10 things you should know about the bridge project
1. A bridge at any of the three corridors being considered (Kettle Island, Lower Duck, or Gatineau Airport):
- Will not solve the truck problem on King Edward
- Will deteriorate communities and green space
- Will not integrate well with public transit
- Will encourage urban sprawl
- Will encourage more car commuting, and will increase traffic problems
2. The NCC describes the scope of the current project phase as being to pick “the least worst option” among the three corridors being assessed. No variations beyond those three specifically defined corridors are being considered within this project.
3. The final corridor selection will be made in late Summer 2012, after which all project activity will focus on submission and approval through the Canadian Environment Assessment Act for the selected corridor. This final phase of the project is expected to be completed by January 2013. Upon approval, the bridge will be ready to build, subject to funding and initiation of the required infrastructure project.
4. Based on their approval of the scope of this phase of the project, the funding partners (NCC, Province of Ontario, Province of Quebec) have concluded that any of the three corridors being considered would be suitable for a bridge and trucking route.
5. The Province of Ontario waived the requirement to undertake an Ontario Environment Assessment for this project, thereby eliminating all safeguards to citizens, requirements, and legal protections that this legislation provides to citizens. However, the Province of Ontario has requested that a higher degree of emphasis should be placed on community impacts, public transit, and economic development when making the final selection.
6. The next round of public consultations is planned in February 2012, where the public will be able to see exactly what a bridge and truck route at Kettle Island would look like. Functional designs and mitigation measures for all three options will be presented for comment. Also within the February consultations, the public will have an opportunity to provide input on weighting of the factors that will be used to assess and compare the three potential bridge locations. When applied to the “bridge formula”, these weighting will, ultimately, define which of the three potential bridge locations is selected.
7. In the first phase of the project, Kettle Island ranked as the worst of the 12 corridor options being considered at that time in the categories of factors relating to negative impacts on people and communities along the corridor. However, these factors were assigned a combined weighting of only 13% by the technical oriented committee who assigned weightings behind closed doors. This same committee assigned a combined weighting of 54% to the factors relating to traffic and cost.
8. By increasing the relative importance of Phase 1 factors related to negative community impacts, the “bridge equation” identified other corridors as being more favourable than Kettle Island.
9. We need to ensure that negative impact on communities and people is assigned the weighting it deserves during this final phase of the project, and that it is not overshadowed by technical and cost considerations. Please participate in the upcoming consultation and provide your feedback.
10. The MPCA and the MPCA Bridge Committee are working hard to defend our community against this threat. We have engaged industry consultants, urban planners, and lawyers to strengthen our cause, and there is more to be done as we prepare for the coming months. But we need your financial support.
If you can spare a donation, big or small, towards the bridge fight, please send a cheque to:
Manor Park Community Association (MPCA)
PO Box 74211
5 Beechwood Ave
Ottawa, ON K1M 2H9
Missed the consultations? Submit comments online.
If you were unable to participate in the first round of public consultations, please take the time to submit your comments and feedback online. The consultants have prepared a Do-It-Yourself online kit that provides the opportunity for you to identify and document all of your concerns associated with Corridor 5 (Kettle Island).
I urge you to complete this process, as this feedback will identify the community attributes and corridor characteristics that need to be considered and protected through the analysis, design, and final selection process.
Click here for a link to the DIY kit on the consultant’s website. The DIY kit will be available online until the end of June, possibly longer. So please provide your input sooner than later.
To help guide your feedback, click here for a map that identifies many of the communities, institutions, and facilities that would be impacted by a Kettle Island trucking route.
Participate in Phase 2B consultations to express your concerns
There are a number of planned activities and events over the coming months as part of the Phase 2B consultation process, but it all starts very soon. Click here for a bulletin that the NCC has prepared and recently distributed to promote these activities.
The events relevant to the Kettle Island corridor are:
Community Value Planning Workshop – Kettle Island Corridor
June 14, 2011
Ray Friel Recreation Complex
1585 Tenth Line Rd
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
World Café-Ottawa
June 18, 2011
Cyrville Community Centre
4355 Halmont Dr
Ottawa, ON
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Pre-registration is required! Here’s the link to the registration pages: http://www.ncrcrossings.ca/en/consultation.php
The intent of these sessions is to gauge ‘Community Values’. It is essential that opponents of a Kettle Island bridge express their concerns about a trucking route through their neighbourhood.
The June 14th session will focus specifically on the Kettle Island corridor (June 15-16 focus on the other corridors). Participants will have the opportunity to identify on a map and describe specific problem areas or aspects that need to be preserved. Click here for a map on this website that identifies a number of communities, institutions, and facilities that would be directly impacted by the Kettle Island trucking route.
June 18th will be more of a holistic, working session with round table discussions about what’s important to people and communities.
Participants can come and go at any time during the sessions – there is no need to stay for the entire sessions.
The timing of these events is questionable at best, and the lead time has been minimal. Unfortunately, it is what it is.
If you are unable to attend one of these events, you will have the opportunity to formally submit online comments. And there will be other community events and meetings planned. Stay tuned for details.
Here are some points to consider for your feedback:
- Safety first. Trucks and communities do not mix. Keep the trucks away from households, pedestrians, bikes, and busy intersections.
- Minimize the health, noise, and vibration impacts to residential areas by keeping the trucks far away from residential areas and schools.
- We value our parks and recreational facilities along the Aviation Parkway. It’s called a ‘Park’-way for a reason.
- Any new bridge needs to be looked at in the context of a broader transportation plan for the region.
- Further options beyond the 3 identified corridors must be explored. There are significant issues with the current alignments (including expropriate of homes) that could be avoided if other options are considered.
- Any new bridge needs to encourage public transportation, and needs to consider future transportation modal shifts.
- The Aviation Parkway is part of a network of scenic routes that provide downtown access to the Nation’s Capital. Adding thousands of trucks to this scenic route each day would severely diminish its scenic and touristic value.
- Do not inhibit access to or disrupt the Montfort Hospital.
- Protect the RCMP stables, home of the Musical Ride.
- Preserve and protect the tranquility of the bike paths and green space along the Ottawa River.
Feel free to browse other postings on this website for more background information and ideas.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Pubic consultations starting this month
Phase 2B, the critical phase of this project that was recently (and controversially) awarded to Roche-NCE, is moving quickly into its public consultation phase. The intent of these consultations, per the process defined in Phase 2A by Aecom-Delcan, is to engage the public, listen to concerns, and to keep the process transparent. One of the first objectives of this phase is to select the final location for a new bridge.
While the intent is good, the extent to which these consultations will actually influence any final decisions is not clear. Given Roche-NCE’s history on this file, there is good reason for concern.
That being said, participation in the public consultations is important, and comments and feedback received at these consultations will be part of the official project record.
Here is the schedule, as defined by the project team:
- Public Consultation Group Meeting – June 7, 2011
- Community Value Planning Workshops – June 14, 15 and 16, 2011
- World Café (Regional Perspectives) – June 11, 2011 – Gatineau
- World Café (Regional Perspectives) – June 18, 2011 – Ottawa
- Public Review of Draft Community Value Plans (web based comments) – July to August 2011
If you wish to attend, pre-registration is required. For more details, and to pre-register for any of the events, refer to the official project website: http://www.ncrcrossings.ca/en/consultation.php
Related media coverage:
June 1, Ottawa Citizen: Months of consultations planned on new east-end bridge
NCC approves Phase 2A report; next steps contingent upon provincial funding
The NCC Board of Directors unanimously approved the Phase 2A report last week, with only three options to be considered. The flexibility to look at other options beyond the three identified corridors is not currently within the scope of the next phase of the project, where a final determination of the crossing location will be made.
As noted in an earlier posting, none of the three options currently being considered will sufficiently address the problems.
Although the NCC has approved the Phase 2A report and funding for the next phase, the project is effectively on hold until the Provinces provide their approval and associated funding.
Read more:
July 2, Ottawa Citizen, No word yet on provincial funding for bridge
If you have concerns, now is the time to voice them to the Province:
Hon. Madeleine Meilleur
MPP for Ottawa-Vanier
Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
Minister of Community and Social Services
237 Montreal Rd Vanier, ON K1L 6C7
Telephone: (613) 744-4484 Fax: (613) 744-0889
E-mail: mmeilleur.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Yasir Naqvi, MPP
MPP for Ottawa-Centre
204- 411 Roosevelt Ave.
Ottawa ON K2A 3X9
Tel: 613-722-6414
Fax: 613-722-6703
ynaqvi.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Phil McNeely, MPP
MPP for Ottawa-Orléans
6- 110 Bearbrook Rd
Gloucester ON K1B 5R2
Tel 613-834-8679
Fax 613-834-7647
pmcneely.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Dalton McGuinty, Premier
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto ON M7A 1A1
Fax:(416) 325-3745.
dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Kathleen Wynne
Minister of Transportation
Click here to send a message to the Minister
Margarett Best
Minister of Health
777 Bay Street- 18th Floor
Toronto, On
M7A 1S5
Tel: 416-326-8500
Fax:416-326-8520
www.mhp.gov.on.ca/english/contact/minister.asp
John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment
12th Floor, 135 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5
Telephone: (416) 314-6790
Fax: (416) 314-7337
jgerretsen.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Online discussion forum: Interprovincial Crossings
The Interprovincial Crossings debate is featured on an active online discussion forum: SkyscraperPage.com.
The global membership discusses development news and construction activity on projects from around the world, alongside discussions on urban design, architecture, transportation and many other topics.
Among other topics, members of the forum have recognized the potential of a downtown tunnel as a viable alternative to removing trucks from Ottawa’s downtown streets.
View and participate in the discussion at:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=144112&page=14
Phase 2A report: Provide your feedback to the NCC
The Phase 2A report will be presented for approval at NCC Board of Directors meeting on June 29th. Meeting details will be posted on the NCC website on June 22nd.
While the public is invited to attend, there will be no opportunity to speak. So although the public can watch and listen, we will be unable to express any concerns or ask questions about the report at that meeting.
The next opportunity to publicly address the NCC Board of Directors will be in April 2011, by which time Phase 2B will be well underway.
To voice any concerns that you have about the Phase 2A report prior to the meeting, send an email to secretariat@ncc-ccn.ca, with a request to distribute your email to the Board.
MPCA Community Meeting – Summary and Fundraising
Over 400 concerned citizens attended the MPCA community meeting last night to learn about recent bridge activities and implications.
The Province of Ontario backing out of the Environmental Assessment process was highlighted as a primary concern. Judy Lishman delivered a presentation on this topic, summarizing the impacts of this decision. Click here to download the presentation.
Also highlighted was the importance of continuing the letter-writing campaign to persuade the Province of Ontario to opt back in.
In order to strengthen our position, the MPCA has engaged an environmental lawyer whose immediate task will be to ask pointed questions of the Province of Ontario, highlighting our concerns. Based on his findings, the lawyer will provide a formal legal opinion on how to best proceed in order to ensure that our concerns are addressed, and that a fair and legal decision-making process is followed throughout the Interprovincial Crossings project. This could, potentially, lead to further legal engagements.
See below for a message from the MPCA about its fundraising efforts:
———————–
The Manor Park Community Association (MPCA) believes that we have a strong legal position, but we need legal representation, which costs money.
We are asking for your support.
All funds donated to the MPCA will be used specifically for this purpose, and for no other purpose(s).
Donations by cheque should be made payable to The Manor Park Community Association (MPCA). Cheques can be mailed to the MPCA at the following address:
MPCA
PO Box 74211
5 Beechwood Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1M2H9
The MPCA thanks you for your time and attention to this very important matter. The potential for an interprovincial crossing in our neighborhood(s), and the negative impact it could have on our environment, local traffic and property values deserves our full attention. The MPCA intends to make sure that the proponents for an interprovincial crossing are accountable for their actions, and your financial support will help us ensure that happens
———————–
If you have specific questions of the MPCA, please send an email to mpca@manorpark.ca.
Emergency Community Meeting: May 26, 7:00 pm
MPCA is calling an emergency community meeting about the Kettle Island Bridge issue. The concerns reported in the May edition of the Manor Park Chronicle are rapidly developing. The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public and ask for community support.
When: Wednesday, May 26
Where: Manor Park Public School gymnasium, 100 Braemar
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Who: Residents of Manor Park and surrounding communities—anyone and everyone concerned about the impact of a bridge at Kettle Island and a designated interprovincial truck route on the Aviation Parkway.
Our community needs your support.
Please attend the meeting and circulate this email to neighbours and friends.
Why an Ontario Environmental Assessment is important
As presented in an earlier posting (Ontario has opted out of the Environmental Assessment), Ontario has opted out of the Environmental Assessment process for the Interprovincial Crossings Project, and it is important for us to raise concerns with our provincial politicians to lobby them to opt back in.
The following information was prepared by Judy Lishman, a member of the Manor Park Bridge Committee. Judy describes the significance of Ontario’s decision. Thanks to Judy for her contribution.
————————-
The following is a list of some of the impacts on communities, and public concerns about Phase 1 which have been ignored by the consultants and which would be subject to review and approval by the MOE if the ONT. EA Act were in place.
- Phase 1 concludes that there would be no air quality impacts in the Kettle Island corridor even though this is the most heavily populated corridor and the residences are closer to the proposed truck route than in any other corridor.
- Phase 1 concludes that there would be no increase in vibration effects on residences in corridor 5. As a result of the closure of the base in November 2009, buses are now travelling on the Aviation Parkway. Houses adjacent to the Parkway rattle when the bus passes. Three thousand trucks a day would surely have an impact.
- Phase I did not evaluate the safety risk of hazardous materials being transported through built up communities and past a hospital.
- The weight given to noise impacts on residents in the evaluation of the corridors was a meagre 2%.
- The fundamental reason for this study as far as Ontario is concerned is to remove the trucks from a built up community. The answer is not to put them through another built up community.
- Phase 1 evaluation heavily weighted transportation and cost. The public overwhelmingly favoured heavily weighting the natural and human environment when choosing a corridor. The public was ignored.
- Phase 1 stated that the recommended corridor is “the least useful interprovincial crossing for transit”.
- There was no evaluation done and no consideration given to the impacts on the Montfort Hospital of a 4 lane truck route adjacent to the hospital.
- There was no factor for public safety.
- Many technical problems with Phase 1, which significantly affected the outcome, were identified and brought by the public to the attention of the consultants who ignored them and were able to do so because Ontario had opted out of the Environmental Assessment.
————————-
The three study partners/proponents for The Interprovincial Crossings Study, as outlined in the Terms of Reference, are the NCC and the two provincial transportation ministries: MTO and MTQ. Each of these partners is subject only to its own environmental legislation. Because this is a joint project, the Terms of Reference state that the “three study partners have agreed to follow the strictest application of the various EA (Environmental Assessment) approval processes” through a harmonized process. There are harmonization agreements between the federal government and each province which outline the process for harmonized EA projects.
The Ontario Environmental Assessment Act is triggered at the beginning of a study when the Terms of Reference are submitted by a proponent, in this case the MTO (Ministry of Transportation of Ontario), to the MOE (Ministry of the Environment) for approval by the minister. The Ontario Environmental Assessment Act is in effect until the construction is completed. The Act outlines a process for review and approvals. It also gives citizens protection through the right to consult about and to appeal any of the decisions made.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) for a Screening Study is not triggered until a site specific project, in this case the bridge corridor, has been selected. Consequently, if the Ontario EA Act is not in effect the selection of the corridor on the Ontario side will not be subject to any environmental legislation. Furthermore, under the CEAA, public consultation is discretionary and there is no public appeal process.
The NCC is claiming that the CEAA has been triggered for Phase 2A of the study, but one of the lawyers responsible for writing the Act has said that the Act has not been triggered because there is no provision under the Act for the study of three corridors. The project manager at the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, which is responsible for administering the application of the CEAA has agreed that the review of the three corridors under study will not meet the standards set out by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
The NCC project coordinator claims that since the process is following environmental guidelines that it doesn’t matter if the Ontario Act is in effect. This is not true. Ontario is not acting in compliance with the Terms of Reference to conduct a harmonized EA process. The MTO along with the MOE, opted out of Phase 1 at the very beginning. This action allowed the consultants to avoid accountability through a review and approval process and denied citizens their right to protection and appeal as provided by the Ontario EA Act. Without the Ontario EA Act no one will review or correct any of the serious errors made in Phase 1 and Phase 2B will proceed based on faulty data and conclusions.
Those of us who are following this study closely were unaware, until after the end of Phase 1, that we all, as Ontario citizens, are being denied our rights under the law. If the Minister of the Environment decides to dispense with the requirements imposed by the EA Act he must make a declaration with written reasons, give adequate notice to the public, and ensure that the public has an opportunity to comment. None of this has been done. I wrote to Minister Gerretsen and asked why the proper process has not been followed. The reply I received did not address this question.
At the end of Phase 1 Ontario agreed, on the advice of the consultant, that the CEAA would be the only legislation in effect. This agreement was predicated on the NCC being the sole proponent, which it is not since Quebec is still a proponent. Furthermore, at the time, there was a recommendation from the consultants that only one corridor be carried foreward for detailed evaluation This recommendation was rejected as a result of subsequent letters from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec stating that three corridors should be carried to Phase 2. This is significant because, as noted above, the CEAA legislation is not triggered until one corridor has been selected. Hence, the study partners are continuing to falsely assure the Ontario public that their rights are protected by calling this an Environmental Assessment Study when it is not because the evaluation and selection of the corridor is not subject to any environmental legislation. Furthermore, Ontario has given up decision making authority for this project to the NCC. Quebec has not.
The public’s concerns about Phase 1 were not heeded because the consultants knew they were not accountable to any EA process. If Ontario does not opt back into a harmonized process, the evaluation and selection of the bridge corridor will once again not be subject to any environmental review or approval and once again the public will be denied their right to protection and appeal. It is therefore imperative that the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act apply to this study through a harmonized process, as defined by the Terms of Reference. By agreeing to be a proponent as originally intended, Ontario will regain decision making authority, the Ontario EA Act will apply, the consultants’work will be subject to review and approval and the citizens of Ontario will have the protection guaranteed by the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.
Requests to the Ontario Government to opt back into the EA process have so far been refused.
————————-
What can you do?
ASAP, email our Ontario politicians, requesting that Ontario opts back in to the Environmental Assessment for the Interprovincial Crossings study.
To Premier McGuinty mcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Cc: Minister of Transportation Wynne minister@mto.gov.on.ca
Cc: Minister of the Environment Gerretsen minister.moe@ontario.ca
Cc: Our MPP Madeleine Meilleur mmeilleur.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Ontario has opted out of the Environmental Assessment
The Province of Ontario has opted out of the Environmental Assessment of the Interprovincial Crossings Study although they are still a funding partner with the NCC and Quebec.
What does this mean?
- Ontario citizens are being denied the rights and protection of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act which include the right to be consulted and to appeal to the Minister of the Environment about any aspect of the project.
- Ontario has given up decision making authority to the NCC for this entire project including the location of a bridge. John Baird, the minister responsible for the NCC and the final decision maker, has said he favours a bridge at Kettle Island.
- The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act will not be triggered until after the bridge location has been selected. Even then there is no public appeal process under this legislation.
- Under the Ontario EA Act, all the work done by the consultants is subject to review and approval by the Minister of the Environment. No such review or approval exists under the Canadian EA Act until after the bridge location is selected; therefore, to date, there has been no accountability by the consultants.
- Quebec has not opted out. The protection of their EA Act applies to this project.
What can you do?
ASAP, email our Ontario politicians, requesting that Ontario opts back in to the Environmental Assessment for the Interprovincial Crossings study.
To Premier McGuinty mcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Cc: Minister of Transportation Wynne minister@mto.gov.on.ca
Cc: Minister of the Environment Gerretsen minister.moe@ontario.ca
Cc: Our MPP Madeleine Meilleur mmeilleur.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Each person in your household should send a separate email as numbers count. Feel free to reference the points above, or any other material on this website. A short e-mail will suffice.
Online survey for Phase 2A public feedback
The Phase 2A consultants have created an online survey to solicit feedback. The results of this survey will be considered in combination with other feedback received as part of the recent public consultations. All feedback will contribute to the final definition of the process to select the location of the bridge, to be completed in Phase 2B.
You are encouraged to participate in the survey. Depending on how familiar you are with the project, it could take up to 20 minutes to complete, so please budget your time accordingly:
http://www.ncrcrossings.ca/en/index.php (then click the Online Consultations link).
Feel free to refer to any material posted on StopTheBridge.org when submitting your responses.
The submission deadline is April 16th.
Submit your Phase 2A comments online
In case you were unable to attend last week’s public consultation on the Bridge Study, it is not too late to send your comments in to the Phase 2A consultants. The deadline is April 16th.
Public opposition is key to stopping the bridge, so your comments are critical. We need to stress the importance of protecting our health, safety, and community values.
Consultants’ Contact Information:
e-mail: info@ncrcrossings.ca
write: Mr. Patrick Deoux, EACOM Delcan, 569 Saint Joseph Blvd.,Suite 204, Gatineau, Quebec, J8Y 4A1
phone: 819 777-1630 ext.223 (French and English) OR 613 820-7728 ext. 243 (English)
For information on the study go to www.ncrcrossings.ca.
Public Consultation – Don’t miss it
Please participate in the NCC public consultation session on Tuesday, March 30, at Ottawa City Hall.
Drop by Jean Pigott Hall any time between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.—find out what the consultants are planning and share your community values. Only one set of public consultations will take place during Phase 2A, so this may be the only public opportunity to make your views known. Round up your family, friends and neighbours. And wear your No Kettle Island Bridge buttons.
KEY MESSAGES TO CONVEY:
Trucks routes don’t belong in established residential neighbourhoods: It doesn’t make sense to take trucks out of one community and dump them into another. KI is the most heavily populated of all the corridors with 100,000 people from one end to the other. The health and safety of its people should be City’s primary concern. Impact of designated truck route with up to 3000 heavy commercial vehicles a day will be: constant noise; direct, continuous exposure to high emissions, risk of toxic spills and serious accidents. Our community includes homes, schools, Montfort Hospital and retirement home, Cité Collegiale, Aviation Museum, RCMP stables and Musical Ride, Terry Fox Centre etc. A truck route will have a negative impact on the cohesion of our community.
Our community values its green space: Green space includes the Aviation parkway, cycling/recreational paths, river front, Montfort Woods, sailing on the Ottawa river, soccer fields etc. A truck route will not only take away from the enjoyment of this space, it will prevent access and connection to it, especially if sound barriers are used to mitigate for noise. Some of the green space will be destroyed by the expansion of the Aviation Parkway.
We need a transportation plan for the 21st century that promotes transit, not cars: Local roads cannot accommodate more cars cutting through downtown neighbourhoods to get to work; KI will not provide a speedier commute for Orleans—cars and trucks will end up on the Queensway no matter which corridor is selected.
Manor Park is situated in a unique cultural landscape: A truck route will degrade national institutions and tourist attractions (Aviation Museum, RCMP Musical Ride) and the unique landscape in which they are set.
There are alternatives to the three corridors that won’t affect established residential communities or the greenbelt: The NCC needs to be open to finding the best possible route for the interprovincial crossing and examine broad variations on the existing corridors.
The Environmental Study needs to be a harmonized process for the protection of the people: If the Ontario legislation does not apply in the next phase of the study, public consultation and community value plans will lack teeth. There will be no guarantee that our concerns will be addressed, weighted or mitigated.
Here are details on the consultation sessions. I hope to see you there:
Ottawa:
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Ottawa City Hall – Jean Pigott Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON
Gatineau:
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Maison du Citoyen – Agora
25, rue Laurier, Gatineau, QC
Your participation: Phase 2A public consultation, March 30-31
Phase 2A of the Interprovincial Crossing Environmental Assessment is well under way. The main task in this phase is to develop the Study Design to be used in Phase 2B, during which the recommended corridor will be selected and the detailed Environmental Assessment completed.
In order to remove the threat of a Kettle Island Bridge and a heavy truck route through our communities, we need to pay attention to the Study Design and make our views known. For example, the Manor Park Community Association has stressed the following:
- Input from the public, and in particular from those who would be most affected by each corridor, must be given serious consideration
- The impact of a corridor and heavy truck route on established communities, and in particular on health and safety, should be of the utmost importance in the decision
- The goal should be to select the best location within the general confines of the three corridors carried forward, rather than the options being limited to the suggested routes as determined in the deeply flawed Phase 1.
Only one set of public consultations will take place during Phase 2A. Opponents of Kettle Island need to attend in large numbers.
Here are the details:
The communities of Ottawa and Gatineau are invited to review information boards, participate in discussions with Study experts at various ‘consultation kiosks’ that will be set-up on location, and provide comments on the draft Study Design report, anytime between 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the following locations:
Ottawa
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Ottawa City Hall – Jean Piggott Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON
Gatineau
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Maison du Citoyen – Agora
25, rue Laurier, Gatineau, QC
Please make your views known. Spread the word to your neighbours and friends.
New Francophone website opposes Kettle Island
A group of Francophone citizens concerned about the negative imacts of a bridge at Kettle Island are working on a new website. Congratulations to its creators.
The official launch is expected in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
MPCA Annual General Meeting
The MPCA AGM is coming up this week. In addition to the keynote speaker, Stephen Hazell from the Sierra Club, local politicians – Mauril Belanger, Madeleine Meilleur and Jacques Legendre – have all agreed to speak. No doubt the bridge issue will figure in their remarks.
Please attend if you can.
———–
Manor Park Community Association
Annual General Meeting
Thursday, June 18, 2009
7:30 p.m.
at
Terry Fox Youth Centre
1805 Gaspé Ave.
(east of St.Laurent and south of Sandridge)
• MPCA reports & updates
• Election of officers and directors
• Remarks from elected representatives
Guest Speaker
Stephen Hazell
Executive Director, Sierra Club of Canada
———–
Interprovincial Transit Study – Public Consultation
The recently initiated Interprovincial Transit Study is reaching out for public consultation. Within the initial round of consultation, one event has already occurred, but there is a second event next week in Gatineau:
Tuesday May 19 2009
4:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Gatineau Maison du Citoyen – Agora
25 Laurier Street, Gatineau
Click here for details about the public consultation process.
It is important to note that the Kettle Island crossing is the least effective crossing in terms of public transit usage.
If you are unable to attend these events, click here to submit your comments online.
Tags: transitUrgent: Fierce lobbying required NOW!
URGENT!
Lobbying from the Kettle Island NOW side is expected to be fierce.
We need to combat this with fierce lobbying of our own.
Please send your letter as a personal email TODAY to each of the following councillors who might be wavering (see letter below for guidance):
Rick Chiarelli
Rick.Chiarelli@ottawa.ca
Maria McRae
Maria.Mcrae@Ottawa.ca
Peggy Feltmate
Peggy.Feltmate@ottawa.ca
Alex Cullen (just in case)
Alex.Cullen@Ottawa.ca
Also include for good measure: Steve.Desroches@ottawa.ca , Diane.Deans@ottawa.ca , Eli.El-Chantiry@ottawa.ca , Jan.Harder@ottawa.ca , Kitchissippi@ottawa.ca (Christine Leadman) , and Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca
———-
Dear Councillor,
I am writing regarding the issue of the inter-provincial bridge study which will be considered by Council on February 11, 2009. Council needs to show leadership by coming to a decision on this file; its decision should be fair and in the best interest of the citizens of Ottawa.
I believe that the citizens of Ottawa need a transportation vision that keeps trucks away from established communities, improves public transportation, and delivers economic benefits.
Of all the east end options, the Kettle Island corridor will affect the health and safety of thousands of Ottawa residents and have the greatest social impact. Selecting the Kettle Island corridor will not solve the downtown truck problem – it will only repeat the mistakes of the King Edward corridor.
The Kettle Island option does not integrate into future land use plans on either side of the river nor does it link to public transit plans both current and future. There would be considerably greater economic benefits from options further down-stream, which would link the industrial sections of both sides.
I believe the position of the Province of Ontario in its letter to the NCC is correct and fair—the top three options need to be further reviewed, taking into account the important factors of impact on existing communities, encouragement of public transit usage, and stimulation of economic development.
I urge you to support the motion put forward by Jacques Legendre and Georges Bédard that Council support the provinces on the matter of the inter-provincial river crossing environmental assessment.
Regards,
(concerned citizen)
———-
Re: Build the bridge — now
Submitted to the Ottawa Citizen:
————-
No construction jobs before late 2011
Re: Build the bridge – now
The only jobs that will benefit from the next phase of the Interprovincial Crossings project are those of the consultants conducting the environmental assessment. The vast majority of the work – the actual construction – would not start for at least two and a half years, only after the environmental assessment has been completed and contracts have been awarded.
Not one construction job would be created by this project before late 2011. And who knows what the economy has in store for us then.
But one thing is certain. The next phase of the project, regardless of which options are taken forward, will do little to bolster our current economic state.
So stop pinning your hopes for an economic recovery on a quick bridge decision. It’s not the miracle cure that you portray it to be.
Christophe Credico
Ottawa
————-
NCC decision day: Friday the 13th
The next NCC public board meeting is scheduled for Friday, February 13th. The only item on the agenda for this meeting is the bridge.
As you are probably aware, the NCC holds this final cards for the next steps of this project. They are the most critical body to address.
Please attend if you can. And if you have any final words or thoughts that you want to share with the NCC about the bridge, be sure to do so before that meeting.
Refer to any material on this website, particularly the Letters to Decision Makers category for ideas about what to say.
Your best bet is to send your feedback to Lyne Lwow and ask her to forward it to the Board of Directors:
Lyne Lwow
Manager, Executive Office Administration and Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer / Gestionnaire, administration du bureau de la direction et adjointe exécutive à la première dirigeante
National Capital Commission / Commission de la capitale nationale
(613) 239-5271
llwow@ncc-ccn.ca
The NCC will likely be influenced by City Council’s decision on Feb 11th.
Your fierce lobbying of City Councillors is required now! Click here for details.
———
The NCC Opens Its Doors
Friday, February 13, 2009
Public Board of Directors Meeting:
11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Join us or watch the live webcast on the NCC website!
Location:
National Arts Centre, Panorama Room
53 Elgin Street, Ottawa
Agenda on our website:
http://www.capitaleducanada.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16302-103085-95025&lang=1
———
Ottawa City Council Meeting: Wednesday Feb 11th
Ottawa City Council meets on Wednesday, Feb. 11, to make a decision on the inter-provincial river crossing EA. The City’s decision will influence the NCC’s final decision on Feb 13th.
The meeting will be held at Andrew S. Haydon Hall beginning at 10:00 a.m. Attend if you can, and don’t forget your button. Click here for the full agenda.
In advance of the meeting, please urge City Councillors to support the provinces in their recommendation for further study of the top three options with respect to impact on communities, economic benefit, and transit. See the sample letter below for ideas on what to day.
Letters for distribution to all councillors can be sent to Dawn Whelan, 613-580-2424 ext. 21837, Dawn.Whelan@ottawa.ca.
The councilors who voted last time in favour of carrying two or three corridors forward were:
Marianne Wilkinson, Christine Leadman, Rick Chiarelli, Peggy Feltmate, Diane Holmes, Maria McRae, Diane Deans, Peter Hume, Glenn Brooks, Georges Bédard Jacques Legendre, and Clive Doucet.
It is time well spent to thank these councilors for this support.
————-
Sample Letter to City Councillors:
Dear Councillor,
I am writing regarding the issue of the inter-provincial bridge study which will be considered by Council on February 11, 2009. Council needs to show leadership by coming to a decision on this file, and its decision should be fair and in the best interest of the citizens of Ottawa.
I believe that the citizens of Ottawa need a transportation vision that keeps trucks away from established communities, improves public transportation, and delivers economic benefits.
The Kettle Island corridor will affect the health and safety of thousands of Ottawa residents and have the greatest social impact of all the east end options. Selecting Kettle Island will not solve the downtown truck problem – it will only repeat the mistakes of the King Edward corridor.
The Kettle Island option does not integrate into future land use plans on either side of the river, nor does it link to public transit plans both current and future. There would be considerably greater economic benefits from options further down-stream, which would link the industrial sections of both sides.
I believe the position of the Province of Ontario in its letter to the NCC is correct and fair—the top three options need to be further reviewed, taking into account the important factors of impact on existing communities, encouragement of public transit usage, and stimulation of economic development. I urge you to support the motion put forward by Jacques Legendre and Georges Bédard that Council support the provinces on the matter of the inter-provincial river crossing environmental assessment.
————-
Quebec coalition on the move against Kettle Island
A new Quebec coalition in favour of a better public transit system for Gatineau and in favour of a bridge at the Gatineau airport will be announced on Wednesday at a formal press conference.
When: Wednesday, January 21 at 11:30am
Where: Maison du Citoyen, 25 Laurier, Gatineau
Room: Salle Vidéotron
Those of you who are available to show support are invited to attend in support.
NCC to discuss Kettle Island, Jan. 22, 1:00 pm
The Interprovincial Crossing and the recommendation of NCE-Roche will be discussed at the NCC’s Public Board Meeting on Thursday Jan. 22. The meeting will be held at the Westin Hotel Ballroom beginning at 1:00 pm. Unlike the Dec. 3 meeting, there will not be an opportunity for public comment.
Nevertheless, a presence from Kettle Island Opponents will help reinforce our message and determination. You are encouraged to attend if at all possible. There is a good chance that next steps for the project could be determined at this meeting.
Click here for the meeting agenda.
If you cannot attend in person, you may wish to watch the live webcast of the event. Click here and look for the ‘Board meeting live webcast’ button at the top right of the page.
If you have any inclination to express your thoughts on the Kettle Island bridge to the NCC, do so before the meeting. At this point, your best bet would be to send an email to:
Marie Lemay – CEO: mlemay@ncc-ccn.ca
I would also recommend to cc: info@ncc-ccn.ca, with a request to distribute your comments to the NCC Board of Directors prior to the January 22 meeting.
For ideas about what to say, please reference our earlier Dear Elected Representative: post, as well as any other material on this website.
Tags: NCCDear Elected Representative:
If you are opposed to the Kettle Island bridge, NOW is the time to write to your elected representatives. Decisions could be made imminently so it is essential to formally voice your concerns without delay.
The following letter has been prepared to give you some ideas, but feel free to edit in any way. And please make use of any other material posted on this website if you’re looking for more information or ideas.
See below for details about who to send this to.
———————————————————————-
Dear [elected representative],
I am writing to you to ask that you reject the choice of Kettle Island as a crossing point for a new inter-provincial bridge for Ottawa.
Most citizens of Ottawa agree that a new bridge is needed across the Ottawa River, primarily to remove large truck traffic from the downtown Ottawa core. A recent technical study has concluded that the crossing point of the new bridge should be in the east end of the city of Ottawa, across Kettle Island, chiefly because this site would “attract” the most trucks.
In addition, the City of Ottawa now proposes to ban truck traffic from the present truck route, the King Edward corridor, as soon as the new bridge is built – because of the negative impacts of truck traffic on human health and well being. In other words, heavy truck traffic will be funnelled across the new bridge, despite the fact that the proposed location is a densely populated residential and recreational area.
I am writing to ask you to act now to ensure that the proposed Kettle Island location be rejected, for the following reasons:
- A truck and commuter highway would be built along the most heavily populated corridor of all the options studied. Homes and quality of life would be destroyed.
- This corridor would route hazardous materials and 18-wheeled trucks through several communities. It increases car and truck traffic in established residential communities and adds traffic to already congested roads – and in a location where pedestrian and bicycle traffic is encouraged.
- National institutions such as the Aviation Museum and RCMP musical ride stables are located along this corridor and subject to the same hazards. It jeopardizes the future of Rockcliffe Airport and the operations of the RCMP musical ride, its pastures, stables and museum.
- The truck route would pass right beside the Montfort Hospital and Long Term Care Facility; trucks would block its ambulance entrance and jeopardize the care of its patients.
- It would turn the Aviation Parkway into a four-lane truck route and the Rockcliffe Parkway into a commuter route with the loss of usable recreational paths and parkland.
- It would negatively impact the environmentally significant Kettle Island, which is owned by The Nature Conservancy of Canada.
- It would not address transportation needs of the 21st century—public transit and future growth outside the core.
The consultants have claimed that the Kettle Island site would be the cheapest option, but that conclusion was reached only by loading other options with costs such as highway widening that were to occur anyway, and excluding similar costs from the Kettle Island calculations. Moreover, once the cost of mitigation of all the negative effects is included, Kettle Island is no longer the cheapest option.
Despite the fact that there are much better options, it is now being proposed that the technical study move on to a more detailed examination of the Kettle Island site without regard to the serious failings in the first phase of the study.
Please help us to ensure that the Kettle Island site is removed from consideration.
Yours truly,
———————————————————————-
Who to send this to:
While you are encouraged to send you comments to everyone listed on our Contacts page, key influencers and decision-makers who require your immediate attention and focus are as follow. Don’t delay!
Ottawa City Councillors
Send an email to andrew.lomas@ottawa.ca and ask him to circulate your message to the Mayor and to all Councillors.
Dalton McGuinty, Premier
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto ON M7A 1A1
Fax:(416) 325-3745.
dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Honourable Jim Bradley
Minister of Transportation
Correspondence Unit
3rd Floor, Ferguson Block
77 Wellesley Street West
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1Z8
jbradley.mpp@liberal.ola.org
The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment
12th Floor, 135 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5
Telephone: (416) 314-6790
Fax: (416) 314-7337
jgerretsen.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Hon. Madeleine Meilleur
MPP for Ottawa-Vanier
Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
237 Montreal Rd Vanier, ON K1L 6C7
Telephone: (613) 744-4484 Fax: (613) 744-0889
E-mail: mmeilleur.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Hon. Yasir Naqvi, MPP
MPP for Ottawa-Centre
204- 411 Roosevelt Ave.
Ottawa ON K2A 3X9
Tel: 613-722-6414
Fax: 613-722-6703
ynaqvi.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Hon. Phil McNeely, MPP
MPP for Ottawa-Orléans
6- 110 Bearbrook Rd
Gloucester ON K1B 5R2
Tel 613-834-8679
Fax 613-834-7647
pmcneely.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Hon. Jim Watson
MPP for Ottawa West-Nepean
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Constituency
201- 2249 Carling Ave
Ottawa ON K2B 7E9
Tel 613-721-8075
Fax 613-721-5756
jwatson.mpp@liberal.ola.org
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Foreign Affairs*
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 992-5516
Fax: (613) 992-6802
EMail: Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca
Web Site: www.lawrencecannon.com
* We understand that Lawrence Cannon will retain responsibility for the NCC
Russell Mills – Chair
National Capital Commission
202–40 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Canada K1P 1C7
613-239-5000 or 1 800 465-1867 (toll free)
info@ncc-ccn.ca, ATTN: Russell Mills
Marie Lemay – CEO
National Capital Commission
202–40 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Canada K1P 1C7
613-239-5000 or 1 800 465-1867 (toll free)
mlemay@ncc-ccn.ca
Your attendance at the City Council meeting is important
Although we cannot speak, attendance at Wednesday’s council meeting is important. The meeting begins at 10:00a.m, Wednesday Jan. 14, at City Hall.
City Council will vote on the recommendation of the Transportation Committee to carry forward multiple sites.
Wear your buttons and show your support for the fight against the Kettle Island bridge! No signs allowed in the Council chamber.
And if you haven’t already done so, now would be a very good time to send comments to the City of Ottawa. You can send an email directly to andrew.lomas@ottawa.ca and ask that your message be circulated to the mayor and to all councillors.
Tags: city councilTransportation Committee Meeting – a detailed account
From Judy Lishman, Chair, Manor Park Bridge Committee:
After a marathon session of Transportation Committee yesterday, (beginning at 9:00 a.m .and still going at 11:30p.m.) Councillor Wilkinson tabled a motion to recommend that the top 3 bridge sites proceed to phase 2. The motion passed 5 to 3. This is not the ideal outcome, but it was a victory for us considering the committee had been told by the city lawyer that because of the motion the council passed in June 2007 to support Kettle Island, any new motion on the subject would be out of order. This procedural debate took up the first 90 minutes of the meeting and was left unresolved. I had the opportunity to talk about this fix at city hall on CBO morning and CTV noon hour show and in an interview with CFRA. West end councillors led by Alex Cullen had voted in June 2007, to name KI as their preferred option in exchange for support from Rainer Bloess and the other far east end councillors’ support to take all west end bridge sites out of the study. Bloess and Cullen continued to support each others’ positions all day yesterday.
Steve Taylor then presented the report, followed by presentations from the public. The far east end was represented by 7 or so community association presidents who spoke as a group and whose only argument was that they didn’t want the extra traffic on 174 from a bridge in the greenbelt. Then they left. It was obvious that they were all show and no substance.
Two speakers from Lowertown spoke about the need to remove all the trucks from King Edward when the new bridge was built, but did not support any particular corridor. This position on trucks is supported by an OMB ruling and by a city resolution. This confirms our recent suspicions that when a new bridge is built, it will receive not 40% of the trucks from King Edward but 100% of them with the accompanying increase in all the health and safety impacts if it is built at KI. Taylor was pressed hard by the councillors to clarify this situation but as usual spoke out of both sides of his mouth. This situation has huge impacts on the whole decision making model and clarification is essential before any final decision is made on which corridor(s) proceeds to phase 2.
Two west end people spoke against preserving west end corridors and the remaining 40 or so speakers spoke eloquently and passionately against Kettle Island until after 6:30. Councillors Legendre and Bedard were in top form and fought tirelessly to oppose Kettle Island. They took every opportunity to hold Taylor to account and were highly critical of the fact that they were being asked to accept a report that was only available to them in summary and that the full report, which they did not have, was only in English. There were many times that Taylor’s credibility was questioned and, in fact, he was caught out in a direct lie to the councillors. Jacques and George by directing questions to our delegations allowed us extra time to make our case. Without their herculean efforts, we would not have achieved this step in the right direction.
There are still not enough votes to carry this resolution through council, but in the face of the forces lined up against us yesterday morning, this resolution to carry 3 sites forward was a monumental achievement. We still need to fight for the rejection of Kettle Island outright, and the truck situation will give us new ammunition. We are gaining ground.
Tags: transportation committeeTransportation Committee recommends 2nd site for futher study
Following the strong public reaction against the consultants’ presentation of Kettle Island as the preferred corridor at the Transportation Committee meeting yesterday, the committee is recommending that the NCC take forward a second corridor, at Lower Duck Island, for further study in Phase 2 of the project.
See the CBC News article here:
CBC Ottawa: NCC should look at 2nd site for interprovincial bridge: Ottawa committee
City council must decide Wednesday whether to endorse the committee’s recommendation and ask the NCC to consider both east-end corridors for the second phase of the environmental assessment study.
If you haven’t already done so, now would be a very good time to send comments to your mayor and city councilors.
Mayor Larry O’Brien can be reached here: http://www.mayorlarry.ca/tell-larry/
Councilors can be reached here: http://www.ottawa.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/councillors/index_en.html
Alternatively, you can send an email directly to andrew.lomas@ottawa.ca and ask that your message be circulated to all councillors.
Tags: transportation committeeTransportation Committee – meeting coverage
The consultants presented their recommendations to the City of Ottawa Transportation Committee today, and the public had an opportunity to comment on and question the findings. Strong objections were raised against Kettle Island by a large number of attendees, while a handful of Orleans residents reinforced their support – primarily based on the false perception that Kettle Island would have the worst impact on their commuting routes.
“We do not want any crossing that’s going to make our commutes, morning and afternoon, worse than they already are.”
What these east-end commuters continue to fail to realize is that this study has focused exclusively on interprovincial traffic. There is no consideration for any other traffic flow or existing gridlock within the National Capital Region, including commuting traffic from Orleans to downtown. The Kettle Island corridor, with on-ramps to the 417 essentially at ‘the split’, would have significant impacts on the commute from Orleans as thousands of new commuters and trucks from Gatineau pour onto the already congested highway.
There is a very good chance that these impacts could be just as bad or even worse than other east-end options.
Unfortunately, because these broader traffic issues are out of scope for the current project, we may never know until it is too late.
Here are a few links to media coverage of the meeting:
CBC Ottawa: Fight continues over planned Kettle Island bridge
CTV Ottawa: Residents say ‘No’ to bridge at Kettle Island
Ottawa Citizen: Residents fight over route of bridge
Tags: transportation committeeTransportation Committe Meeting – Reminder
REMINDER: A special meeting of the City of Ottawa Transportation Committee is being held to receive the Phase 1 final report of The Interprovincial Crossings Study. The consultants have recommended that the Kettle Island option proceed to Phase 2 of the study.
The agenda is now posted, and may be found at http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/trc/2009/01-12/agendaindex26.htm
This meeting is the last public forum to express opposition to a bridge at Kettle Island. Each speaker will be allowed 5 minutes. To register please contact Rosemary.Nelson@ottawa.ca or by phone (613) 5802424 ext.21624
The meeting will be held in Andrew Haydon Hall at City Hall on Monday, January 12th at 9:30 a.m.
Please plan to attend, even if only for a few minutes. If you cannot attend, written submissions may be sent to Rosemary Nelson in advance of the meeting date.
Click here to view the previous posting on stopthebridge.org about this meeting.
Coalition reponse to Kettle Island
A coalition of communities submitted an open editorial to the Ottawa Citizen, formally rejecting the Kettle Island bridge, and addressing some of the recent publications of Citizen columnist, Ken Gray, who has repeatedly dismissed objections to the bridge.
The Op Ed was published on Jan. 5, and is signed by 13 representatives of communities that would be negatively impacted by the Kettle Island bridge.
Click here to read the Op Ed.
Tags: coalitionA new Kettle Island online discussion forum
A new online discussion forum has been created by a concerned citizen. Check it out and bookmark it as another important Kettle Island reference site: http://www.here2yap.com.
Petition Update – Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Thanks to your efforts and with the support of Madeleine Meilleur’s office, a petition against the Kettle Island bridge was formally presented earlier this month to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by Yasir Naqvi, MPP Ottawa Centre. Take a look at the videos below.
December 9, 2008
December 10, 2008
City of Ottawa Transportation Committee meeting – Your participation is required
There is a special City of Ottawa Transportation Committee Meeting scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2009, at 9:30 a.m., in the Council Chambers for the purpose of considering the Interprovincial Crossings Study. The NCC will present Phase 1 Study Findings and Recommendations.
The public will have an opportunity to speak. Each speaker is allowed 5 minutes. Registrations are now being accepted by Rosemary Nelson at 613 580-2424 ext. 21624 or by email Rosemary.Nelson@ottawa.ca
It is important for us to attend this meeting to show the City our opposition to a bridge at Kettle Island. It will be our only opportunity to speak to the City.
If you are available during the day, or even if you work downtown and can spend an hour at the meeting, please plan to attend. The agenda and schedule of the meeting will be posted on the City of Ottawa website at http://ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/docs.pl?lang=en in early January. If you can attend, please wear your “No Bridge at Kettle Island” button.
If you need any help putting together your presentation, please contact your community association and/or reference any content presented on stopthe bridge.org. Judy Lishman, chair of the Manor Park bridge committee, has specifically volunteered to coach you through your presentations. She can be reached at dlishman@sympatico.ca.
NCC Board of Directors is Listening
At the December 3 NCC open doors AGM, a contingent of over 200 citizens from Rockcliffe Mews, Manor Park, Lindenlea, Overbrook, Rockcliffe Park, Lowertown, New Edinburgh, Fairhaven, Carson Grove, Gatineau, and other affected communities voiced their concerns over the proposed Kettle Island interprovincial crossing and parkway truck route. Kettle island opponents dominated the question period and got the attention of the NCC Commissioners.
Presentations, most barely squeaking into the allotted 3 minutes, blended personal appeals with hard data and research. A broad range of topics and issues were covered—the NCC mandate and noble purpose; the consultants’ flawed study with emphasis on the study’s skewed weightings and lack of transparency; public health and safety concerns; detrimental affects on the natural environment and recreational green space; threats to national institutions and tourist attractions; and the negative impact on the Montfort Hospital.
As each speaker returned to their seat, audience members cheered and waved bilingual signs that read, “A capital for people, not trucks” and “Kettle Island Bridge—a capital mistake.”
For the Board of Directors, it was no doubt a long evening after a long day, yet the Commissioners remained attentive throughout, taking notes and occasionally asking questions. One member, Dr. Adel Ayed, a physicist by profession, requested a copy of opponents’ analysis of the consultants’ weighting of evaluation criteria. CEO, Marie Lemay, reported that 1,678 letters had been received about the Kettle Island Bridge and were being addressed. Later she stated that the NCC would be reassessing its parkway policy.
At the close of the meeting NCC Chair, Russell Mills, thanked the Kettle Island opponents for taking the time to inform the NCC Board so thoroughly about the issue. Up until now, he said, Commissioners have been relying on reports in the media to provide information.
The NCC is listening and their doors are indeed open.
Tags: NCCTown hall meeting: December 1 at Overbrook Community Centre
Want to learn more about the proposed Kettle Island bridge in an open, bilingual forum hosted by your fellow community members? Mark your calendars:
Homes and Highways Don’t Mix
Monday, December 1st
7:00 pm
Overbrook Community Centre
31 Quill Road (view map)
This is a great opportunity to better understand the current situation, to see what steps are being taken to prevent the Kettle Island bridge, and to get involved in the fight.
Tags: town hallNCC Meeting – Final Details – Your participation is critical
PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHOW THE NCC YOUR OPPOSITION TO A BRIDGE AT KETTLE ISLAND.
——
The NCC Opens Its Doors
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Public Board of Directors Meeting
Annual General Meeting
Learn more about the NCC’s achievements and its plans for the year ahead. Share your ideas and comments with NCC board members about a bridge at Kettle Island.
5:15 pm Registration
6:15 pm Draw and posting of participants
6:30 pm Opening remarks by the Chair and CEO
7 pm Question and comment period
10 pm Meeting ends
A draw will determine participation during the question and comment period. Register in advance or on the night of the meeting. A follow-up will cover those questions and comments not heard during the meeting. The allotted time for each question/comment is five minutes (three minutes for the speaker and two minutes for the NCC’s response).
Hilton Lac-Leamy, Beethoven Room
3 Boulevard du Casino, Gatineau
Tags: NCC
Stop the Bridge: T-shirts, bumper stickers, yard signs, etc.
A Manor Park resident who also happens to be a graphic artist has contributed to the bridge fight by coming up with some anti-Kettle Island Bridge t-shirts, bumper stickers, yard signs, you name it…
These are available for purchase at http://www.cafepress.com/littleredshark/6192210.
Stock up on these items and show your support. They would make great early Christmas gifts for friends, family, and neighbours.
A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to support the anti-Kettle Island Bridge campaign.
Tags: bumper stickers, signs, t-shirtsNCC Board of Directors meeting – December 3rd
The next NCC Board of Directors meeting has been scheduled for December 3rd, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm, at the Hilton Lac Leamy. The doors open at 5:30 pm and people can register to speak then. However, at 6:20 pm names will be drawn to determine who will actually get a chance to speak. In any case, written presentations can be submitted to the NCC either before or at the meeting. The tentative plan is to allow 3 minutes per speaker. Details will be confirmed this week.
The formal agenda for the meeting has not yet been established, but it is essential that as many people as possible attend to present your concerns directly to the NCC Board of Directors about the proposed Kettle Island bridge.
See you there.
Tags: NCCPolls
Loading ...