School Route Safety Improvements
Recently, a consultation was held at Glashan Public Elementary School about a nearby development. During that discussion, some students brought safety issues on their walk to and from school. In Capital Ward, some students said that the crosswalk lights weren’t long enough at the Bronson and Powell, and Bank and Riverdale intersections.
Working with city staff, we were able to get the pedestrian crossing time increased during the morning and afternoon school run at both intersections.
I want to thank those students for raising this issue. The changes you’ve achieved will help your fellow classmates and anyone else crossing those intersections in the morning and afternoon.
Is a by-law that will curb legal protests coming to Ottawa?
On Wednesday, city council passed a motion directing city staff to “Consider the feasibility of implementing a Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law similar to Vaughan’s…in connection to special events or demonstrations”.
Staff would report back in early 2025. This accelerated timeline would prevent them from speaking with several stakeholder groups, or following the city’s normal process of public consultation and engagement.
The so-called “bubble by-law” would prohibit protesters from exercising their constitutional rights within 100 metres of “Vulnerable Social Infrastructure” which could include such locations as daycares, schools, religious institutions, long-term care homes and whatever else the city decides to insulate from the democratic process.
(Of note, City Hall has a daycare, and is wedged in between a school and a church)
It should be noted that the motion directed staff to explore implementing a by-law similar to that of Vaughan, Ontario. That by-law allows for a $100,000 fine for someone demonstrating in a manner and location not pre-approved by the local government.
Though likely unconstitutional, the Vaughan by-law has not yet been challenged in court, so the threat of such a debilitating fine hangs over every person who advocates for change within 100 metres of any of these places.
This is a tremendous over-reach by the city. It is not a means to protect residents from harassment or violence as those are already legally outlawed.
I voted against this review, despite the motion passing.
Below, you will find my remarks from city council. You can also watch them here.
Mayor, I have significant concerns about this motion, and I’m surprised it’s being raised here at the municipal order of government—in the capital of our country—where advocacy, protest and civil dissent are most welcomed and encouraged as a form of free speech in challenging policy or proposed legislation. That is a time-honoured tradition of respect for freedoms that have been hard fought for—like freedom of assembly—and there is a real risk that if we allow this to fully expand, the civic spaces that everybody in Canada can use to speak up and freely dissent and express ideas will slowly shrink.
The questions you really have to ask yourself are:
Is protesting religious authorities, residential schools or long-standing abuses now a non-starter?
What about students protesting their school administration?
What about protesting private long-term care facility owners where negligence may have cost the lives of our elders?
What about the rights of workers to advocate for new workplace rights, which, somehow, we say will be okay. Well, I don’t like the idea of the municipality being an arbiter on this, nor do I like the implication that a zone would be created that completely insulates a meeting place—let’s say a so-called vulnerable social infrastructure meeting place hosting a non-religious event for the sale of weapons of war—from any exposure to protest.
And mayor, this is a motion that doesn’t just ask for investigation. It promotes and advocates for a bubble by-law being implemented. Read the motion. The motion requests the feasibility of, and I quote, “implementation of a bubble by-law similar to Vaughan’s” where there is a $100,000 fine that hasn’t been challenged and resolved in court, and where the municipality has de facto become the arbiter of what it means to restrict people’s right to free expression, association and assembly, which are fundamental to who we are as Canadians.
There is a reason why so few cities have this on their books. It’s rightly considered an infringement on rights.
Authorities already have the tools to deal with this and, indeed, our own authorities have been working on this without this motion. There are laws on our books against intimidation, inciting or promoting hatred, threats of violence, harassment, and other abuses. In some recent protests, offenders have been charged. There are also laws that protect health care workers from intimidation, which is fundamentally different from what we are talking about here.
My view is this proposed by-law would be an expensive and ineffective move; it would do little to solve the so-called problem. No government—let alone a municipal government—should want to put itself in a position to be the arbiter of which protests are acceptable and where, and which are not.
If there are acts of protest or civil disobedience we disagree with, there are better ways to deal with them and confront them than considering how the state can criminalize them and fine them. That should always be a last resort.
I’ll be a dissenting vote on this item today.
Provincial Bike Lane Legislation
The provincial government has proposed legislation that would make it difficult for cities to plan their streets and implement bicycle lanes. According to the proposed rules, any such plans would have to get approval directly from the Minister of Transportation. Further, the provincial government may be looking to remove successful bicycle lanes, like those on O’Connor.
This is a political ploy that will set cities back, significantly. This isn’t going to do anything for traffic congestion. It’s just going to make our streets less safe for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. In fact, congestion will likely get worse, as more people will be induced into driving, instead of having viable alternatives like transit, walking, bicycling and scootering.
The provincial government is clearly overstepping their responsibilities as they try to manufacture a culture war for their political gain.
Our office will not support this, and I was happy to join 12 of my colleagues in a call to the province to withdraw this legislation.
Ottawa Small Business Week Challenge
Last week was the Ottawa Small Business Week Challenge. From October 20 to October 26, residents were encouraged to visit a new business in their neighbourhood or across the city, follow a small business on social media and tell their friends about their favourite little local shop.
I’m sure many residents took up this challenge, whether they knew it or not! But if you didn’t; every week is a good week to visit a local small business you may not have checked out before!
Old Railway Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge Renewal Environmental Assessment Study
The City of Ottawa will be hosting an online consultation on the Old Railway Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge Renewal Environmental Assessment (EA) study. The consultation will be held over Zoom on Wednesday November 6 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
The presentation material will be available on the City of Ottawa website one day prior to the event and will be presented during the consultation.
Please register if you wish to participate.
Free Native Seed Giveaway
The Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library is proud to announce their native seed giveaway schedule for fall 2024. Join them to learn about native plant gardening and receive free native seeds for winter sowing. No gardening experience required. The seeds are all native to Ottawa, locally-sourced and support the progressive city right-of-way initiatives and Rain Ready Initiatives.
Visit wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/events for more information.
Climate Ready Ottawa Survey
Building on both the Climate Projections and Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, the Climate Ready Ottawa draft strategy outlines long-term goals and actions to address the city’s most pressing climate hazards. The draft strategy expands on existing programs while identifying additional initiatives to strengthen Ottawa’s resilience. Developed in collaboration with many city departments, the draft strategy incorporates community input gathered during 2023. The city is now finalizing the strategy and developing a short-term implementation plan. There is still time to share your thoughts on resiliency by completing the Climate Ready Ottawa survey. Please fill out the survey by Friday, November 8, 2024.
Torrington Place Stone Retaining Wall
We’ve been informed by the project team, that the replacement of the stone retaining wall on Torrington Place was briefly delayed. We had expected the work to be completed next week, but completion will be delayed until the end of November.
Your Capital Ward
Photo by Abigail Dubiniecki
If you have a photo you’d like to share in an upcoming bulletin, please send it to [email protected], with the subject line Your Capital Ward. Please give us your name for attribution…or tell us if you’d rather not have your name shared.
Yellow bags are Now Available
Starting Monday, November 4 any garbage above the three-item garbage limit must be placed in a City of Ottawa yellow bag. If the three-item garbage limit is exceeded and yellow bags are not used, one item will be left behind with a courtesy tag indicating the limit. In December, any garbage above the three-item garbage limit that’s not in a yellow bag will be left at the curb.
Yellow bags are now available for purchase from Client Service Centres, select recreation and community centres, as well as Home Hardware stores across the city and the Richmond BMR. Yellow bags are sold in packages of four for $17.60. There is no limit to the number of yellow bags that can be purchased and set out on garbage day. Keep in mind that large bulky items and furniture cannot be bagged.
Reduce your garbage items by maximizing your recycling and composting. There’s no limit to blue, black or green bins and leaf and yard waste.
Find out more about the three-item garbage limit and the yellow bag program at ottawa.ca/garbage.
Ottawa Public Health recommends that high-risk residents protect themselves against RSV
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is recommending that eligible residents at higher risk of severe illness protect themselves against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this respiratory illness season. RSV is a respiratory virus that can be particularly severe in infants and older adults. Immunization against RSV can help prevent serious health outcomes, including hospitalization. Publicly funded immunization is available for infants, high-risk children, pregnant individuals, and eligible older adults.
For more information on RSV vaccine eligibility, as well as respiratory virus prevention strategies, please visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/RSV.
Protect yourself against influenza (flu) and COVID-19 by getting your vaccines
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the annual flu vaccine and the updated KP.2-containing COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. OPH is anticipating an active respiratory illness season with flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulating in the community at the same time. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are particularly recommended for people at high risk of severe illness.
Effective October 28, 2024, flu vaccines and the updated COVID-19 vaccines are available for all residents. There are many options for getting your flu and updated COVID-19 vaccine:
- Visit your nearest pharmacy (pharmacies continue to be the main point of access for flu and COVID-19 vaccines).
- Check with your regular health care provider to see if they offer the vaccines.
- Visit an OPH Community Clinic to get your vaccines.
- Visit an OPH Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hub, if you face barriers to access, for vaccines on a walk-in basis, as capacity allows.
To book your appointment for the updated COVID-19 vaccine:
COVID-19 vaccine appointments at OPH Community Clinics can be booked through the Ontario COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007).
To book your appointment for your annual flu vaccine:
Flu vaccine appointments at OPH Community Clinics can be booked through the Ottawa Public Health website.
To book the RSV antibody immunization appointment for your infant:
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs resulting in cold-like symptoms. RSV infection can happen at any age but is particularly severe in infants, often leading to serious lung infections requiring hospitalization. RSV immunization appointments, for eligible infants and children, can be booked through the Kids Come First webpage.
For more detailed information, please review the Public Service Announcements on the updated COVID-19 vaccine, the annual flu vaccine and the provincial RSV prevention program.
Respiratory Virus Prevention
Ottawa Public Health wants to remind Ottawa residents that there are simple and effective ways to help protect yourself, your families and our communities against respiratory illness. Using the following layers of protection helps keep everyone safe:
- Stay home when sick until you are fever-free (without using fever-reducing medication AND your symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours for vomiting/diarrhea).
- Wash your hands (or use hand sanitizer) often and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home and workplace.
- Keep your vaccinations up to date, including getting your annual flu vaccine and your updated COVID-19 vaccine.
- Avoid visiting people at high-risk of severe illness when you are sick (including people living in long-term care, retirement homes or in hospital).
- Wear a mask:
- To protect yourself from viral respiratory illnesses.
- To protect others at higher risk of severe respiratory illness.
- When you’re recovering from illness.
- Use local monitoring indicators, updated weekly on our dashboard at ca/VirusReport to help you assess your level of risk.
Rapid Antigen Test Kits
Rapid Antigen Test Kits are no longer provided to Ottawa Public Health for distribution by the province. The Ontario Ministry of Health announced a new COVID-19 testing strategy which focuses on the testing of individuals who are highest risk and are eligible for COVID-19 treatment. For more information on who is eligible for publicly-funded testing, where to access testing, and what treatments are available, please visit the provincial website COVID testing and treatment.
For information on what to do if you believe you have COVID-19, see the provincial site for more tailored advice.
For more information on respiratory illness, including fall vaccines, please visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/RespVirus, or call 613-580-6744 and follow the prompts for immunization support.
