And we are off to a predictable start....

The climate change emergency has been declared. Now the emergency measures need to be declared.

Rideau Rockcliffe has been excluded from the influential finance committee. ..even on an exofficio ( non voting) basis.

The dynamic at council is continued.
Ward 13 is home to 2,293 OCH households + nearly 5K tenants.

Here is the city of Ottawa's idea of emergency measures. Officially declare a climate emergency for the purposes of naming, framing, and deepening our commitment to protecting our economy, our eco systems, and our community from climate change; Establish a Council Sponsors Group comprised of representatives from the Standing Committees on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management, Planning Committee, Transportation Committee, Transit Commission, the Ottawa Board of Health and the Councillor Liaison of the Environment Stewardship Advisory Committee; Direct City staff to include the following in the review and update of the AQCCMP: a) An analysis of how the AQCCMP’s long term target to reduce GHG emissions 80% below 2012 levels by 2050 compares to the IPCC’s targets for limiting global warming to 1.5 ºC b) Midterm (2030) corporate and community GHG emission reduction targets c) Climate Change mitigation and adaptation priorities for next five years (2019-2024) to embed climate change considerations across all elements of City business; Direct City staff to include the following in the Energy Evolution Final Report: a) Status update of Energy Evolution Phase 1 actions b) New concrete actions and resource implications (staff and financial) to achieve GHG emission reduction targets c) Use an equity and inclusion lens in the prioritization of actions d) Funding and savings options for the City when implementing emission reductions; Direct City staff to report back, within the 2019 calendar year, on a spending plan for the Hydro Ottawa Dividends Surplus that would help reduce community and corporate GHG emissions beyond the scope of the City’s current climate targets while also saving money; Direct City staff to complete a vulnerability assessment and develop a climate resiliency strategy to reduce the impacts of a changing climate; Recognize climate change as a strategic priority in the City’s strategic plan and accompanying budget directions for the remaining Term of Council; and Work with senior levels of government to accelerate ambition and action to meet the urgency of climate change and provide additional resources for municipalities and the public to reduce their GHG emissions and build resiliency to climate impacts.

Results- thanks to voters and candidates

Here are the results

Rawlson won. It does not matter that the ward issues of better road maintenance, snow clearing and slower traffic were not in his planks, rather he zoomed in on poverty and housing. What do you think will happen over the next three years? Will voters notice that their voiced concerns are not actually priorities at city hall? It is democracy at work! And people truly deserve the government they get. 

https://youtu.be/uKEGdSmnzyc

The great priviledge is being able to go door to door, and meeting voters on the street.  The campaign was hard work but fun. 

Thanks again Rideau Rockcliffe, and fellow candidates, congratulations to Rawlson King our new councillor.

If you have not decided yet... read this blog post.

You have to do your homework, there is no shortcut.

Everyone brings positive things to the table...

But I am your best choice because of my unique experience, skills and frank communication style.

Election Night Info: Stay tuned to this blog!

Election Night Location: TBD

Principal Contact: myself

Phone Number: 613 304 5844

ELECTION RESOURCES:

Statements from all candidate in English on Rogers TV: (I am on at 15:53 ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq_W3oi89_c

Déclarations en français sur TV Rogers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpSMoV_zWxA 

Interviews of each candidate by the Presidents of Community Associations: http://www.lindenlea.ca/2019-by-election.html

The New Edinburgh News also has a bio and response from each candidate in its April edition:

http://www.newedinburgh.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/NEN-2019_04-April-WEB.pdf

CBC news candidate profiles: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/rideau-rockcliffe-byelection-ward-council-1.5032415?cmp=rss

Video of Overbrook debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=P7JQY5BVWWM

Ecology Ottawa questionnaire: https://ecologyottawa.ca/2019/03/25/rideau-rockliffe-2019-by-election-candidates-complete-responses/

The results of the mock council session at the Rockcliffe forum: https://rockcliffepark.ca/2019/03/09/candidates-forum-for-rideau-rockcliffe-by-election/

Here's a fun site to have a look at.  You can even participate in a mock vote and see what mock results are after 16 rounds of ranked voting.  An interesting exercise.

https://bellscorners.wordpress.com/rideau-rockcliffe-by-election-apr-15-2019/

Everybody talks about the environment....doing something about it is another thing.

The time frame for action is frightening. We will need to focus on the interventions upon which there is high agreement, and high confidence specifically in areas we can control, like modes of transportation, the buildings we inhabit and our dietary preferences.

Transportation: In future people must travel less, and shift to more sustainable choices like car sharing and hybrid and electric cars. using more efficient modes of travel, e.g. swapping cars, trucks and planes to buses and trains is required.

Buildings: using smart thermostats or more efficient air conditioners is only part of the solution.

Diets: We need toconsume about 30% less animal products.The livestock sector is estimated to account for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, more than direct emissions from the transport sector.

Sources: IPCC - summary for policy makers

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the main multilateral forum focused on addressing climate change.

Globally, economic and population growth are the most important drivers of increases in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion. The contribution of population growth between 2000 and 2010 remained roughly identical to the previous three decades, while the contribution of economic growth has risen sharply.

Between 2000 and 2010, both drivers outpaced emission reductions from improvements in energy intensity. Increased use of coal runs counter to decarbonization of the world’s energy supply. [1.3, 5.3, 7.2, 14.3, TS.2.2]

Energy demand growth results from improvements in wealth, lifestyle change, access to modern energy services and adequate housing, and urbanisation.

I have studied the motion recently prepared to mobilize the city to address the gag crisis. I can summarize it as follows:

a climate emergency names, frames, and commits to protecting our economy, ecosystem, and community from climate change as a strategic priority in the City’s strategic plan and budget

the Chairs of the Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management, Planning Committee, Transportation Committee, Transit Commission and the Councilor Liaison of Environment Stewardship Advisory Committee act as the steering committee

Set the GHG targets for the Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan necessary to limit warming to 1.5C;

Prepare a Climate Change Resilience Strategy and plan

We need to be clear in what we are trying to do.

Building codes and appliance standards, if well designed and implemented, have been among the most environmentally and cost-effective instruments for emission reductions (robust evidence, high agreement)

You have one minute to answer the question...

The recent oca candidate forum helped demonstrate the difficulty of running a meaningful campaign.

There were such important questions as cake or pie? Or

 cats or dogs?

Seriously?

Please read the blogs and listen to the 1310 interviews instead.  Here is my segment, go to the end, the last 10 minutes.

Peter Karwacki on 1310 news

You can't always get what you want...

 1. Consult with Tobi Nussbaum. He knows.

 2. Consult with community association presidents, establishing priorities. The ward is not amorphous. I also include each of the 16 other candidates who have made their own consultations and who are keen to make a difference. This would be a powerful group,after the campaign!

 3. Consult with the other 22 councillors to find consensus, and matters of joint interest. You need the votes.

 4.Consult with senior management to determine road blocks and opportunities. Staff get things done, or not.

 5. Engage in councillor activities with knowledge and forethought. You cannot charge in there and change the world. You will not be loved in the struggle for resources. I would consider hiring Chris Penton or Jamie as a staff resource so that by the next election cycle they would be groomed, they would be truly ready to run for Council.

And, with an actual plan,  if you try, sometimes you get what you need!

https://www.1310news.com/2019/04/04/ottawa-today-april-4-1100-1200-3/
1310 interview

Citizen Complaints...”a how to”

Substantive comments during scoping require you do one or more of the following:

 Raise issues the city has not considered; reinforce issues the city has already identified
 Present information that can be used when the city considers impacts of alternatives
 Raise concerns, with reasoning, regarding public land resources within the planning area
 Raise concerns, with reasoning, regarding uses of public lands within the planning area
 Recommend specific changes to management’s actions
 Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of information in any report already created

Comments that are NOT substantive include:

 Comments in favor of or against an action without any reasoning (such as “I don’t like” without providing any rationale)
 Comments that only agree or disagree with city policy
 Comments without justification or supporting data (such as “allow more cycle lanes”)
 Comments that don’t pertain to the decision (such as “the city should eliminate all towers throughout the ward”)
 Comments that take the form of vague, open-ended questions

Please provide substantive comments, which will be the most useful kind during this planning effort. the more specific you can be the better. Provide information that backs up your response.