Ontario Requests NCC Re-evaluate Preferred Bridge Crossing Site
The Province of Ontario carries a lot of weight in the bridge decision process, and we have every expectation that the NCC will listen closely to their position. On that note…
Press Release issued by Madeleine Meilleur’s office on January 27:
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OTTAWA – Madeleine Meilleur, MPP for Ottawa-Vanier, is pleased to announce to her local community that the Ontario government has requested that the National Capital Commission (NCC) further analyse the top three site options, (Gatineau Airport, Lower Duck, and Kettle Island), for the proposed Inter-Provincial River Crossing between Ottawa and Gatineau. The government of Ontario has asked the NCC to expand its Phase 1 Environmental Assessment with an emphasis on community impact, transit, and economic development, before proceeding to Phase 2 of the process.
MPP Meilleur, along with many community advocates, has long been opposed to the Kettle Island option. Community members have raised countless concerns about noise, air quality, increased traffic volumes and public safety. Meilleur has always believed that the new bridge should be constructed away from any established residential neighbourhoods.
“I am extremely pleased with the request by my government to expand Phase 1 of the study,” said Madeleine Meilleur, MPP for Ottawa-Vanier. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the people of Ottawa, this expanded study will hopefully identify a better option for our community. We know we need a bridge. We know the east end makes sense. We even know there are better options right here in Ottawa-Vanier, but we are going to have to work with the NCC and other levels of government, including the Province of Québec, to find an option that makes sense for the residents of Ottawa and Gatineau.”
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This is very good news for the fight against Kettle Island, particularly if the expanded study is mandated to further analyze and consider negative community impact, transit, and economic development. If these factors are given proper consideration, it will become clear to all that Kettle Island is the wrong choice.
Kudos to Madeleine Meilleur for gaining the support of the Province.
Let’s just hope the NCC listens.
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January 29th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Yes, move a crossing down river, however, there are other concerns about this process that Ms Meilleur could have addressed too. For instance, the judging criteria precluded any tunnel by weighting cost at 29% of the grading of a preferred option. Yes, tunnels cost more to build, but they do not have the environmental impact and legal barriers that a bridge will.
Infrastructure Canada funding was not considered in this process, so those commissioning the study are being cheap in their vision by only assuming that the provinces will be funding this. We know what cheap means in the long run. Cheap comes at costs, whether it’s Larry O’Brien trying to keep taxes low (bus strikes, user fees) or a bridge that mars the waterfront. Ms Meilleur would have done better to redefine the study to include tunnelling options and then make a final decision based on a political judgment that may incorporate financial cost versus social & environmental.
However, any bridge crossing over Ottawa River islands are going to be legally blocked by the First Nations anyway, as only they have legal rights to these islands which they never surrendered in a treaty and which pasts government administrations recognized up until recent times when forgetfulness set in. Why isn’t that part of the judging criteria? It could be this whole evaluation process is a waste of time, considering how all jurisdictions are represented, except the ones that actually own the islands.
Perhaps it’s time to scrap this consultation process altogether and start over.