Ottawa City Council split and unresolved on the bridge issue
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Summary of the Feb. 11 Ottawa City Council meeting
Contributed by Gisèle Forsey
Council voted in favour of reconsidering its recommendation to remove Lower Duck from further consideration in the inter-provincial crossing study. Bloess’ motion to remove Lower Duck was allowed on a technicality and passed because councillors Hume and Bédard were away on City business. Thanks to our lobbying efforts, we did not lose any support among councillors.
The message City Council is sending the NCC is that it is split and unresolved on the bridge issue—the tactics demonstrated to date could go on indefinitely.
Thank you to all those who came to the meeting wearing buttons, even for a short time. There was a strong button-wearing contingent, including a few who stayed until the end of the 11 hour meeting, offering a visible testimony to the Mayor and all members of Council that we will not back down from this fight. There was a small group of determined residents from Orleans who stayed as well. We were balanced in our representation.
It is anticipated that Bloess will try to make as much out Council’s recommendation as he can in the media. But there is no substance to it.
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Coverage of the meeting by the Ottawa Citizen:
Feb. 12, Ottawa Citizen: Council meeting spins out of control
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February 12th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I would not be opposed to citizens of Ottawa pointing out to Bloess’ constituents what he is doing to future Orleans property values. Imagine this scenario. It is 15 years from today. Kettle Island bridge is open to traffic. Thousands of Gatineau cars pour onto Ottawa streets ahead of Orleans residents trying to get to work downtown.
A new couple is moving here from Toronto. They ask their future coworkers where to buy a house. They say, “stay away from Orleans, they have traffic problems like no other part of town.” If this is obvious to people moving here. Properties values have no choice but to drop. Does this seem outrageous to think. Imagine that in a pamphlet to Orleans residents.