Ecology Ottawa gave a delegation at the meeting of City Council's Environment and Climate Change Committee in opposition to the recent destruction of over 70 hectares of forested lands at the city's southeast edge.
Transit Commission approves funding for electric transit buses
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The circumstances behind the Transit Commission’s emergency meeting on January 27 gave cause for some suspicion. The meeting was called for the commission to approve the funding being directed to Ottawa’s planned Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) acquisition, which includes a $350M grant from Infrastructure Canada and a $75M drawdown from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, before the city council draft budget meeting on February 1.
Speak Up Against the Clear-Cutting of Tewin Lands
Ottawa residents can speak up against the appalling clear-cutting of Tewin Lands by signing our form letter calling on Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to hold those responsible accountable for this senseless destruction.
Thin ice, brought to you by Enbridge
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This has been one of the warmest winters on record in the National Capital Region – for the first time ever, the Rideau Canal Skateway won’t open, and ice sculptures melted in the streets during Ottawa’s beloved Winterlude festival. Winter sports keep us healthy and happy, but fossil-fuelled climate change is melting the snow and ice they depend on. That's why fossil fuel company Enbridge Gas’ sponsorship of the Winterlude festival is wrong.
Peoples Official Plan on Ottawa's 2023 City Budget
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Members of the Peoples Official Plan coalition held a press conference addressing the shortfalls of Ottawa City Council's 2023 Budget. Speakers included Alice Irene Whittaker, Executive Director, Ecology Ottawa, Angela Keller-Herzog, Executive Director, Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES), Laura Neidhart, Chair, Just Food, Laura Shantz, Board Member, Ottawa Transit Riders, Paul Johanis, Chair, Greenspace Alliance of of Canada’s Capital and Roland Dorsay, Director-at-Large, Federation of Citizens’ Associations Ottawa (FCA).
Ecology Ottawa Delegates on the 2023 Transportation Budget
Ecology Ottawa was at City Council’s Transportation Committee again on February 23 as the committee considered transportation items for the City’s 2023 budget. We’ve provided our delegation below. You can also watch the recording.
Watch now: webinar on turning our yellow buses green
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We recently hosted a fantastic webinar on electric school buses and what we can do to make it a reality in Ontario. We are profoundly grateful for the support of everyone who joined our discussion, and for those unable to join live, here is the recording and the slides. Our speakers, Dr Laura Minet from the Clean Air Lab at the University of Victoria discussing transportation related emissions and Dr Eugenie Waters from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Ontario Regional Committee, discussing the negative health impacts of diesel emissions were riveting. It could not be clearer that the evidence for moving away from diesel exhaust is strong and now is the time for us to take action.
Reflecting on a decade: Ten things I love about you, Ottawa
By Velta Tomsons
(Le français suit.)
Dear friends, community members and supporters,
My name is Velta, and I have been involved with Ecology Ottawa in one form or another for almost ten years. There is a significant chance we know each other! Whether we met at one of our Eco Galas, or if it was knocking on your door, asking for your signature, giving you a tree, or at any of the hundreds of local community events that I have attended in my time - I hope you know how much your contributions have meant to not just Ecology Ottawa, but to me personally.
Evaluating climate in Ottawa’s draft budget
The city has tabled a tight new draft budget that contains several proactive investments in climate and just as many confounding steps backwards.
Listen Now: Why our yellow buses must go green!
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This week we released a report into the many benefits of transitioning our school bus fleet away from diesel to electric. We are so excited to share this with you - read our electric school bus report here.
This week we joined Alan Neal's All in a Day program on CBC Radio to discuss why our school buses must go green. Hear the interview here.
Where is the Climate in the 2023 Ontario Budget?
Doug Ford’s initial budget considerations continue his administration’s chronic disregard for even the most basic of environmental issues.
Les premières considérations budgétaires de Doug Ford confirment le mépris chronique de son administration pour les questions environnementales, même les plus élémentaires.
Ottawa City Budget Priorities
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As part of the Peoples Official Plan, we have submitted our Ottawa City Budget priorities to Councillors, the Mayor and City Staff. Our key funding priorities on the environment are set out, as well as areas that we do not want to see funded: fossil fuel infrastructure and road widenings, to name just two. The letter also sets out fundamental changes that need to be made to the budget process so to allow meaningful public participation in setting the City's funding priorities.