Jenna Jessop
"Meeting Ottawa's biodiversity commitments needs to start with protecting the natural areas we already have and restoring areas that have been damaged.
I want biodiversity to be considered much earlier when we are making planning and development decisions. We should be identifying important habitat, wetlands and natural areas before plans are largely designed, when there is still an opportunity to protect them and work around them. Wetlands deserve particular attention because they not only provide important habitat, but also help manage flooding and protect our water.
There are also opportunities to improve biodiversity on land the City already owns. I would like to see more native trees, shrubs and plants incorporated into parks, roadsides, stormwater areas and other appropriate City spaces. We can also restore damaged shorelines, wetlands and other natural areas by replanting native vegetation and improving habitat.
Part of that work needs to include doing more to manage invasive species. I would support stronger efforts to prevent their spread, remove invasive species where possible and restore affected areas with native plants. Protecting existing habitat is important, but we also need to make sure those natural areas remain healthy.
Protecting biodiversity isn't only about drawing a line around a piece of land and calling it protected. We need to protect important natural areas before they are lost, restore areas that have been damaged, and make better use of the land the City already manages to support healthy ecosystems and wildlife."
David Purchase
"I would start by getting a clear picture of where Ottawa actually stands against the 30% commitment. If we're already protecting a significant amount, residents should know that. If we're short, then we need to know by how much before we start making new decisions about land.
Ottawa already has a natural heritage system built into the Official Plan. I would use that work rather than creating another layer of studies. When an area has real environmental importance, protect it and make sure development around it respects that.
Where I think this really matters is as Ottawa continues to grow. I support responsible growth, but residents shouldn't find out late in the process that a development could affect an important natural area near their neighbourhood. That information should be available from the beginning, and protecting the area should be part of the discussion before plans get too far along.
I don't see the 30% commitment as simply hitting a number on a map. I want to know that the land we're protecting is land that actually matters and that we're not losing important natural areas in one part of the city while claiming success somewhere else."
~~
Response in French Provided by the Candidate
"Je commencerais par demander où Ottawa en est réellement par rapport à l'objectif de 30 %. Si une grande partie du territoire est déjà protégée, les résidents devraient le savoir. S'il nous en manque, il faut savoir combien avant de commencer à prendre de nouvelles décisions sur les terrains.
La Ville a déjà identifié un réseau de milieux naturels dans son Plan officiel. Je préfère partir de ce travail plutôt que de lancer encore une autre étude. Lorsqu'un secteur a une vraie importance environnementale, protégeons-le et tenons-en compte lorsqu'un projet est proposé à proximité.
Avec la croissance d'Ottawa, ces décisions vont revenir de plus en plus souvent. Je suis en faveur d'une croissance responsable, mais je ne veux pas que les résidents apprennent à la dernière minute qu'un projet pourrait avoir un impact sur un milieu naturel important près de chez eux. Ça doit faire partie de la discussion dès le début.
Pour moi, atteindre le 30% ne devrait pas simplement être un chiffre sur une carte. Je veux qu'on protège des endroits qui ont réellement de la valeur et qu'on ne perde pas un milieu naturel important d'un côté de la ville pour ensuite dire qu'on a atteint notre objectif ailleurs."