City Budget Fails on Promised Climate Action

The City budget 2015 goes to full City Council on March 11.

Last spring City Council approved its 2014 Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan which promised many initiatives including five specifically for inclusion in the 2015 budget.

A number of Champlain Park residents have been particularly active in promoting climate action at the City and were very pleased with the attitude of Councillors including Jeff Leiper at election time last fall.

However, we should be disappointed now because of those five recommended budget items, only one is included in the budget.

All hope is not lost though, and you can help.

The budget sets aside $34 million for “priority initiatives” which may or may not include climate change depending on what the new council decides are its “Term of Council Priorities.” The city website lists some suggested priorities here and it is notable that climate change is not among them.

Certainly Jeff Leiper and Environment Committee Chair David Chernushenko agree that climate change is a priority, but they will have to convince their peers.

Telling Jeff Leiper that you agree that climate change should be a priority will strengthen that position.

To contact Jeff Leiper
phone (613) 580-2485 or
email Jeff.Leiper@ottawa.ca

More info from Ecology Ottawa can be found here (including specific initiatives that the City had promised).

Over 20 million Ash trees dying in Ottawa

Subject: Over 20 million Ash trees dying in Ottawa.
From: graham.saul@ecologyottawa.ca
To: CoChair1
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 16:53:47 +0000

Be part of the solution
(Une version française suit le texte anglais)

Did you know that in the next three to five years Ottawa will be losing over 20 MILLION Ash trees, including about 25 percent of the trees in the urban area? The sheer scale of it blows my mind. It’s a tragedy that I’m reminded of every day by the big red “Xs” I see on trees in my local park.

A problem of this magnitude calls for a truly community wide response, one that brings people like you together to take action in small and large ways. That’s why Ecology Ottawa has teamed up with other leading organizations in the City of Ottawa to launch Tree Ottawa, an ambitious plan to plant, protect and promote trees.

If you want to know more about how you can help, then sign-up to come to one of Tree Ottawa’s upcoming workshops in three areas across Ottawa; January 20th in Centerpointe, January 27th in Kanata, and February 3rd in Orleans.  A range of experts will present on topics such as the Emerald Ash Borer and the City of Ottawa’s tree planting program; the benefits and considerations of planting local indigenous trees; and on how to organize a successful tree planting event in your neighbourhood. Space is limited, so if you want to learn more about how you can help protect Ottawa’s tree canopy RSVP for one of our Workshops here! You can find out more about others ways to get involved by checking out the Tree Ottawa website at www.treeottawa.org

Below I’ve included other upcoming events on issues like active transportation and stopping oil pipelines that you should know about. For a regularly updated list of environment-related events in the City of Ottawa, you can always check out the events calendar on our website here: http://ecologyottawa.ca/calendar/

Thanks for all you do,

Graham, on behalf of the Ecology Ottawa Team

Ontario Government’s Final Energy East Consultation
When: January 22nd, 6:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Brookstreet Hotel, 525 Legget Drive, Kanata (Map)

Last April, the Ontario government came to Ottawa to ask residents here what we thought about the proposed Energy East pipeline. Overwhelmingly, hundreds of us came to tell them that the proposed pipeline was a bad idea.

Now that TransCanada has filed their official application, the Ontario government is back, and wants to hear if your opinion has changed. More than ever, we know this export pipeline isn’t necessary, and is a threat to our waterways and our climate. Come out on January 22nd for a public hearing in Kanata to tell Kathleen Wynne that Ottawa residents don’t want the Energy East pipeline. RSVP online or on Facebook. It’s critical that the Ontario government hear from concerned residents who are opposed to this pipeline.

Community Forum on Sustainability in Ottawa Centre
When: Tuesday, January 20th at 7pm
Where: McNabb Community Centre (180 Percy Street)

Come join local leaders in sustainability, Jonathan Westeinde (Windmill Development Group), Meredith Brown (Ottawa Riverkeeper) and Graham Saul (Ecology Ottawa) who will discuss priorities in our community for protecting the environment and promoting health. This event is hosted by Catherine McKenna, Liberal Party candidate for Ottawa Centre. RSVP: joanne@catherinemckenna.ca

The Human Scale free movie screening
When: January 29, 2015 at 6pm – 8:45pm
Where: The ByTowne Cinema, 325 Rideau Street

Join Ecology Ottawa and many other organizations for a free screening of the excellent documentary, The Human Scale, and stay for 30 minutes after the film as a panel of experts discuss what the City of Ottawa has done well and what it can do better related to urban planning, sustainable transportation, and creating a more liveable city. Questions from the audience will follow.  RSVP Here: http://healthytransportationcoalition.nationbuilder.com/the_human_scale

Plus de 20 millions frênes périssent à Ottawa
Saviez-vous que lors des prochaines 3 à 5 ans nous allons perdre plus de 20 millions frênes à Ottawa, c’est-à-dire 25 pourcent des arbres en milieu urbain? L’ampleur de la problématique est énorme. La gravité de la situation est soulignée à chaque jour lorsque je croise des arbres marqués par un gros X rouge.

Une problématique d’une telle ampleur nécessite une action collective qui réunit des personnes comme vous qui collaborent de manières diversifiées et tangibles. C’est justement pour cette raison qu’Écologie Ottawa travaille en collaboration avec d’autres organismes de la Ville d’Ottawa afin de lancer Arbre Ottawa qui vise à planter, protéger et planter des arbres.

Vous êtes invité à venir vous joindre à nous pour apprendre plus sur comment vous pouvez vous impliquer! Nous aurons trois ateliers (en anglais uniquement) dans les semaines à venir; le 20 janvier à Centrepointe, le 27 janvier à Kanata et le 3 février à Orléans. Lors de ces ateliers, plusieurs thèmes seront abordés par des experts de leur domaine dont l’agrile du frêne, le programme de plantation des arbres de la Ville d’Ottawa, les bénéfices de planter des arbres indigènes et comment organiser des plantations d’arbres dans votre communauté. L’espace est limité donc réservez votre siège dès aujourd’hui en regardant l’horaire des ateliers. Pour de plus amples renseignements, visitez www.treeottawa.org
Ci-dessus, nous avons inclut divers événements sur des problématiques tel le transport actif et l’arrêt des pipelines qui vous intéresseront possiblement. Pour connaître les événements qui se passent dans votre communauté, visiter régulièrement notre wite web : http://ecologyottawa.ca/calendar/

Merci pour tout ce que vous faites,

Graham, au nom de toute l’équipe d’Écologie Ottawa

Dire à Kathleen Wynne que les citoyens d’Ottawa ne veulent pas du pipeline Énergie Est
En avril dernier, le gouvernement ontarien est venu ici, à Ottawa, pour demander aux citoyens ce qu’ils pensaient du projet de pipeline Énergie Est. La réponse a été massive. Des  centaines d’entre nous se sont déplacés pour dire à ce gouvernement que le projet de pipeline était une mauvaise idée.

Maintenant que le projet de TransCanada a été déposé officiellement, le gouvernement ontarien est de retour pour savoir si votre opinion a changé. La réponse est non. Plus que jamais, nous savons que  ce pipeline d’exportation n’est pas nécessaire et qu’il représente une menace pour nos cours d’eau et notre climat.

Le 22 janvier prochain, venez à Kanata pour assister à  une audience publique et dire à Kathleen Wynne que les citoyens d’Ottawa ne veulent pas du pipeline Énergie Est. Veuillez confirmer votre  présence sur le site d’Écologie Ottawaou sur Facebook.  Il est crucial que le gouvernement entende la voix  des résidents inquiets opposés au projet.

Quand : Le 22 janvier de 18 h à 21 h
 :  Brookstreet Hotel au  525, Legget Drive, à Kanata (Carte)

Cependant, si vous ne pouvez y assister, vous avez l’option d’écouter l’audience publique en direct ou d’écrire une lettre à la Commission. Vous trouverez les indications sur les moyens d’écouter l’audience en direct ou de faire parvenir une lettre en consultant le site Web de la Commission de l’Énergie de l’Ontario.

Visionnement gratuit du film « Human Scale »
Quand? Le 29 janvier 2015, 18 h à 20 h 45
Où? Cinéma ByTowne, 325, rue Rideau

Joignez-vous à nous et aux nombreux organismes présents pour un visionnement gratuit d’un documentaire excellent. Venez pour le film « Human Scale » et restez pour un panel de discussion composé d’experts qui offriront des critiques sur ce que la Ville d’Ottawa a bien fait et ce que nous pouvons faire de mieux en terme de la planification urbaine, du transport durable et d’une ville plus vivable. Vous aurez la chance de poser vos questions. RSVP: http://healthytransportationcoalition.nationbuilder.com/the_human_scale

Health event at U of Ottawa

Doctor holding out hand.Titled Sick of Climate Change? Local Health Impacts in a Warming World Ecology Ottawa and the U of O Centre on Governance is organizing a panel discussion with experts from Ottawa’s local health community plus speakers of international stature. At issue – how is climate change hurting Ottawans’ health?

Please register to attend here

Hear from:

  • Sir Michael Marmot, Chair, World Health Organization Commission on the Social Determinants of Health
  • Councillor Diane Holmes, Chair, Ottawa Board of Health
  • Dr. Rosamund Lewis, Associate Medical Officer of Health, City of Ottawa
  • Frank Welsh, Director of Policy, Canadian Public Health Association
  • Dr. Curtis Lavoie, Emergency Physician, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
  • Alice Hutton, former Community Health Planner, Centretown Community Health Centre
  • Prof. Matthew Paterson, University of Ottawa School of Political Studies, and lead author, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The session will include both audience Q&A and breakout discussion sessions. It takes place from 7pm to 9pm.

Please register to attend here

Ottawa Election 2014 – What’s important to you?

ecology ottawa logo2014 is an election year and your vote will help decide who leads our city into the future, so please take a moment to let us know what is important to you by taking a quick election survey.

Your answers will help guide our work over the coming year.

October’s election will help determine whether or not our city enjoys

  • affordable and convenient public transit
  • walkable and bike-safe communities
  • clean rivers
  • a healthy urban forest
  • clean energy options to break our oil dependence, doing our share to fight climate change

Ecology Ottawa will be working with like-minded people across the city to encourage candidates to show environmental leadership and your feedback will help guide our work. We’ll be looking for politicians who take strong positions for a sustainable city.

Please take a few moments to answer eight questions about your local environmental priorities. We’ll keep you up to date on the issues you care about most.

Take the survey here.

Sincerely
Graham Saul
Ecology Ottawa, Executive Director

Pipeline Wine & Cheese January 20 2014

Full red wine glass gobletAre you concerned about the planned tar sands oil pipeline that would run inside Ottawa city limits and cross the Rideau River?

If so YOU’RE INVITED to a friendly social event Jwhere our elected officials from all three levels of government will be available to chat and will each say a few words about the pipeline.

It takes place January 20th at 7pm Charles Hodgson’s home here in Champlain Park. Ottawa City Councillor Katherine Hobbs; Ontario Minister of Labour Yasir Naqvi; and Member of Parliament for Ottawa Center Paul Dewar will all be in attendance.

Attendance limited to 40 residents of Kitchissippi ward. Please RSVP here.

Ecology Ottawa aims at 10,000 Signatures

This update to an earlier blog post explains the next phase in our efforts to stop sewage going into the river.

As of the end of March more than 1000 letters were sent to local MPs, more than 10 community associations – including ours – sent official letters, a “cut the crap” press conference on the frozen river got wide media exposure (see YouTube at the end of this post). As a result cabinet minister John Baird brought the topic up at a post-budget speech, putting responsibility on the City of Ottawa; mayor Jim Watson then publicly disagreed.

So we’ve got their attention, but we haven’t yet gotten the money needed to stop the 400+ million liters of untreated sewage spills happening every year.

Ecology Ottawa is now launching the next stage of its campaign to stop this revolting and irresponsible problem.

1) We’ve started a petition with a target of 10,000 signatures. You can sign that here:

2) We’re inviting high school students to earn their required volunteer hours with Ecology Ottawa, in teams gathering petition signatures in their own neighbourhoods. They can sign up here:

3) We’ve begun the Ecology Ottawa Community Network with local organizers in neighbourhoods across Ottawa to manage this campaign and others in the future. You can help out with that by going here.

Ecology Ottawa is a not-for-profit, grassroots, volunteer-driven organization working to make Ottawa the green capital of Canada.

Campaign to Stop Sewage Spills into Ottawa River

Last month the Champlain Park Community Association joined many of us as individuals in sending a letter to MPs advocating for an end to Ottawa River sewage spills.

Ecology Ottawa has mounted a campaign that has so far resulted in more than 1000 such letters including many from area Community Associations.

With the recent federal budget came no allocation of funds for this problem. In fact, John Baird recommended using transit money to fix this sewer problem; effectively advising us to rob Peter to pay Paul. Perhaps in anticipation that the federal government were not planning to fund their share, the provincial budget also allocated no funds.

Both senior governments had shared costs in this project with the City of Ottawa in the past. They had been expected to do for the final phase. Yet at this time our sewer infrastructure can’t cope with heavy downpours and so numerous times every year spills millions of liters of sewage contaminated water straight into the river.

Since the 2012 federal and provincial budgets haven’t allocated funds to solve this urgent problem Ecology Ottawa is redoubling its efforts and doing so at a grassroots level. We’re building a network of concerned individuals in neighbourhoods across Ottawa, including Champlain Park.

If you would like to help here in Champlain Park please contact me, Charles Hodgson. I’m the local Ecology Ottawa Community Network organizer. I can be reached at 613-728-2016 or chas.hodgson@gmail.com