Media Releases

terra20 welcomes Ecology Ottawa supporters to group savings program

[caption id="attachment_421" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Saving For Change offers members 10% discount, 2% rebated back to Ecology Ottawa[/caption]

Guest post by Pamela Tourigny, terra20

terra20, North America’s most extensive eco retailer, opened in Ottawa last September. Owned by local Ottawa entrepreneurs, terra20 offers more than 12,000 products, in categories including cleaning, personal care, apparel, home solutions, and kitchen.

Waste diversion versus Plasco

Councillors on the Environment Committee discussed the City contract with Plasco Energy Group on August 22 (Item 4). Plasco is a corporation contracted by the City to convert Ottawa’s residential waste into electricity through the use of plasma gasification. The Environment Committee as well as City Council granted Plasco another extension (until December 2014) to meet its contractual obligations to secure funding for the project. City Councillors are demonstrating their continued reliance on Plasco’s technologies as a solution to waste disposal but are doing so prior to finalizing Ottawa’s 30 Year Waste Plan. Ecology Ottawa believes City Council is also not giving enough careful consideration to the most effective waste reduction policy, Pay As You Throw.

We’ve had significant victories—on Oct. 9th celebrate with Ecology Ottawa

We all, collectively, have many reasons to celebrate.

A few weeks ago, it was city hall’s approval of a Complete Streets approach to Main Street despite opposition from some councillors. That victory was made possible in part by you, our supporters, letting city hall know you support Complete Streets.

That same day, city hall voted to make the Laurier bike lane permanent; again despite opposition from some councillors. Again the victory can be credited to popular support.

Annual Dinner Eco Gala Coming Up

Join us for Ecology Ottawa’s 7th annual Gala Dinner Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Tickets are ~~on sale now~~ sold out.

Lets celebrate the agricultural richness and the vibrant environmental community in Ottawa!

Community Network Meeting Scheduled for Vanier

If you live in Vanier please consider coming. More info here

Voice Your Support for Complete Streets for Ottawa

Complete Streets ensure safe and comfortable use by pedestrians, cyclists and public transit users of all ages and abilities. The policy influences design and is not an afterthought, but an integral part of the planning process for the construction, retrofitting, and maintenance of all roadways.

Sign the petition calling on the City of Ottawa to implement a Complete Streets policy across our city.

Tar Free 613

Ecology Ottawa has engaged in raising public awareness for the fight against the Energy East pipeline.

TransCanada wants to convert a gas pipeline into one that would transport toxic Tar Sands oil through Ottawa. This pipeline would carry up to 850,000 barrels a day (100 million litres) of Alberta’s tar through sensitive areas around the city including across the Rideau River. An oil spill in Ottawa is a serious threat, putting our residents’ health and well-being at risk.

Ecology Ottawa Rejects Proposed TransCanada Energy East Pipeline

Ottawa, ON — August 1, 2013 — Following the announcement by TransCanada Corp. that they would seek to ship 1.1 million barrels a day — over 130 million litres — of tar sands oil through Ottawa, local group Ecology Ottawa is expanding their campaign to stop the proposed pipeline.

“The pipeline is all risk and no reward for the city and residents of Ottawa,” said Ben Powless, Tar Sands Pipeline Community Organizer with Ecology Ottawa. “Any spill could have devastating impacts on our farmlands, the Rideau River, and even on our drinking water. The pipeline would bring nothing but risks and would commit us to deepening our dependency on fossil fuels, the expansion of the tar sands, and dangerous levels of climate change.”

Council Watch Monthly Digest - July 2013

Increased Transit Fares (July 1): OCTranspo’s fares increased on July 1. READ OUR FINDINGS to learn how Ottawa’s bus fares compare to other major cities on a national and international scale.

Transit Commission (July 3): The Commission discussed ACCESSIBILITY TO ALL USERS ON TRANSIT SERVICES.

Transportation Committee (July 5): A successful day for Complete Streets! The Transportation Committee voted to REDEVELOP MAIN STREET AS A COMPLETE STREET and approved making the SEGREGATED BIKE LANES ON LAURIER AVENUE A PERMANENT FEATURE.

Ontario Greens and Local Liberal Candidate Join Opposition to Pipeline

Ottawa, Ontario – July 23, 2013 — Ecology Ottawa applauds the Ontario Green Party and Ottawa South Liberal Candidate John Fraser for joining the opposition to the TransCanada Energy East pipeline that would send 850,000 barrels of oil a day through Ottawa.

Yesterday, the Green Party announced their opposition via press release and Mr. Fraser announced his intention to oppose the pipeline on Twitter this morning.

How Did They Do? Councillors Voice Their Opinions on Complete Streets

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] English: Ottawa City Hall Français : Hôtel de ville d'Ottawa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

City Council voted (Item 20) on July 17th to redevelop Main Street into a Complete Street after the City staff’s recommendation was passed by the Transportation Committee on July 5th. Councillors voiced their support and dissent to this motion at Council and the results were very telling in regards to who will lead our city to sustainability. Read more below for insight into your Councillors perspective and priority on developing Complete Streets in our city.

How High?

Intensification is highly controversial. Item 10 on the agenda at June 25th’s Planning Committee meeting was a debate over the height of a building near the Parkdale Market at the site 233 Armstrong Street and 3 Hamilton Avenue North.

The main issue was that the proposed building height of 18 storeys does not adhere to the Community Design Plan (CDP) which only allows 8 storeys at that site. Residents in the area are concerned with the shadowing effect of the building and the increased traffic in their neighbourhood as a result of the increase in density. Yet, as the developers frequently stated, the density of the development remains the same regardless of the height due to the way the 18 storey building is sculpted. The building gradually becomes slimmer as it gets taller.. Ecology Ottawa is pleased that there will be an increase in density in this neighbourhood as the mixed-use complex would be within 400 metres from the future Tunney’s Pasture LRT station.