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New Edinburgh News
FEBRUARY 2003
An Independent Auditor is Coming
During the Budget debate on January 8th, following clear editorial
positions by the Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Sun, Councillor
Harder and I introduced a motion asking Council to authorize a
study of the current City Auditor reporting relationship with a
view to making this office more independent of the administration.
In my view, a true arms-length relationship for this important
oversight function is crucial for a large bureaucracy such as the
City of Ottawa. Mr. Denis Desautels, former Auditor General of
Canada and currently Executive Director of the University of
Ottawa’s Centre on Governance, has agreed to undertake this work
for the City. Mr. Desautels had undertaken a similar task for the
City of Toronto last year.
At the very beginning of our newly amalgamated capital City I had
moved, seconded by Peter Hume, that the Audit committee “have
authority to recommend to Council the budget of the office as well
as the appointment or dismissal of the senior Audit Executive” and
that the Auditor “report directly to Council through Council’s
Audit Committee”. In February of 2001, we managed to get the first
part unanimously approved by Council but the reporting
relationship, by an 11 to 8 vote, was amended to be both to
Council and ‘administratively’ to the City Manager. Council
unanimously approved Mr. Desautels’ study on this occasion. It is
marvellous to see the effect of strong editorial positions in both
English language newspapers. It remains to be seen if Council will
stay the course.
Official Plan
The latest draft Official Plan was released on January 9th. By the
time you read this an information session for our city ward will
have been held (January 30th). Your next opportunity, and an
important one at that, is the week of February 18th, 19th, 20th
21st. On those dates, during some parts of those four days,
including day and evening sessions of Planning Committee, the
public are invited to submit oral and/or written briefs on the
proposed Official Plan. Committee will subsequently debate and
make recommendations during the last week of April, after staff,
based on the received public input, presents an amended document.
Council will finally decide on its Official Plan at its meeting of
May 28th. The final stage is Ministerial approval, expected in
September of this year.
Réduction des pesticides sur les terrains privés
Le Conseil municipal a décidé, le 18 décembre dernier, d’adopter
une approche volontaire afin de réduire l’utilisation des
pesticides sur les terrains privés. La stratégie comprend un volet
éducatif ainsi que des cibles précises, telles qu’une réduction de
l’utilisation de 70% sur les terrains privés et l’élimination
complète sur les terrains d’écoles, de garderies, de foyers
d’aînés et des hôpitaux. Nous devrons atteindre ces cibles avant
la fin de septembre 2005, faute de quoi, un règlement sera mis en
vigueur afin d’interdire totalement l’utilisation de ces produits
sur les terrains privés.
Plusieurs regroupements dont « GO Manor Park » favorisaient une
approche plus avant-gardiste, et pour cette raison, plusieurs
d’entre-vous leurs ont témoigné leur appui au cours de cette
longue bataille. C’est avec désolation que je vous annonce la
tournure des évènements. Je tenais, comme presque la moitié de mes
collègues, à ce que le Conseil municipal entérine le règlement
suivant, à savoir une période de sensibilisation aux pesticides au
cours de l’année 2003, pour ensuite, en 2004, sévir contre les
contrevents au règlement. C’est avec amertume que je dois vous
annoncer que le Conseil municipal a voté contre cette résolution,
dans un vote de 12 contre 8. Je tiens donc à remercier toux ceux
qui ont travaillé afin d’interdire les pesticides, d’une façon
définitive en 2004. Merci!
Beechwood
You may recall that the Ward Council for Rideau-Rockcliffe
undertook an examination of the Beechwood corridor as a result of
concerns by many residents that this area was showing signs of
stress. In the past year a survey of businesses on the street was
conducted (January 2002) and open houses were held on the 28th of
September and the 5th & 8th of October. A report entitled
“Beechwood Avenue Revitalization Project – November 2002” was
recently submitted to the Ward Council. Thanks to all who
participated in the exercise by taking the time to share their
thoughts on the matter. Kudos to Lana Burpee for the survey and to
Jane Thompson & Andrew Wisniowski for organizing the open houses
and for producing an excellent report. Those interested may find
the report posted on the Rideau-Rockcliffe web site. Hard copies
may also be consulted at the St. Laurent and the Rockcliffe
branches of the Ottawa public library.
Public Works in the Neighbourhood
The Crichton/Beechwood intersection modifications are expected to
proceed in this spring. Acacia, from Beechwood to Maple, is
scheduled for sewer and road rehabilitation this year. Community
consultations will be scheduled as there are aspects of the
corridor that may change as a result of the works, e.g. the
presence or not of sidewalks, the geometry of the Montrose(Wood)/Acacia
intersection.
Queensway Study
Officials of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) have
initiated a study of this corridor from Anderson Road in the east
to the highway 416 split in the west. At a presentation before the
City’s Transportation Committee MTO officials were told of the
importance of this study for the City and therefore that the task
be undertaken as a full ‘transportation system’ study. It is
important that a study undertaken by provincial officials not be
blinkered by the fact that they are ‘responsible’ for provincial
highways and we, the City, are ‘responsible’ for mass transit.
Three rounds of Public Involvement Centres are scheduled. The
first round occurred in January with the other two scheduled for
the Spring/Summer 2003 and the Fall of 2003.
Season's Greetings
I take this opportunity, on behalf of my family and myself, to
extend to all Best Wishes for Peace, Health and Prosperity in
2003.
Meilleurs vœux
Je profite de cette occasion pour vous souhaiter mes meilleurs
vœux pour une année de bonheur et de prospérité.
You can communicate with me at (please include a telephone
number):
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 580-2483, Fax: 580-2523
e-mail:
jacques.legendre@ottawa.ca
Web Site:
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com back
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