New City Council Brings New Hope to Addressing Ottawa’s Key Environmental Issues
By Liz Bernstein
Municipal elections season has come and gone in Ottawa. Residents of Lowertown and Ottawa voted in a new city council last month, a council many of us hope will lead the City into a cleaner, greener more sustainable future. There is reason to be optimistic about this future too.
Candidates surveyed by Ecology Ottawa during the election demonstrated that they get that there is a need to act over the next four years on Ottawa’s key environmental issues. In the survey, candidates for council showed near universal support for making investments to stop the flow of untreated sewage overflow into the Ottawa River and stormwater management.
Eight-two percent of candidates for council said they would prioritize investing in pedestrian, cycling and affordable public transit infrastructure in the urban area over new infrastructure for cars. To fight back against the devastation to Ottawa’s trees caused by the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, nine out of ten candidates agreed with the Tree Ottawa initiative, which will see one million new trees in the City.
Even on issues that some may view as more controversial, the majority of candidates were in agreement: people and the environment must come first. Ninety-one percent of candidates strongly agreed that the City must do its part to reduce global warming greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly nine out of ten candidates said they would oppose the Energy East tar sands pipeline if it is proven the project is a threat to the health of City’s waterways and environment. All leading Rideau Vanier candidates were among them.
So yes, there is reason to be optimistic about our new city council, with a clear mandate and commitment to act for a healthy and green Ottawa, but this is not a reason to be idle. We must ensure that promises and pledges turn into actions and that this new council takes leadership in ensuring that a healthy and green Ottawa is a priority for this term of Council and that resources are committed accordingly.
When we celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, we want to be on our way to building the green capital of Canada. Lowertown residents stand ready to do our part.