Today Ecology Ottawa released its annual report card on the environmental performance of Ottawa's mayor and city councillors. In this year's report, seven council members scored D or lower -- including Mayor O'Brien, who received a failing grade.

The report reviews 14 key environmental decisions made by council over the past year and assigns a grade to the mayor and each councillor based on the votes he or she cast.

"Looking over the record since 2002, we can see several councillors emerging as stubborn impediments to environmental progress," states the report. They are Councillors Desroches, El-Chantiry, Harder, Hunter, and Thompson, each of whom have scored a D or F in the majority of the report cards.

"Whatever their other strengths as councillors, they clearly accord little or no importance to environmental concerns," the report concludes.

The environmental leaders, who scored B or higher in the majority of report cards, are Councillors Bellemare, Bédard, Cullen, Doucet, Holmes, Hume, Legendre, and Leadman.

The balance of council members have consistently received grades that suggest a half-hearted effort. "Their votes have allowed council to move forward, slowly, on some valuable environmental initiatives, while blocking the city from taking the bold steps that are needed," notes the report. "The city remains trapped in destructive, business-as-usual approaches to urban growth, transportation, and infrastructure."

Ecology Ottawa is using the report as a call to action for all Ottawa residents who care about their environment to find out where their councillors stand and, where necessary, hold them accountable in next fall's municipal election.

"The decisions that city council makes about land use, urban design, public transit, and waste management have serious implications for the climate and the rest of our natural systems," said Graham Saul, chair of Ecology Ottawa. "If we want a sustainable future, we must demand environmental leadership at the municipal level."

For more information, please contact:

Lori Waller, Policy Coordinator, 613-860-5353, lori@ecologyottawa.ca
Sabrina Bowman, Coordinator, 613-860-5353, volunteer@ecologyottawa.ca

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