Ecology Ottawa asked all candidates in the 2014 municipal election a series of questions on important environmental issues.
Complete Streets:
Many Ottawa streets are dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians and too many neighbourhoods lack affordable and convenient public transportation options. Badly designed streets discourage active and healthy lifestyles and limit transportation choices. In 2013, City Council adopted a Complete Streets policy that will put more emphasis on designing streets for all ages, abilities and users (pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users, as well as cars).
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Candidate
*indicates incumbent |
If elected, will you commit to prioritizing pedestrian, cycling and affordable public transit infrastructure over automobile infrastructure in meeting the future growth in travel demand in the urban area? | If elected, will you work to ensure that all new roads and road renewal projects integrate Complete Streets principles? | The City's new transportation master plan increases funding for cycling infrastructure but delays many investments for over 15 years. If elected, will you work to increase the overall level of investment and accelerate the pace of implementation? |
| Ian Bursey | YES | YES | YES |
| Jan Harder* | NO | Where practical, geography has lots to do with it. | The plan we have just adopted has a good balance and achievable financial roll-out. We have approved more for cycling than ever before. |
| Syed Asghar Hussain |
About 75 percent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions come from activities that occur in cities, and municipalities have direct or indirect control over about half of these emissions. In 2014 the City of Ottawa adopted a new Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan.
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Candidate
*indicates incumbent |
Do you agree that human-induced climate change is an urgent issue and all levels of government have a role to play in helping to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions? | If elected, will you push for the full implementation of the City of Ottawa’s Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan, including items identified in the plan for the 2015 budget? | The Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan establishes the modest goal of reducing Ottawa’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent per capita by 2024, but leaves open a lot of space for new initiatives to emerge in the coming years. If elected, will you push for actions aimed at surpassing the current goal? |
| Ian Bursey | YES | YES | YES |
| Jan Harder* | NO | We build our budget with projects identified for that year. | NO |
| Syed Asghar Hussain |
Every time it rains, a cocktail of contaminants (including bacteria, chemicals, fuels and heavy metals) washes off our streets and runs straight into our rivers and streams via the underground storm-sewer system. Ecology Ottawa wants the City of Ottawa to follow-through on its commitment to develop a Water Environment Strategy that improves stormwater management, invests in green infrastructure, reduces flooding, protects our streams, and makes it safer to swim and fish in our rivers.
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Candidate
*indicates incumbent |
The City of Ottawa is developing a Water Environment Strategy that will provide a framework for action to promote clean drinking water, reduce the toxins going into our rivers, and protect communities and streams from flooding associated with severe weather. If elected, will you support the development of a strong strategy and prioritize the investments necessary to realize the strategy’s goals? | The April 2014 Ontario Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) instructs planning authorities to promote green infrastructure measures (such as parklands, stormwater systems, wetlands, street trees, urban forests, natural channels, permeable surfaces, and green roofs) in order to reduce costs, protect ecosystems and adapt to extreme weather events. If elected, will you prioritize green infrastructure in addressing the City of Ottawa’s water management needs? | The production of clean water for public consumption has been falling over the past decade in Ottawa (ie., we are using less water). Between 2004 and 2013, the amount of clean water produced and used inside Ottawa fell from over 125,000 million litres to about 100,000 million litres (not including private wells). If elected will you commit to continuing this trend by prioritizing water conservation measures that reduce usage by 3 percent per year? |
| Ian Bursey | YES | YES | YES |
| Jan Harder* | We are developing it. | We are already doing this. | People are far more aware of water conservation which is why the consumption has dropped. They do so in many ways. |
| Syed Asghar Hussain |
|
Candidate
*indicates incumbent |
The Emerald Ash Borer infestation is killing millions of trees across Ottawa, including about 25 percent of the trees in the urban area. In response, organizations and individuals, including the City of Ottawa, are coming together to set the collective goal of planting a million trees in our nation’s capital as part of our contribution to Canada's 150 birthday celebration in 2017. If elected, will you support and prioritize investments towards this goal? | The City of Ottawa has announced its intention to develop a new Forest Management Strategy. If elected, will you support the development of a strong strategy and the investments necessary to realize the strategy’s goals? |
| Ian Bursey | YES | YES |
| Jan Harder* | We are currently planting as fast as we can. | As you state, we (those already elected) are developing a new Forest Management Strategy. We do not have the financial wherewithal to purchase every woodlot for example but we prioritize what we must save and we are firm in that resolve. |
| Syed Asghar Hussain |
Proposed Oil Pipeline Threatens Ottawa Water and Communities:
TransCanada wants to move more than a million barrels a day of tar sands oil through the City of Ottawa and across the World Heritage Rideau River on its way to export terminals in eastern Canada. The proposed “Energy East” pipeline puts communities and waterways in danger all along the pipeline route.
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Candidate
*indicates incumbent |
Do you think the City of Ottawa should conduct a thorough and independent assessment of the risks and costs that the proposed Energy East pipeline poses to the health of Ottawa's communities and water? | Would you oppose the Energy East Pipeline if it was demonstrated that it threatened the health of Ottawa's water, climate and communities? | Should the City of Ottawa intervene in the National Energy Board review of the proposed Energy East pipeline in order to ensure that the interests of the people of Ottawa are well represented? |
| Ian Bursey | YES | YES - The Energy East Pipeline would be expected to exceed safety regulations if travelling through the National Capital region. | YES - This proposal requires a real world understanding by the Municipal Government |
| Jan Harder* | NO - The National Energy Board is, no need for duplication. | The info would need to be balanced with impact of at grade transport of tar sands oil, surely you would agree you would have to see both? | NO - City should work with but certainly not intervene. |
| Syed Asghar Hussain |
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