October 2009


Talk straight on transit, McGuinty told
Queen's Park expresses surprise over updated costs; no meeting set yet between premier, mayor

Ottawa Citizen, October 30, 2009
Patrick Dare and Lee Greenberg

The head of Ottawa's transit committee says the Ontario government needs to stop sending mixed messages about the city's transit plan and get serious about negotiating a deal to fund it.

"Dalton, we need to talk," said Councillor Alex Cullen Thursday, after being told that the premier's office had not agreed to Mayor Larry O'Brien's request for a meeting on the city's big new transit plan.

The mayor wrote the premier Wednesday afternoon, hours after learning Dalton McGuinty had publicly questioned the affordability of Ottawa's transit plan.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Talk+straight+transit+McGuinty+told/2161086/story.html

Less Garbage Going to Landfills

CFRA, October 29, 2009
Josh Pringle

The City of Ottawa's waste diversion rate improved slightly in the second quarter of this year.

The quarterly report for City Council shows 37.6 per cent of waste collected was recycled in blue and black boxes, yard waste and organics in the April to June period, up from 36.4 per cent in the same period in 2008.

Staff say the increase is due to an increase in Leaf and Yard Waste due to favourable growing conditions, and a decrease in the amount of waste landfill.

The report shows there was a four per cent decrease in the amount of waste sent to landfill in the second quarter, and a 1.3 per cent decrease in the amount of collected recycled material.

http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=68981

Transit plan too costly: McGuinty
City and province need to decide what can be afforded, premier says

Ottawa Citizen, October 29, 2009
Lee Greenberg and Patrick Dare

Ottawa's 20-year, $6.6-billion transit plan was dealt a heavy blow Wednesday when Premier Dalton McGuinty suggested city officials need to come up with a more affordable alternative.

"In fairness, I think costs have escalated rather dramatically in terms of estimates," the Ottawa-born McGuinty told reporters Wednesday at Queen's Park. "I think what we need to do now is to sit down in a very sober-minded way, talk this through and decide what it is we can all afford."

Late last week, city officials announced the estimated cost of the first phase of the plan, which is to include a massive underground tunnel, had jumped 50 per cent, rising to $2.1 billion from the original estimate of $1.4 billion.

They blamed rising costs on expansion of the tunnel in addition to increased management and land acquisition costs.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Transit+plan+costly+McGuinty/2157110/story.html

City aims to reduce even more greenhouse gases after reaching initial goal

Metro Ottawa, October 28, 2009
Tracey Tong

The city set the bar higher for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 in a decision Wednesday.

Council revised the city's corporate greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to 30 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012 after staff reported that the city had surpassed its initial target.

As a corporate entity, the city emitted 75,131 tonnes of greenhouse gas in 2004, down from 98,886 tonnes in 1990. The largest sources of emissions were operating city buildings and running municipal vehicles.

Initiatives that led to the reduction in emissions included using an alternative fuel mix for city vehicles, implementing energy efficiency measures in city buildings and facilities and generating electricity using waste from the city's Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre wastewater treatment plant.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/352977--city-aims-to-reduce-even-more-greenhouse-gases-after-reaching-initial-goal

Councillors seek $16.7M for cycling
Committee says money needed to bring system up to speed with council-approved strategy

Ottawa Citizen, October 28, 2009
Patrick Dare

City officials, concerned that not enough is being done to promote cycling, are recommending $16.7 million be spent in 2010 to upgrade the city's system.

The cycling capital projects being considered include:

- A new corridor for cyclists and pedestrians along the Sawmill Creek stormwater facility between Hunt Club Road and Walkley Road;

- Bike lanes on Heron Road, Prince of Wales Drive, Carling Avenue, Johnston Road, Trim Road, Limebank Road, Fernbank Road and 10th Line Road; and

- Shared pathways for cyclists and pedestrians on Industrial Avenue, the Ottawa River Parkway and Alta Vista Drive.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Councillors+seek+cycling/2152213/story.html

Sprawl takes toll on children: study
Cities' evolution actively discourages walking, biking, says planner

Ottawa Citizen, October 28, 2009
Laura Stone

Kids these days: they rarely walk anywhere. They don't ride bikes, they don't play outside -- not like they used to, anyway. But can we blame them?

Not according to two new studies released by the Vanier Institute of the Family, a charitable Ottawa-based organization.

"The way that cities have evolved has been rather wrong-headed," said Katherine Scott, director of programs at the institute. "Lots of it has to do with urban sprawl."

The studies, released Tuesday, chronicle a generation of Canadian youngsters reared primarily in spread-out communities outside the urban centre, where they can expect to be driven anywhere they want to go, even if it's just to a friend's house a few blocks away. The data is based both on literature and empirical research, conducted over the past year, said Scott.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/Sprawl+takes+toll+children+study/2153181/story.html

VIA plans to spend $40M on new, upgraded stations

Ottawa Citizen, October 28, 2009
Mike de Souza

Canada's national passenger-rail service is spending more than $40 million over the next two years for new railway stations in Smiths Falls and around Montreal, Toronto and Windsor, as well as significant upgrades to existing stations in Vancouver, Saskatoon and other cities across the country, Canwest News Service has learned.

Some of the details were revealed in a VIA Rail employee newsletter released this month that provided a breakdown of new investments announced as part of the Harper government's stimulus plan. They include more than 140 projects at 62 locations to repair, upgrade or build stations for the Crown corporation around Canada.

In some cases, multimillion-dollar projects are under way to rebuild platforms, repair roofs or upgrade heating systems in such locations as Vancouver, Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Halifax. Other cities such as Smiths Falls, Montreal, Windsor and Oshawa are slated to have a brand new station in their regions.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/plans+spend+upgraded+stations/2153189/story.html

City in another procurement quagmire
$17M smart bus project cancelled; lawyer warns lawsuit possible

Ottawa Citizen, October 28, 2009
Patrick Dare

The City of Ottawa has lodged itself in another legal quagmire over procurement with a project that began as $6.7 million, grew to $17 million, and then was cancelled Wednesday.

The fiasco has the mayor questioning the competence of city staff to do procurement and has some councillors wondering why council chose to ignore its own lawyers' advice.

The project to install new technology on the city's fleet of buses started off as a system to call out next stops on buses. The Canadian Transportation Agency has already ordered the city to get the service running and fined it when some drivers were not be calling out stops.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa/Ottawa+council+kills+deal+automated+stop+call/2156048/story.html

Transit tunnel access points revealed

Metro Ottawa, October 27, 2009
Tim Wieclawski

When the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel is finally built, each of the four subterranean stations will be accessible from at least two street level entrances and residents will take three escalators to reach the street from the platform and vice-versa.

A more refined functional design for the first section of the city's transit plan was revealed last night, laying out precisely where the access points to each station would be built, the technology choice for the system and the strategy for moving commuters.

Access points for the Downtown Western station will be at the new central branch of the Ottawa public library, on Albert Street between Bay and Lyon and further east at the site of a current Transitway stop on Albert Street near the Place de Ville Complex.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/351422--transit-tunnel-access-points-revealed

Ottawa vendors don't want farmers market moved

CBC News, October 26, 2009

Farmers and other vendors who sell their wares at the Ottawa Farmers Market say they don't want the busy market to be moved.

Developers behind a proposed redevelopment at Lansdowne Park have promised a permanent home for the market but some of the farmers say the plan isn't good enough.

The Ottawa Farmers Market attracts more than 250,000 visitors a year to Lansdowne Park, and market organizers predict that number will quadruple by 2015.

Coun. Clive Doucet said by that measure alone, the future of the market should figure prominently in any decision about the future of Lansdowne Park, which is on Bank Street on the north side of the Rideau Canal in Ottawa's Glebe neighbourhood.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/10/26/ott-farmers-market.html

Lansdowne Live inquiète les agriculteurs

Le Droit, le 26 octobre
Dominique La Haye

Le projet de revitalisation du parc Lansdowne suscite l'inquiétude chez les agriculteurs locaux qui y vendent leurs produits frais. Ces derniers craignent de se retrouver à l'étroit si la Ville d'Ottawa approuve le partenariat avec le secteur privé le mois prochain.

Les représentants du Marché des fermiers d'Ottawa (Ottawa Farmer's Market) jugent insuffisant l'espace qui leur sera réservé selon le plan proposé par les promoteurs privés.

Le vice-président du Marché des fermiers d'Ottawa, Gérard Rochon, indique que le marché est en pleine expansion depuis qu'il a élu domicile au parc Lansdowne en 2006.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/200910/26/01-915323-lansdowne-live-inquiete-les-agriculteurs.php

Farmers want more Lansdowne space

Ottawa Sun, October 26, 2009
Derek Puddicombe

Ottawa Farmers' Market operators say they can attract more than 1 million visitors by 2015, but not if current development plans go ahead at Lansdowne Park.

Operators eventually want the popular market to stay open year round and say it's possible if they are provided enough room at Lansdowne Park, including being allowed to use the Aberdeen Pavilion for vendors. Participating vendors - who promote local produce - are currently only permitted to set up shop in the parking lot north of the historic Cattle Castle.

However, those plans would come to a screeching halt if much of the property is developed.

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/10/26/11534716.html

Farmers' Market issues warning about Lansdowne Live

CTV Ottawa, October 26, 2009

The Ottawa Farmers' Market is warning the city that its growth could be threatened by plans to redevelop Lansdowne Park.

The president of the Ottawa Farmers' Market says plans to expand the market at Lansdowne Park don't fit in with the Lansdowne Live proposal.

"We would be located where we presently are, in a portion of where we are now -- the Horticulture building and the space between the Horticulture building and the canal. The issue there is that we split the market in three, which tends to divide the market and kill it," said Andy Terauds on Monday.

The Ottawa Farmers' Market wants to become a permanent year-round market. It also plans to add vendors and shift its operation to the Cattle Castle.

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091026/OTT_Farmers_Market_091026/20091026/?hub=OttawaHome

Transit tunnel cost balloons to $2.1B

Ottawa Citizen, October 23, 2009
Patrick Dare

The cost of Ottawa's plan to tunnel through downtown and build a light-rail commuter system is going up sharply.

City officials disclosed Friday that the cost of the tunnel and the rail corridor from Blair Station to Tunney's Pasture has gone to $2.1 billion from the original ball-park estimate of $1.4 billion. The increase is due to design modifications to improve the service and various elements such as property acquisition and just managing the project.

The pricetag for the entire new transit system, to be built by 2029, is pegged at $6.6 billion, rather than the early planning estimate of $5 billion that had been released.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Transit+tunnel+cost+balloons/2136588/story.html

Le gouvernement fédéral approuve la commercialisation de Plasco Energy

Le Droit, le 23 octobre 2009
Dominique La Haye

La compagnie Plasco Energy d'Ottawa qui transforme les déchets en électricité a fait un pas de plus vers sa commercialisation, hier, en recevant l'approbation du gouvernement fédéral.

L'agence gouvernementale Technologies du développement durable Canada (TDDC) a approuvé, hier, le projet pilote de la compagnie.

« Plasco Energy est un excellent exemple d'une entreprise qui encourage une énergie durable pour l'avenir de l'Ontario, tout en favorisant un Canada sain, propre et plus prospère », a déclaré la ministre des Ressources naturelles du Canada, Lisa Raitt.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/200910/23/01-914155-le-gouvernement-federal-approuve-la-commercialisation-de-plasco-energy.php

Ottawa: She ain't pretty, she just looks that way
A picturesque setting hides disregard for the earth, air and water that sustain us

Ottawa Citizen, October 22, 2009
Ken Gray

The following is the text of a speech sponsored by the Community Foundation of Ottawa that Citizen editorial board member Ken Gray gave at the auditorium of the Ottawa Public Library, main branch, on Tuesday.

We newspaper types are a devious lot. Last Christmas, with lots of newspapers to publish and few days to do it during the holiday period, we were busy.

Still, each week my column space relentlessly requires filling. So I needed something fast. This is where the devious part comes in. In the column, I asked Ottawans to write in about what kind of city they wanted. Seemed innocuous enough. No interview, a bit of spelling and I'm done. Furthermore, if five or six readers respond, why they've written my next column. Perfect ... an old newspaper trick.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/columnists/Ottawa+pretty+just+looks+that/2126460/story.html

Light rail system to Ottawa confirmed

Metro Ottawa, October 22, 2009
Tim Wieclawski

Ever since planning for the city's new rapid transit network began, it was assumed it would be a light rail system.

That notion was confirmed yesterday in a report to the city's transit committee that compared light rail and light metro.

Light metro uses bigger trains and requires total segregation from other vehicular traffic like the SkyTrain used in Vancouver.

Light rail trains are smaller and can run on tracks beside roadways, like the CTrain in Calgary.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/346945--light-rail-system-to-ottawa-confirmed

New transit system needed to avoid gridlock
Downtown to face endless traffic jams without plan, staff members warn councillors

Ottawa Citizen, October 22, 2009
Patrick Dare

The city needs to build its new public transit system to avoid facing gridlock downtown beginning in 2017, councillors were told Wednesday.

Nancy Schepers and Alain Mercier, two senior staff members planning the ambitious new system at the city, told city council's transit committee and reporters that the new system -- with its tunnel downtown and electric trains -- is essential, if the city wants to avoid endless traffic jams and wants to have continued growth.

"We will continue to try to extract as much capacity as we can downtown. But there comes a point when you can't do any more," said Schepers, one of two deputy city managers.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/transit+system+needed+avoid+gridlock/2131149/story.html

City staff lay out rail plan

Ottawa Sun, October 21, 2009
Derek Puddicombe

Building a downtown transit tunnel and converting the Transitway to light rail from Blair Rd. to Tunney's Pasture will take about 2,000 buses a day out of the city's core in 10 years, a city staff report says.

The city's transit tactical plan assumes Ottawa's transit system will feature a downtown tunnel and the rapid rail line expected to be running by 2019 will turn the current Bayview bus station into a major transit hub for Ottawa and Gatineau.

The report, tabled at Wednesday's transit committee meeting, says if there was a direct link between Gatineau's Rapidbus system to the Bayview station, the latter would become a key transportation centre.

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/10/21/11481971.html

La Ville d'Ottawa dévoilera les coûts réels du projet demain
Le train léger sur rail privilégié

Le Droit, le 21 octobre 2009

La Ville d'Ottawa privilégie le train léger sur rail plutôt que le métro léger comme technologie pour son projet de train.
Les fonctionnaires municipaux ont émis cette recommandation, hier, au comité de transport en commun d'Ottawa, en se basant sur une étude réalisée pour la Ville par la firme Delcan.

Même si le métro léger peut transporter plus de passagers notamment au centre-ville - un secteur problématique en raison de son achalandage - le train léger sur rail engendre pour sa part des coûts totaux de construction moins élevés.

Les fonctionnaires dévoileront demain les coûts réels du projet qui varient en fonction de la technologie retenue. L'estimation préliminaire de la Ville pour la première phase du projet est de 1,8 milliard $ et comprend les stations Blair à Pré Tunney avec un tunnel au centre-ville.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/200910/21/01-913680-le-train-leger-sur-rail-privilegie.php

Glebe group vows to fight Lansdowne Live plan

Ottawa Citizen, October 21, 2009
Andrew Duffy

Members of the Glebe Community Association demanded Tuesday night that council go back to the drawing board with its plans for Lansdowne Park.

More than 200 people attended a meeting at the Glebe Community Centre to discuss how the neighbourhood group should voice its opposition to the Lansdowne Live plan.

The association's call for a "fair, open and competitive approach" to developing Lansdowne Park was unanimously endorsed. A competitive process would require the city to end its consideration of the Lansdowne Live project and invite new bids to redevelop the park.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Glebe+group+vows+fight+Lansdowne+Live+plan/2125693/story.html

Transit report to confirm light-rail technology
Says overhead wires best route for Ottawa

Ottawa Citizen, October 20, 2009
Patrick Dare

Light-rail electric trains powered by overhead wires are being recommended as the best technology for Ottawa's new public transit system.

The recommendation, to be contained in a report to the transit committee Wednesday, is one of several important pieces of information to be released over the next few days on the ambitious transit plan.

Council and its planners have for years wanted to use light-rail technology and this is to be confirmed Wednesday, a senior city official said. Light rail with overhead wires means Ottawa would not have to ensure that the whole system is grade-separated.

Therefore, future extensions of the rail corridor into outlying communities would allow the rail cars to run at road level, if necessary.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Transit+report+confirm+light+rail+technology/2125145/story.html

City staff to recommend LRT system
Light rail a better system for city's growth, report say

Ottawa Sun, October 20, 2009
Derek Puddicombe

City staff are set to recommend light-rail transit technology at Wednesday's transit committee meeting.

The Sun has learned that staff will recommend moving ahead with LRT powered by overhead wires as the preferred technology for the city's future rapid transit system.

The staff report says LRT is the best option based on the future design of neighbourhoods and the rapid transit system.

Despite staff's recommendation, council will also have the option to choose an electric heavy rail transit system (HRT). A senior city staff source told the Sun there has been some internal conflict between the city's Transit Services branch and transit planning staff regarding adopting LRT or HRT.

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/10/20/11463981.html

Committee talks Gatineau Park bill
Minister sees end of expropriation; critics fear bill too soft to help

Ottawa Citizen, October 20, 2009
Dave Rogers

The expropriation powers of the National Capital Commission should be repealed

to protect private property rights within Gatineau Park, federal Transport Minister John Baird told a House of Commons committee meeting Monday, while an advocate argued that the land must be given legal federal status, otherwise it is really just a park in name only.

Baird, who introduced a bill to protect the boundaries and natural environment of Gatineau Park, said the government wants to guard the rights of private property owners in the park.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Committee+talks+Gatineau+Park+bill/2122295/story.html

Ottawa aura bientôt sa première garderie écolo

Le Droit, le 19 octobre 2009
Dominique La Haye

La toute première garderie écologique à voir le jour à Ottawa et une des rares au pays, ouvrira ses portes aux enfants à compter du printemps prochain.

La Ville a procédé, hier, à l'inauguration officielle des travaux de construction du Centre de la petite enfance Huron, situé sur la promenade Capilano, près du chemin Merivale.

La garderie sera l'une des premières au Canada à obtenir la certification LEED de niveau argent. Pour être conforme aux normes LEED, un bâtiment doit avoir été construit au moyen de techniques et de matériaux durables.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/200910/19/01-912858-ottawa-aura-bientot-sa-premiere-garderie-ecolo.php

Waste Reduction Week
Reducing consumerism is among the best things you can do

Ottawa Sun, October 18, 2009
Suzanne Elston

From Oct. 19 to 25, individuals, schools, municipalities and businesses from across Canada will join together to celebrate Waste Reduction Week.

This year's theme -- Too Good to Waste -- is designed to raise awareness about the need to reduce consumption and choose more environmentally responsible products and services.

Reducing our waste makes good economic sense, too. Less garbage means lower transportation costs, disposal fees and the ongoing expense of developing new landfills. It also saves valuable resources and cuts down on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The 3Rs of waste management are Reduce first, then Reuse and finally Recycle. Despite this, most of our efforts have been focusing on recycling, because it doesn't require us to change our consuming habits. There are more effective ways to truly deal with the mounting problem of waste, though, according to the Waste Reduction Week handbook.

http://www.ottawasun.com/life/greenplanet/2009/10/18/11439721-sun.html

City wants pedestrian bridge to empty stadium

Ottawa Sun, October 16, 2009
Derek Puddicombe

The city has plans to build a pedestrian bridge to connect the Ottawa baseball stadium to the transit stop at the VIA train station.

The bridge would allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross the Queensway at the baseball stadium and connect to the OC Transpo station.

"This project involves developing a multi-use pathway to more directly and safely connect the Overbrook community to a rapid transit station," says a report expected to be tabled at next week's transit committee meeting. "Not only will the pathway improve access to an intermodal transit facility, but it will also improve access to the existing trail and cycling routes on city lands adjacent to the VIA Rail station and the Coventry Rd. baseball stadium."

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/10/16/11429036.html

Millions of litres of sewage spill into river

Ottawa Sun, October 16, 2009
Derek Puddicombe

Four days of rain over the last week or so sent about 129 million litres of sewage and untreated storm water into the Ottawa River.

That brings this year's total to 1.289 billion litres, which is more than three times the amount that spills into the river during an average year.

On Oct. 7, 46 million litres of sewage and untreated storm water flowed into the river. About 78 million litres spilled into the river Oct. 9-10, and another 5 million litres overflowed into the river on Oct. 14.

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/10/16/11428681.html

Lansdowne approval could face delay

CBC News, October 16, 2009

A plan to build stores and condos at Lansdowne Park may not go to city council for a final vote until March, instead of November as scheduled.

Coun. Diane Deans told CBC News on Friday that she wants the project delayed, as she believes vital information is missing.

Deans said the last straw was when she learned earlier this week that a plan to build a new space for Ottawa trade shows near the airport might not go ahead.

Many trade shows are currently housed at Lansdowne Park, but would lose that venue under the proposed Lansdowne Partnership Plan brought forward by the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/10/16/ottawa-lansdowne-delay.html

New centre for sustainable energy

The Charlatan, October 16, 2009
Jessica Chin

Only a day after Carleton received a D grade in the climate change and energy category of the green report card, the university announced the creation of a new centre to research sustainable energy technology.

Robin Sinha, the centre's new executive director, said the Carleton Sustainable Energy Research Centre (CSERC) will emphasize various activities in energy research around Carleton, with four main areas of focus.

The first aim of CSERC is to look at sustainable energy efforts, and how Carleton as a university can do more to reduce energy consumption within the community.

http://www.charlatan.ca/content/new-centre-sustainable-energy

No green light for graduate green lounge

The Charlatan, October 16, 2009
Amanda Mrezar

An ambitious new project to renovate the graduate students' lounge using environmentally friendly products and creating a garden on the roof of the Unicentre has met resistance from Carleton's administration.

"We need to lead by example," said Austin Miller, vice-president (external) of Carleton's Graduate Students' Association (GSA). "The renovation would be a great example of how you don't have to take a cut in a standard of living to be green."

The plan included bamboo flooring, recycled timber for a new computer station and energy efficient computers, which rely on solar energy to run, Miller said. The lounge would be restructured, since the kitchenette is currently not wheelchair accessible. A green roof would also be added to the Unicentre, with a garden able to grow a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs.

http://www.charlatan.ca/content/no-green-light-graduate-green-lounge

Greener grade for CU

The Charlatan, October 16, 2009
Peter McCartney

Carleton received a B- overall on the College Sustainability Report Card released Oct. 7, an improvement from the D- the university received last year.

A centerpiece of Carleton's new sustainability efforts was its hiring of a sustainability officer in April 2009. Murdo Murchison was tasked with creating "a strategy on environmental issues, energy, waste and transportation management, campus planning and renovation projects that will incorporate community involvement," Carleton's website said.

Partly due to Murchison's appointment, the school received an A in the administration category of the report. Another initiative is the "Green Team," set to launch in the next month. It is a kit mainly for faculty and staff to give environmental makeovers to their offices, Murchison said.

http://www.charlatan.ca/content/greener-grade-cu-0

Algonquin trades for the future
Landmark centre aims to cut into skills shortages

Ottawa Citizen, October 16, 2009
Joanne Laucius

When Algonquin College's landmark $77-million Centre for Construction Excellence opens in two years, it will have a grass-covered roof bigger than a football field, a five-storey indoor "biowall" covered with plants, and toilets that flush with storm water.

More important, the centre is expected to add 600 spaces to the 2,500 existing Algonquin spaces for students in the skilled trades and construction, taking a bite out of a skills shortage that plagues Canada's building industry.

The Construction Sector Council has estimated that 56,300 new construction workers will be needed to replace retiring workers in Ontario just to sustain the workforce at its 2006 level. Another 17,600 will be needed by 2016 to fill jobs generated by new building. Building the Centre of Excellence, for example, will employ 500 workers.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Algonquin+trades+future/2113534/story.html

Ontario bets big with Arnprior solar project
Massive site to feed into energy grid

Ottawa Citizen, October 15, 2009
Robert Sibley

From the road, it appears as if the sky has fallen to earth. But the enormity of the reflection of cloud and sky spreading across thousands of shining solar panels in a West Carleton farm field quickly disappears as the Arnprior Solar Project comes into view.

The construction site, along Galetta Side Road, houses 312,000 glossy solar panels on 13,000 racks that run row after row after row the length and breadth of the 200-acre field. Some of those rows are a kilometre long. Walking between racks of sloping solar modules that look like an alien crop of machinery is, well, a walk into the future.

But then as far as the Ontario government is concerned, this is the future.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Ontario+bets+with+Arnprior+solar+project/2107618/story.html

Editorial: Lay track now for Canada's future

Ottawa Sun, October 15, 2009
Ricky Leong

By Jove, the Kenyans have got it.

Tiny Kenya is set to replace its British-colonial-era rail curiosity with a modern, fast rail system to carry goods and people.

The new line, to cost about $5 billion over five years, is seen as an opportunity to improve economic ties within that country and with the rest of east Africa.

Countries worldwide are embracing the benefits of fast, modern rail.

And yet in Canada, we're still quibbling over whether we can afford it, who should pay for it, whether this is the right time, whether we really need it, whether rural Canada will feel left out.

http://www.ottawasun.com/comment/editorial/2009/10/15/11405596-sun.html

The trouble facing Canadian rivers
Canada's major waterways have suffered significant alterations in their natural flows, a WWF-Canada report contends

Globe and Mail, October 15, 2009
Martin Mittelstaedt

he seasonal waxing and waning of rivers is one of nature's most crucial cycles, influencing everything from the success of salmon runs to having enough water during parched summers to irrigate crops.

But by this measure, many of Canada's major rivers are in trouble, contends a new report that says many of the best known rivers have suffered major alterations in their natural flows due to hydro dams, irrigation schemes and withdrawals by industry, and could be further compromised by the effects of global warming.

The report, by WWF-Canada, one of the country's major environmental organizations, says the rivers that have been most altered from their natural state include the St. Lawrence and the South Saskatchewan, whose "ecosystems are in serious trouble" as a result. But it warned that if safeguards aren't put in place soon, some of North America's last free-flowing rivers, including the Skeena in B.C., the Athabasca in Alberta, and the Mackenzie in the Northwest Territories "could soon be in trouble as well."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-trouble-facing-canadian-rivers/article1323904/

Canadian rivers in trouble, study warns

Ottawa Citizen, October 14, 2009
Mike de Souza

Serious action is required to keep Canada's rivers flowing and to prevent them from being drained by expanding cities, soaring energy demands and climate change, says a report released Thursday.

"Flow regimes in some of Canada's most important rivers, such as the South Saskatchewan and the St. Lawrence, have been modified to the extent that ecosystems are in serious trouble," said the report, Canada's Rivers at Risk, produced by WWF-Canada, an environmental organization. "Soon, many others - including some of the planet's increasingly scarce, large, free-flowing rivers like the Skeena, the Athabasca, and the Mackenzie - could be in trouble, as well, as demands on the waters grow and climate change intensifies."

Overall, the study assessed the flow of 10 Canadian rivers that drain into the Pacific, the Arctic, the Hudson Bay and the Atlantic, and the impact of economic development, infrastructure and hydroelectric dams in the water basins. The report compared the process of evaluating the flow of a river to measuring blood pressure in a human in order to assess the country's water supply and potential threats to both the environment and local industries.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Canadian+rivers+trouble+study+warns/2104100/story.html

Le contrat de l'étude environnementale a été accordé à AECOM-Delcan
Première phase de l'étude sur les ponts

Le Droit, le 14 octobre 2009
Paul Gaboury

La coentreprise AECOM-Delcan vient d'être retenue pour réaliser la première partie de la prochaine étape de l'étude d'évaluation environnementale des futures liaisons interprovinciales dans la région de la Capitale nationale. Cette partie de l'étude devrait être complétée en juin 2010.

Les trois corridors qui seront évalués sont le corridor de l'île Kettle, les corridors de l'île Lower Duck et de l'aéroport de Gatineau-Baie McLaurin.

C'est lors de son assemblée tenue à la mi-février 2009 que le conseil d'administration de la Commission de la capitale nationale (CCN) avait décidé d'examiner ces trois corridors lors de l'étude environnementale, alors que le rapport technique recommandait de retenir un seul corridor, celui de l'île Kettle. La décision d'ajouter ces deux autres corridors ajoutera une année à l'étude environnementale qui devrait être rendue publique avant quatre ans.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/200910/14/01-911381-premiere-phase-de-letude-sur-les-ponts.php

Mayor's e-mail slap to electorate's face

Ottawa Sun, October 14, 2009
Susan Sherring

Looks like Mayor Larry O'Brien isn't all that interested in hearing what the public thinks about Lansdowne Park after all.

And he obviously hasn't heard about the 24-hour e-mail rule.

Resident Ron Crooks has been following the Lansdowne Live project through the entire process.

After attending one of the public consultation meetings, he e-mailed some of his thoughts to city councillors, expressing his serious reservations about the project.

He was flabbergasted to receive this response back, which came from a city e-mail account he didn't recognize and was unsigned.

"Please don't send me anymore of your propaganda."

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/columnists/susan_sherring/2009/10/14/11404686.html

Council defers smart-bus plan after Bell threatens to sue

Ottawa Citizen, October 13, 2009
Mohammed Adam

Ottawa city council has decided to suspend its plans to buy "smart bus" technology, for two weeks, after Bell Canada threatened a lawsuit over a staff recommendation to award a $17-million contract to U.S. company Clever Devices. In a letter to city solicitor Rick O'Connor, Bell said the original invitation to bid on the contract, from which Bell was disqualified, was for a $6.7-million program. Now that Clever Devices is being awarded a larger, wider-ranging contract, the city must restart the procurement, Bell says.

In the letter threatening the suit, Bell's lawyer Jonathan Lisus wrote: "In the event that the city of Ottawa does award a contract to Clever Devices for the provision of the above-referenced solution or services, Bell Canada will consider the City of Ottawa in breach of its obligations and Bell Canada will consider all of its remedies at law and in equity."

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Council+defers+smart+plan+after+Bell+threatens/2102915/story.html

New York: Without Cars, a Different Sort of 42nd St.

New York Times, October 13, 2009
Alison Gregor

With parts of Times Square converted into a pedestrian mall, at least temporarily, some people say they believe the city should take an even more radical step: close 42nd Street to car traffic and build a light rail system to run the width of Manhattan.

The main proponent of this far-reaching proposal is an organization called Vision 42, a citizens' group with dozens of supporters. It was formed in 1999 by the Institute for Rational Urban Mobility, a nonprofit corporation that finances its initiative with grants from the New York Community Trust/Community Funds Inc. and the John Todd McDowell Environmental Fund.

Vision 42 would like to turn the full length of 42nd Street into a pedestrian mall, while adding a light rail line that would connect the 39th Street ferry terminal on the Hudson River, near the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on the West Side Highway, with the 36th Street ferry terminal on the East River, near the undeveloped Con Edison sites on the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/realestate/commercial/14rail.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1255532518-k1PiVWK25tVZ/HqOEmzIRw

Kanata West development gets go-ahead

Ottawa Citizen, October 12, 2009
Mohammed Adam

The controversial Kanata West development has been given the green light, after a new consultant's report said there is sufficient drainage capacity along the Carp River to accommodate storm water runoff.

But area Councillor Peggy Feltmate is not convinced, saying the city needs a comprehensive storm water plan for older areas of the city to make them safe.

Such a plan could cost more than $30 million. The city, which she said has set aside $18 million to deal with inadequate storm sewer systems, would have to spend more to prevent the more calamities like the one that his Glen Cairn, where 800 homes were flooded.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa/Kanata+West+development+gets+ahead/2097608/story.html

La construction de la Tour Vanier va bon train
Une « tour verte » à l'Université d'Ottawa

Le Droit, le 10 octobre 2009
Louis Lafortune

L'Université d'Ottawa vient d'entamer la prochaine phase des travaux de construction de la Tour Vanier, un projet totalisant 115 millions $ qui comprend aussi la rénovation du pavillon Vanier.

« C'est le projet majeur dans le cadre de notre plan quinquennal de 150 millions $. C'est notre plus gros projet depuis 25 ans », explique Claudio Brun del Re, architecte et directeur du service des immeubles à l'Université d'Ottawa.

La Tour Vanier dans son ensemble est un plus gros projet que le Pavillon Desmarais, un édifice de 80 millions $ qui abrite l'École de gestion Telfer et qui a été inauguré en septembre 2007.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/economie/200910/08/01-909823-une-tour-verte-a-luniversite-dottawa.php

Pedestrian-only road wins committee backing

Metro Ottawa, October 8, 2009
Tim Wieclawski

William Street in the ByWard Market took another step toward becoming a pedestrian-only road Wednesday.

The city's transportation committee unanimously approved creating a public space at the southern part of William Street where it intersects with York Street.

Closing William Street in that location would also require that the direction of the street be reversed to allow vehicles to exit from a garage to Clarence Street.

If approved by council next week, the change would add $275,000 to the city's 2010 capital budget.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/333550--pedestrian-only-road-wins-committee-backing

What if Lansdowne was really a park?
City to put a price tag on razing stadium and creating green space

Ottawa Sun, October 8, 2009

How much would it cost to simply green Lansdowne Park?

That's what Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Jacques Legendre asked at Tuesday's corporate services committee.

"I have a different vision for Lansdowne Park," said Legendre.

Staff will come back with a report on turning the asphalt park and its crumbling stadium into a simple green facility and demolishing all the facilities on the park - save for the historic Aberdeen Pavillion.

City manager Kent Kirkpatrick told committee members it will cost $3.8 million a year just to keep the existing buildings in the same state they are now, without making any improvements.

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/10/07/11336291.html

Committee OK's change to speed zone policy

Metro Ottawa, October 8, 2009
Tim Wieclawski

Residents hoping to reduce the posted speed limit on their streets may need just 60 per cent of their neighbours on board to have it done.

Yesterday, the city's transportation committee approved an updated speed zoning policy, designed to increase community engagement in the process for setting speed limits in local residential and rural communities.

Initially, the recommended threshold for having the speed limit reduced was 75 per cent.

Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson asked for that to be reduced to 60 per cent because she said it was almost impossible to get 75 per cent of the residents on one street.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/334042--committee-ok-s-change-to-speed-zone-policy

Municipalities' power at stake in OMB case
Judges set to review Manotick decision under provisions of Planning Act

Ottawa Citizen, October 8, 2009, page C3
Kate Jaimet

The city went to court Thursday in a bid to rein in the power of the Ontario Municipal Board to approve developments that city council has voted down.

The city asked a panel of three divisional court judges to overturn a recent OMB ruling that allows Minto Communities to build 1,400 new houses on the outskirts of Manotick. The proposed development was supported by city staff but voted down by council after objections by Manotick residents.

"What's important here at the heart of it is: Who gets to decide the public interest of the City of Ottawa?" said Paul Webber, a lawyer for the city.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Municipalities+power+stake+case/2084882/story.html

Committees eye traffic and Lansdowne
Game-day break on bus tickets, shuttle service and road closings suggested

Ottawa Citizen, October 8, 2009, page C1
Patrick Dare

Fans going to big sports events at a renovated Lansdowne Park would be able to use their game tickets to ride public transit, transit officials told councillors Thursday.

Tickets would include a small charge to cover the cost of additional transit service provided for the day's event. The transit deal would be introduced as a way to encourage people to ride buses to the redeveloped Lansdowne Park.

Traffic congestion is one of the major concerns of opponents of the Lansdowne Live proposal, which would see Frank Clair Stadium and the Civic Centre rebuilt, as well as the construction of stores, restaurants, greenspace and theatres. The project is a partnership between the city and four Ottawa businessmen.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Committees+traffic+Lansdowne/2084875/story.html

More Sewage Overflows

CFRA, October 8, 2009
Josh Pringle

The fall rain is sending more raw sewage and untreated storm water into the historic Ottawa River.

City Councillors have been told 7.8 million litres of raw sewage was spilled into the river during Monday's storm.

Over the past week, 132 million litres of raw sewage and untreated storm water overflowed the sewage system and into the river.

The city would have to spend about $400 million to eliminate sewage overflows into the Ottawa River.

http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=68475

City looks at green Lansdowne Park

CFRA, October 7, 2009
Josh Pringle with Stephanie Kinsella

Ottawa taxpayers and City Councillors will find out next month how much it would cost to turn Lansdowne Park into a park-only facility.

City Staff have been directed to prepare a report on the cost of a park-only option.

City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick told the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee that it would cost $3.8 million a year to keep the existing buildings and facilities at Lansdowne Park in operation without any upgrades.

http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=68443

City looks to cut GHG emissions further

CFRA, October 7, 2009
Josh Pringle

The City of Ottawa is looking to further reduce the corporate Greenhouse Gas Emission levels below 1990 levels.

A report for the Planning and Environment Committee says the city has already cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 24 per cent below 1990 levels, surpassing the corporate goal of 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2007.

Staff are recommending an interim corporate emissions target of an additional six per cent reduction in emissions by 2012, bringing the total reductions to 30 per cent.

http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=68445

Clearcut reignites tree bylaw debate
Community group calling on city to close 'loophole'

Ottawa Citizen, October 7, 2009
Mohammed Adam

A large clearcutting operation in a "protected wetland" in West Carleton is fuelling demands for the city to reconsider a recent bylaw that exempted rural areas from restrictions on tree-cutting.

This summer, Ottawa council passed a bylaw that slapped strict conditions on cutting urban trees. The bylaw, which is aimed at protecting trees from wanton destruction, however exempted the rural areas, where many residents argued the city had no business telling them what to do with their property.

However, after a landowner who recently purchased a 160-acre parcel off Sixth Line in the west end began clearcutting the forest, alarmed residents demanded a stop to the operation.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa/Clearcut+reignites+tree+bylaw+debate/2080160/story.html

Council committee approves option for lower speed limits on side streets

Ottawa Citizen, October 6, 2009
Patrick Dare

Residents would be able to petition the City of Ottawa to lower speed limits from 50 kilometres an hour to 40 kilometres an hour under new rules being considered by the city.

The city would allow residential streets to have speed limits reduced from 50 kilometres an hour to 40, if 60 per cent of residents on the street approved.

City officials said Wednesday that the change is part of a program to improve public safety on the streets, one of the top concerns of residents and many city councillors.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Council+committee+approves+option+lower+speed+limits+side+streets/2078599/story.html

Developers get historic pavilion for free

CBC News, October 6, 2009

Developers won't be charged a cent for the privilege of putting restaurants in a city-owned Victorian heritage building as part of the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park.

The revelation about the 1898 Aberdeen Pavilion by Ottawa manager Kent Kirkpatrick came out Tuesday as he went through the Lansdowne Partnership Plan at a meeting of the city's corporate services committee.

It was prompted by a question from Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans.

"What about the value of the Lady Aberdeen Pavilion used for commercial spaces?" she asked. "How's that been valued?"

"It hasn't," Kirkpatrick responded.

"So that's just free to them?" Deans asked.

"That's correct," Kirkpatrick answered.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/10/06/ottawa-aberdeen-pavilion-lansdowne.html

Section of ByWard Market may become pedestrian-only

Metro Ottawa, October 5, 2009
Tracey Tong

A section of the ByWard Market may soon be deemed a pedestrian-only area.

On Wednesday, the city's transportation committee will consider a motion to make William Street off-limits to vehicles.

The proposal also includes changing the direction of traffic on William Street from north to south to south to north.

According to the city staff report, the new configuration would ease the vehicle congestion and gridlock at York Street intersections at William and ByWard Market streets.

The report stated that fewer vehicles would encourage more pedestrians and cyclists to walk or ride to the market, which would further relieve stress on parking demand.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/330675--section-of-byward-market-may-become-pedestrian-only

Cycling plan to face first hurdle

Metro Ottawa, October 5, 2009
Tim Wieclawski

Implementing the city's cycling plan will be a test of will for city councillors with the first challenge coming this week, according to cycling advocates.

A motion coming to the city's transportation committee on Wednesday is asking city staff to report on the resources needed to implement the $26.6-million plan.

Any new resources for the plan would add pressure to an already-tight 2010 budget, but Dianne Cox, co-founder of Cycling Vision Ottawa, argues that money would be well spent.

It'll take long-term thinking, but Cox said investments in bicycling infrastructure will reap tremendous benefits over time.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/330671--cycling-plan-to-face-first-hurdle

Green bin program benefits environmental and human health

Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2009, page B8

A few weeks ago Ottawa residents began receiving their Green Bin from the City of Ottawa, a new recycling initiative that involves collecting residential organic waste and turning it into compost. Using the green bin is an easy way for Ottawa residents to extend the life of local landfills, reduce greenhouse gases and make a difference to our environment.

A new greenbinottawa.ca Web site will provide information and updates on delivery. Delivery of all bins will be complete by mid December.

The green bins and smaller kitchen containers for indoor use are being delivered this fall, but collection won't begin until the new year. When it begins, residents will be able to put their food scraps including dairy, meat, bones and oils, food-soiled paper, yard waste and more at the curb for composting.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Green+program+benefits+environmental+human+health/2064522/story.html

Councillors livid over new transit rail option

Ottawa Sun, October 4, 2009
Derek Puddicombe

Just when Ottawans thought the city was moving ahead with a state-of-the-art, multi-billion dollar light rail transit system, yet another option is being put on the table.

For years city staff and councillors have been discussing a light rail transit (LRT) network, but in November councillors will be presented with a detailed plan that will offer them a choice between building a heavy rail transit (HRT) system or an LRT network.

Transit committee chairman and Bay Coun. Alex Cullen said that whatever electric rail technology council chooses will have a significant impact on the shape and feel of commuter rail in the city.

"These are options for council to choose," said Cullen. "It will affect station design and the option for future growth."

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/10/04/11296996.html

Council Split Down the Middle on Lansdowne, Cullen Says

Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2009
Kenneth Gray

This will increase the frenzy level of lobbying in the Lansdowne Park redevelopment issue.

Mayoral candidate and Bay Councillor Alex Cullen said Saturday night that he has been counting noses on Ottawa City Council with a result that a vote held today on approving the Lansdowne Live proposal would yield a 12-12 tie.

Cullen said a few votes are fluid and he is lobbying hard to defeat the proposal that would see commercial, retail, a stadium, parkland and residential on the city-owned site in the Glebe. Speaking before the Blacktie Beanfest at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre in Britannia Park, Cullen was trying to influence Alta Vista Councillor Peter Hume, who was also at the dinner, to vote against the project.

For his part, Hume said he is one of the fluid votes, but thinks a compromise can be had that would see the development proceed. "I think there is a sweet spot."

http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/bulldog/archive/2009/10/04/council-split-down-the-middle-on-lansdowne-cullen-says.aspx

Children's garden wins special design award

Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2009
Maria Cook

Beyond an arched cedar gate in Old Ottawa East lies a luxuriant new public garden, planted with sunflowers, lavender, parsley, pumpkins, tomatoes and more.

This is Ottawa's first Children's Garden, located at 321 Main St. at the corner of Clegg street in Robert Legget Park.

The organic garden, created by community volunteers and children, has won a special jury award in the City of Ottawa's 2009 Ottawa Urban Design Awards, presented Monday evening.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Children+garden+wins+special+design+award/2068849/story.html

Green space goes to work

Centretown News, October 2, 2009
Beatrice Fantoni

The latest addition to Ottawa's downtown core is bringing some green into the mostly grey landscape.

The new building at 180 Kent St. - part of the newly-inaugurated Minto Place complex - is the first multi-tenant office tower in the city to beat the construction industry's environmental standards while offering competitive rents.

"There's a lot of business reasons to go green," says Lori Gadzala, director of the Ottawa chapter of the Canada Green Building Council, which oversees the certification of new and existing buildings to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, otherwise known as LEED.

http://centretownnewsonline.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1012&Itemid=98

Ottawa council aims for lower city speed limits

CBC News, October 2, 2009

The City of Ottawa wants to reduce the default speed limit in residential areas by 10 km/h.

"We have an aggressive driver culture in this town," said Coun. Jacques Legendre, who first brought forward a proposal to change the default limit to 40 km/h from 50 km/h on residential streets.

A change to the default speed limit would require Ontario government approval - something Legendre thinks the province is unlikely to do.

A staff report recommends asking the Ontario government for the change anyway, but also recommends making it easier for residents to get their local speed limits changed in the meantime.

The city's transportation committee will vote on the proposal next Wednesday, along with a proposal making it easier for residents to get the speed limit lowered on their street.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/10/02/ottawa-speed-limits-residential.html

City opens up Lansdowne forums

CBC News, October 1, 2009

Facing criticism that previous open houses on a plan for Lansdowne Park's redevelopment weren't genuine consultations, the City of Ottawa held its first public question-and-answer session on the plan Wednesday.

The city announced the session Wednesday afternoon, a little over three hours before it began with a question from Ottawa resident Diane McIntyre.

"I want to thank Mr. Kirkpatrick and council for opening this up to questions tonight because I think that until tonight, all of these so-called consultations have been a charade, a complete farce, a total sham," McIntyre told a hall full of citizens seeking answers about the public-private partnership between Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group and the City of Ottawa.

Two earlier open houses had already been held on the Lansdowne Partnership Plan to build condo towers, shops and restaurants and revamp the stadium at the sprawling park on Bank Street, north of the Rideau Canal, but their format allowed members of the public to ask questions one-on-one with staff, not publicly.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/10/01/ottawa-lansdowne-q-and-a-city-hall.html

Parc Lansdowne
Un signe d'ouverture

Radio-Canada, le 1 octobre 2009

Les résidents d'Ottawa ont pu s'exprimer librement sur le plan de revitalisation du parc Lansdowne, mercredi soir, pour la première fois depuis le début des consultations. Critiquée pour son manque d'ouverture face aux adversaires du partenariat Lansdowne lors des deux réunions précédentes, la Ville a réussi à calmer le jeu en acceptant de répondre aux questions des citoyens.

Il y a toutefois des limites, souligne le directeur municipal Kent Kirkpatrick. « Il y a beaucoup de personnes qui veulent un forum pour un débat à propos ce projet, ce n'est pas l'objectif », précise-t-il.

C'est le conseil municipal qui aura le dernier mot sur le projet, selon le conseiller municipal Bob Monette. « Si le conseil décide qu'il ne veut pas aller de l'avant avec le projet, ça va être le choix du conseil », souligne-t-il.

http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2009/10/01/004-lansdowne-consultation.shtml

Cullen to ask city for cycling plan startup staff

Ottawa Citizen, October 1, 2009

Councillor Alex Cullen is going to ask that the city hire or designate particular city workers to implement a cycling plan in Ottawa.

The city's already-approved plan includes things like cycling lanes, paved shoulders on roads and multi-use pathways and is supposed to be done over five years.

But Cullen says staff for that $26-million project were lost in the last city staff reorganization. The councillor wants the cost of a dedicated team to be researched and placed in the budget for next year.

Councillors have expressed frustration that Ottawa is falling behind other cities such as Montreal on the development of cycling facilities, but is still managing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on roads.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Cullen+city+cycling+plan+startup+staff/2052474/story.html

Ottawa étudie la possibilité de limiter la circulation automobile sur la rue William
Une rue piétonnière au marché By?

Le Droit, le 1 octobre 2009
Dominique La Haye

Le visage du marché By pourrait changer pour se transformer en véritable place publique, si la Ville d'Ottawa donne le feu vert à un projet visant à modifier une artère achalandée en rue piétonnière.

Lieu de prédilection des touristes, le marché By est souvent un endroit où piétons, cyclistes, automobilistes, artisans et marchands de fruits et de légumes se disputent les rues.

Depuis un an, les fonctionnaires municipaux planchent sur une étude qui propose de transformer une portion de la rue William, située entre les rues Clarence et York, en promenade pour piétons, où l'accès des véhicules serait très restreint.

L'objectif est de rendre le marché plus sécuritaire pour les piétons et de réduire le cercle vicieux de la chasse aux stationnements de la part des automobilistes.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/200910/01/01-907595-une-rue-pietonniere-au-marche-by.php

Ottawa pourrait abaisser la limite de vitesse

Le Droit, le 1 octobre 2009
Dominique La Haye

La Ville d'Ottawa songe à réduire la limite de vitesse permise dans les rues résidentielles à 40 km/h et à doubler le montant des amendes dans les zones scolaires.

Alors que la Ville s'apprête à mettre à jour sa politique en matière de limitation de la vitesse, vieille de 30 ans, les fonctionnaires municipaux recommandent entre autres ces mesures, dans un rapport qui sera déposé la semaine prochaine au comité des transports d'Ottawa.

Actuellement, sur de nombreuses routes locales, aucune limite de vitesse n'est affichée dans les secteurs résidentiels. Le code de la route stipule que la vitesse permise par défaut est de 50 km/h et que tout écart de cette norme exige une signalisation appropriée. Or, la Ville a reçu de nombreuses demandes visant l'établissement d'une limite de vitesse de 40 km/h sur les routes résidentielles.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ottawa-est-ontarien/200910/01/01-907608-ottawa-pourrait-abaisser-la-limite-de-vitesse.php

Massive water plan involves Ottawa River
Increasing flow will help boost Montreal's supply, think-tank says

Ottawa Citizen, October 1, 2009, pages A1, A2
Tom Spears

A Montreal think-tank has proposed a massive scheme to bring more water and electric power to Montreal: Dam three rivers near James Bay, and pump their water overland to drain it all down the Ottawa River.

The scheme would send an extra 800 cubic metres of water per second through Ottawa -- 40 per cent more than the year's average flow rate.

It would flood 1,100 square kilometres of northern Quebec in spring, storing the spring runoff for a gradual release through the year.

The goal is to allow $20 billion in annual water sales to the US. and more than $1 billion in power sales at home.

It would also deepen the St. Lawrence at the Port of Montreal. Falling water levels there have made the port too shallow for some shipping.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Massive+water+plan+involves+Ottawa+River/2053184/story.html

City bows to Lansdowne Live criticism
Public gets chance to ask questions about redevelopment plan

Ottawa Citizen, October 1, 2009
Chris Cobb and Patrick Dare

Following two days of angry criticism that public consultation on the Lansdowne Live re-development plan was deliberately gagging taxpayers who oppose the project, city officials changed course late Wednesday.

The third session of the campaign to win support for Lansdowne Live arrived at city hall with sagging credibility over accusations that the week-long sessions had been deliberately constructed to shut out criticism.

City manager Kent Kirkpatrick said "public feedback" and several councillors had persuaded him to open the process. A city press release issued shortly before the start of last evening's session announced a 90-minute question-and-answer period.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/City+bows+Lansdowne+Live+criticism/2052453/story.html

Brookfield construit un deuxième parc éolien

Le Droit, le 1 octobre 2009
Louis Lafortune

La société Énergie Renouvelable Brookfield, dont le siège social est à Gatineau, construira un parc d'éoliennes dans la ville de Kingsville, tout près de Windsor, dans le sud-ouest de l'Ontario.

Ce projet évalué à 145 millions $ comprend 22 éoliennes de la compagnie allemande Seimens, qui produiront 50 mégawatts (MW) d'électricité. Cette production sera vendue à l'Office de l'électricité de l'Ontario.

Le projet, dont les activités commerciales doivent commencer à la fin de 2010, emploiera jusqu'à 150 travailleurs pendant la période de pointe de la construction. Mortenson Canada Corp est responsable de la réalisation du parc.

« Nous sommes enthousiastes d'avoir atteint cet important jalon », a déclaré Richard Legault, président et chef de la direction du Fonds Énergie renouvelable Brookfield.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/economie/200910/01/01-907591-brookfield-construit-un-deuxieme-parc-eolien.php

Ontario expands e-bike rules

CBC News, October 1, 2009

Ontario will continue to allow electric bikes on its roads after the end of a three-year pilot project, but the province is imposing a few new safety rules.

The province announced Thursday that bicycles capable of being powered by both pedals and an electric motor:

* Cannot have a maximum weight above 120 kilograms.

* Must have a maximum braking distance of nine metres.

* Cannot undergo any modifications to their electric motors to generate speeds greater than 32 km/h, the maximum allowed for e-bike motors.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/10/01/ontario-e-bike-rules.html

Lansdowne vote 'too close to call': Councillor

CFRA, October 1, 2009
Rob Snow

It will come right down to the wire.

With roughly one month to go before it comes before the full City Council for a final vote, some councilors admit to CFRA News the proposal to redevelop Landsdowne Park may not have the votes to pass.

While a vote to send the proposal to the public consultation phase, a contentious and often heated process that started this week, easily passed through the committee of the whole this summer, the same cannot be said for the final decision, expected in early November.

Speaking privately, some councilors said support for the Landsdowne Partnership Plan has eroded under the pressure of a well coordinated campaign by the project's critics.

"If it came up for a vote tomorrow, I don't think we'd have the votes", one councilor conceded. "We're just inundated with email from people who are against this, it's in the hundreds."

http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=68330

Localicious

Ottawa XPress, October 1, 2009
Sara Falconer

Think you've got this whole eating locally thing sorted, eh? Not so fast - eating sustainably, it turns out, is just as important if you really want to make green choices. A new program called Localicious is launching across the country this week to show you just how easy and tasty it can be to do both.

"Canadians get that environment is a key issue. They are deeply concerned about climate change and they want to do something about it," says Josh Laughren of WWF Canada, creators of the initiative. From Oct. 2 to 18, over 50 restaurants in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver will offer special menus featuring fresh, local and sustainable foods. A portion of the proceeds goes towards WWF-Canada's conservation work.

The average food item travels up to 2,000 to reach your plate. In addition to reducing that big ol' carbon footprint, purchasing local, organic and sustainable food can reduce the amount of pesticides that leak into the water supply, support sustainable farming practices and protect wildlife habitat. But the Canadian climate, particularly in northern areas, doesn't make it easy to adopt a 100-mile diet - which is why sustainable choices make a difference. Reading labels and understanding where your food comes from is an important first step.

http://www.ottawaxpress.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=18417