewed findings on how plastic's ingredients may cause reproductive abnormalities and obesity. Afterward, I huddled with the other journalists present, brimming with uneasy questions: Does this mean we should ditch our refillable plastic water bottles? Is it safe for our kids to chew on plastic toys? Should we try to go completely plastic-free?
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/arts/story.html?id=0fc4a061-cbbc-4d15-95c7-56b1ba29376d
Tips to reduce your exposure
Ottawa Citizen, November 3, 2007
Janet Wilson
Many researchers worry that toxins in at least some plastics can create health and environmental problems. Reducing plastic in your family's life doesn't have to be difficult if you follow these suggestions.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/arts/story.html?id=4de207bb-7e0e-4c92-ac97-d9cbe2f93f63
Is there life without plastic?
Ottawa Citizen, November 3, 2007
Janet Wilson
Plastic is durable, flexible, inexpensive and virtually unbreakable. By those measures, it's a consumer's dream -- and yet it just might be harming us.
We play with it, eat off it and bathe with it. It's all around us -- from food and beverage packaging to kitchen utensils; from children's toys and shampoo bottles to computers and phones.
Concerns about the chemicals found in plastics and the related health risks are on the rise. Equally troubling to some is the environmental impact caused by plastic, including the ubiquitous plastic bag, which pollutes landfill sites and is regularly eaten by marine and land animals, with sometimes fatal consequences.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/arts/story.html?id=4382c55e-f246-4492-9e35-730939a6dc43
Lane change mulled
Taxis might get bus route rights
Ottawa Sun, November 3, 2007
Derek Puddicombe
Ottawa taxis may soon be allowed to use bus-only lanes to get around.
City staff are recommending the city's transportation committee begin debating whether to give the green light to cab drivers who want to get to their destination more quickly by using bus-only lanes.
Cabs are already given permission to use some bus-only designated lanes, but committee members will consider giving cabs access to additional bus-only lanes.
Taxis are currently allowed to use bus-only lanes along Albert and Slater streets from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, but not during peak travel times. Taxis are also allowed to stop in any bus lane to pick up and drop off passengers.
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2007/11/03/4627365-sun.html
Cutting car emissions saves lives: T.O. report
Soaring pollution linked to cancer and asthma and costs city billions, medical officer finds
Toronto Star, November 3, 2007
Donovan Vincent
A new study on the health effects of air pollution from traffic in Toronto says a 30 per cent reduction in vehicle emissions could save nearly 200 lives a year and $1 billion in health costs.
The Toronto Public Health report, to be released Monday, also estimates that "mortality-related'' costs associated with traffic pollution in the city are about $2.2 billion annually.
The report uses a Health Canada computer-based method called the Air Quality Benefits Tool to calculate the "burden of illness'' and economic impact from traffic-related smog.
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/273199
Who's calling the stops?
Ottawa Citizen, November 3, 2007
For OC Transpo, getting on board to remedy human rights violations against its passengers hasn't exactly been a straight run. Jake Rupert reports on the post-ruling ride.
It was a simple complaint: bus drivers weren't calling out stops in accordance with OC Transpo's 20-year-old policy.
The response, however, has been anything but simple.
A tribunal ruled in April that a blind passenger's human rights were violated and now "spies" are riding buses noting which drivers are failing to call out stops.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=52de253c-16a6-4c32-8a4d-d2fbd274cc1f
Des jardins pour tisser des liens
Le Droit, le 2 novembre 2007
Mario Boulianne
Il n'y a rien de plus traditionnel que d'aménager un potager dans sa cour arrière. Cultiver des légumes est une activité pratiquée par des gens de tous âges, de toutes conditions sociales et de toutes communautés culturelles.
Depuis quelques années, l'organisme les Jardins communautaires écologiques de l'Île-de-Hull regroupe des dizaines de jardiniers en herbe qui aménagent leur potager.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071102/CPACTUALITES/711020349/6805/CPDROIT
Fluocompactes: de plus en plus populaires, mais pleines de défauts
La Presse, le 2 novembre 2007
Charles Côté
Mario Sauvageau est un précurseur: il a installé sa première ampoule fluocompacte il y a 20 ans. Même s'il en a plusieurs dans sa maison de Dollard-des-Ormeaux, il continue de leur trouver bien des défauts, surtout avec son regard de spécialiste de l'électronique.
«Je n'en ai installé aucune au rez-de-chaussée, dit-il. Soit que j'ai des gradateurs, soit qu'elles sont trop grosses pour mes luminaires. Et dans tout ce qui est halogène, on ne peut pas les installer.»
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071102/CPENVIRONNEMENT/711020557/6108/CPENVIRONNEMENT
Fluocompactes: Hydro-Québec attend une étude
La Presse, le 2 novembre 2007
Charles Côté
Hydro-Québec a commandé plus tôt cette année une étude qui porte entre autres sur la pollution attribuable à l'envoi au rebut des ampoules fluocompactes, qui contiennent une petite quantité de mercure.
Cette étude est presque terminée. Elle a été faite par des experts du «cycle de vie» à l'École polytechnique. Cette méthode d'analyse permet d'évaluer l'impact environnemental d'un produit de consommation, à partir des matières premières jusqu'à sa disposition finale.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071102/CPENVIRONNEMENT/711020561/6108/CPENVIRONNEMENT
Que faire si une fluocompacte se brise?
La Presse, le 2 novembre 2007
Charles Côté
Selon Ressources naturelles Canada, le rejet de la quantité de mercure contenue dans une ampoule fluocompacte «ne pose habituellement pas de dangers immédiats pour votre santé ou celle de votre famille. Toutefois, il est nécessaire de faire le nettoyage et l'élimination de façon adéquate».
Comment? Voici la somme des conseils en provenance des autorités canadiennes et américaines à ce sujet
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071102/CPENVIRONNEMENT/711020560/6108/CPENVIRONNEMENT
Quatre nouvelles pistes cyclables vers le centre-ville
Le Soleil, le 2 novembre 2007
Éric Moreault
Le 11 octobre, Estelle Pedneault a enfourché son vélo pour se rendre, comme d’habitude, à l’Université Laval. À l’intersection du chemin Sainte-Foy et de l’avenue Myrand, elle s’immobilise au feu de circulation. Quelques secondes plus tard, un camion lui écrabouille le pied et l’expédie à l’hôpital. Cette difficile, et parfois dangereuse, cohabitation entre vélo et auto, Québec s’y attaque en proposant quatre nouvelles pistes cyclables vers le centre-ville qui doubleront son réseau.
Un accident comme celui d’Estelle Pedneault, il en arrive un aux deux jours dans la capitale. « C’est tellement pas évident de trouver un chemin pour traverser le centre-ville », témoigne la jeune femme.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071102/CPSOLEIL/71101234/6585/CPSOLEIL
Transport Canada approves 100% electric car
CBC News, November 2, 2007
Transport Canada confirmed Friday it has authorized a Toronto-based electric carmaker to produce a vehicle for the Canadian market.
The ZENN (zero emissions, no noise) electric car has received the National Safety Mark, a legal label that indicates the vehicle meets Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Toronto-based ZENN Motor Company makes the 100 per cent electric car, which is built in St. Jerome, Que. Roughly the same size as the Mini-Cooper, it would sell for approximately $14,000.
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/11/02/zenn-transportcanada.html
City gets C+ on smog report
Council's fiscal crisis affected grade awarded by Toronto Environmental Alliance
Toronto Star, November 1, 2007
Donovan Vincent
Toronto earned a C+ on the annual Smog Report Card, a grade that would have been higher had the city's fiscal crisis not stalled clean-air initiatives, says the Toronto Environmental Alliance.
The city, which received a C- from the group last year, was on track to get a B or B+ this year, largely on the strength of Mayor David Miller's "Change is in the Air" plan to combat smog and climate change.
The $84 million report, released in June, calls for a 20 per cent reduction in locally generated smog pollutants by 2012, based on 2004 levels. It calls for a variety of measures to reach that target, including incentives for homeowners to make their homes energy-efficient.
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/272567
Interdiction de fumer
Oc Transpo serre la vis
Radio-Canada, le 1er novembre 2007
Oc Transpo sera bientôt plus sévère envers les fumeurs. Le transporteur public lance, jeudi, une campagne de sensibilisation pour rappeler qu'il est interdit de fumer dans l'ensemble des propriétés de la Société de transport à Ottawa.
À compter de janvier 2008, les fumeurs pris en flagrant délit s'exposent à des amendes pouvant aller de 150 $ à 5000 $.
« Seulement 12 % de la population sont des fumeurs dans la ville d'Ottawa [...]. Donc, on s'est dit c'est un moment propice pour faire le dernier pas dans l'éducation du public pour assurer un environnement sain pour tous », soutient le directeur du service des transports en commun d'OC Transpo, Alain Mercier.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2007/11/01/005-octranspo-fumer.shtml
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