Re: City of Ottawa 2008 Transportation Master Plan

November 23, 2008

Mayor Larry O’Brien and Members of Council
City of Ottawa
111 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa K1P 1J1

Re: City of Ottawa 2008 Transportation Master Plan

Dear Mayor & Councillors,

The Westboro Community Association wishes to make the following comments regarding the City’s draft 2008 Transportation Master Plan:

• The current plan invests too heavily in further expansion of the existing Transitway at the expense of moving more quickly to implement the proposed light rail network. This continued short-term focus on bus-based rapid transit will only drive up the city’s already high transit operating costs, flies in the face of residents’ strong preference for light rail solutions expressed throughout the public consultation process, and will divert scarce resources away from much-needed improvements to OC Transpo’s existing core network. We believe that a large portion of the +$600 million currently allocated for completing the Transitway should be re-directed to building more light rail during Phase 1 of the TMP’s implementation.
• We urge you to consider Carling Avenue as an alternative to the Ottawa River Parkway (ORP)and Byron Avenue corridors for light rail rapid transit service. Compared to ORP and Byron, Carling offers many potential advantages:
  o City-owned.
  o Delivers rapid transit closer to many more residents as well as large employment and commercial centres including the Civic and Royal Ottawa hospitals as well as Carlingwood and Westgate shopping centres.
  o It avoids protracted negotiations with the NCC the outcome and cost implications of which are unknown.
  o A straight east-west alignment.
  o Protects existing greenspace and environmentally-sensitive areas along the Ottawa River.
  o Adjacent properties along Carling offer significant redevelopment/intensification opportunities that would generate future revenue for the City through development charges and property taxes. The ORP corridor offers none.
  o Greater consistency with the City’s official plan which seeks to concentrate development near existing transportation corridors and infrastructure.

Therefore we urge Council to undertake a full cost/benefit analysis as well as authorize completion of the environmental assessment of the Carling corridor on the basis of using it for rapid light rail service during the first phase of TMP implementation.

Sincerely,

Wallace Beaton
Chair

Gary Ludington
Vice-Chair
Westboro Community Association

cc.
Marie Lemay, CEO National Capital Commission
Paul Dewar, MP, Ottawa-Centre
Yasir Naqvi, MPP Ottawa-Centre
John Baird, MP, Ottawa West-Nepean
Jim Watson, MPP, Ottawa West-Nepean
City Clerk, City of Ottawa

Posting of the Draft Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Regulation

A message from our MPP, Yasir Naqvi:

Dear Friends,

As you know, on June 18, 2008, the Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act was passed in the Ontario Legislature.

I am proud of this Act because it takes a prudent approach to reduce potential risk, especially to the most vulnerable members of our society, from the cosmetic uses of pesticides. Cosmetic uses are unnecessary and there are alternatives to conventional pesticides to manage pests on lawns, and in gardens and parks.

Over the summer, our government consulted with stakeholders about the specifics of the ban. During the development of the draft regulation, consideration was given to the specific products proposed to be banned for sale and use.

The Ministry of the Environment has developed a draft regulation, which was posted on the Environmental Registry (EBR Registry Number: 010-5080) on November 7 for a period of 45 days. In particular, the public is being asked to comment on:

• the proposed lists of pesticides (products and ingredients) banned for use and banned or restricted for sale;
• the rules for pesticide use on golf courses; and
• the exceptions to the ban for public health or safety reasons.

It is proposed that the province-wide ban would take effect in spring 2009, once the regulation is finalized.

I encourage you to visit http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTA0OTk2&statusId=MTU3MjYz&language=en to review the draft regulations and post your comments. You can also visit www.ene.gov.on.ca for more information on the proposed legislation.

Thank you for your continued input and support of this important initiative. Please do not hesitate to contact my community office if you would like any additional information about this legislation, or any Government of Ontario program.

Regards,

Yasir
Mr. Yasir Naqvi, MPP
Ottawa Centre 

Community Office:
411 Roosevelt Ave, Suite 204
Ottawa ON K2A 3X9
T: 613 722 6414
F: 613 722 6703
E: ynaqvi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Queen’s Park Office
77 Grenville Street, 10th floor
Toronto ON M5S 1B3
T: 416 327 4394
F: 416 327 4493
E: ynaqvi.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Official Plan Amendment

Today was somewhat historic, in that the Official Plan Amendment (and the changes to the zoning) for the Richmond Road/Westboro Community Design Plan, was passed by Planning and Environment Committee. This has been a three plus year process that is almost complete. It now has to be passed by Council and is then subject to appeals.

Light rail

This just came in from the Councillor’s office:

Dear Ottawan,

A vast paradigm shift is presently underway in Ottawa and around the world. The unstable cost of petroleum products is forcing all governments to re-think how the public sector invests in transportation.

We are convinced that Ottawa needs a Light Rail Now! plan for this city in response to these new economic conditions. This means beginning construction of a light rail service that goes where people want and need. The current plan does not achieve this purpose at all. It is a bus first plan that will spend 450 million immediately on new buses and new garages and this figure doesn’t include all the new asphalt for new transitway pavement, bridges and supporting roads.

The great problem here is the bigger the bus system grows, the bigger the draw down on taxpayers and riders becomes, but as electric rail service grows costs are reduced as is pollution. For example, the brand new Luas line in Dublin generated a profit of 6.6 million euros last year. The current Ottawa plan will continue to increase fares, continue to seek urban transit levy increases and provide little new service.

We ask you to come out on November 17 (10:30 a.m.) at the “Gladstone” Theatre, 910 Gladstone Avenue, to join us for presentations on how we can move forward immediately with fast, efficient light rail service on Carling and to all other parts of the city from Orleans, Kanata, Barrhaven and Riverside South. Your questions will be welcome and a light snack will be served courtesy of the Preston St. BIA.

Please support us by coming out and e-mailing your Councillors and the Mayor for a Light Rail Now! plan for Ottawa.

Sincerely,

Councillor Christine Leadman
Kitchissippi Ward

Councillor Clive Doucet
Capital Ward

 

Clare Gardens Park

In early October the WCA participated in a cleanup of Clare Gardens Park. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. We were joined by a number of neighbors and many made donations of baked goods. Penny Collenette dropped by with some treats to share as well. I think it’s safe to say that everybody had a good time. Thank you to everyone who came out!

The cleanup was also a great opportunity for us to speak to area residents about what changes they would like to see in the park. The City is very interested in getting your feedback about the park and they want to hear from area residents. If you do use the park, please contact us ASAP at hellowestboro@yahoo.ca and we’ll email you a copy of a questionnaire they have supplied to us for this purpose. We are moving ahead with a new play structure and your feedback is critical.

Some of our neighbors have undertaken some private fund-raising initiatives in an effort to contribute to the rejuvenation of Clare Gardens Park… a worthwhile endeavour considering the wide variety of people who use this shady little corner of Westboro.

The Friends of Clare Gardens are hosting a dinner and dance on November 15, 2008 at the All Saints Anglican Church on Richmond Rd. Do consider participating! Your support is appreciated.

(Details below. Click to enlarge image).