NEWS ARCHIVESMay 9, 2008 Are you on board? Comments needed for LRT proposal Before the city hops onboard with light rail, we want to hear from you. Your feedback on the city’s proposed LRT plan is still welcomed until May 14. It is critical residents provide City Staff with their thoughts and concerns on the proposals. This is a $4 billion transit plan – double what the City’s yearly budget is. I encourage everyone to get involved, voice your opinion, and ensure the direction the City takes is the right one. Please do not hesitate to submit your comments to my office by e-mail at Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca or by phone at 613-580-2476. During the open house held in Kanata on May 6, west-end residents were able to discuss their concerns with city planners, the Mayor and the four west-end Councillors. What we heard from those in attendance was an overwhelming displeasure that the LRT is not being extended into the west or east, where the majority of the suburban population lives. I am open to exploring the possibility of making alterations to the city’s proposal in order to better reflect the needs and wants of our residents. We must ensure transit reaches the most people possible, and increases the likelihood that more cars come off the road and our environmental footprint is minimized. Thank you to the residents who have submitted your
comments to date. I look forward to reading what everyone else has to say as
well. Drug treatment centre closer to reality The City is inching closer to having two youth drug treatment centres – one located in the west for English-speaking youths and one located in the east for French-speaking youths. While more beds and bigger facilities are necessary, the proposed 20-bed unit is a tremendous first step to ensuring we offer the best possible treatment to those who may be falling through the cracks. I will be urging City Staff to establish a committee of specialists to see the drug treatment facility grow from conceptual stage to implementation stage. We need to utilize area-experts who have first-hand knowledge and experience in drug treatment to ensure the proposed facility offers services that meet the needs of the youth in our community. Harm reduction is only one component of tackling the drug issue in Ottawa. A comprehensive approach to drug use must include a treatment facility, such as the one being proposed. We must take care of those that have fallen through the
cracks and succumbed to addiction. These are our children, our brothers and
sisters and our nieces and nephews. We must do all that we can to support them.
One man's garbage is another's treasure On May 5, several of my Council colleagues and I were invited to the Plasco Trail Road facility to have a guided tour of their operation, and to see how garbage collection is being revolutionized. Plasco has developed technology that turns household waste into a resource. Every piece of garbage that enters the facility is broken down and re-used. Every tonne of waste is ultimately turned into two forms of energy, vitrified slag (sold as an aggregate), sulphur (sold as soil enhancement), heavy metals and filter screenings, water (potable water) and salt, which can be used on our roads during the winter months. Plasco has already begun immersing themselves in our community. Plasco donated $5,000 to the City’s Adopt-a-Park environmental program and adopted the park at the Goulbourn Recreation Centre. I am excited about what the future holds for Plasco, and I hope a partnership can be formed between the City and Plasco. I am encouraged by the prospect of considering garbage as
a resource, rather than a liability. Trees take root in Timbermere On May 10, roots were spread in the Timbermere Hydro Corridor. Through the dedicated work of Kimberly Mantas and several volunteers, trees, scrubs and plants took root in Timbermere, all in the name of making the hydro corridor more attractive. I want to thank everyone who participated in this program and helped make our community a more beautiful place to live, work and play. It is great to see what happens when so many dedicated
volunteers get together and lead the charge. It would not happen without them Four local residents were nominated for the City’s 2008 Civic Appreciation Award. Robin Derrick, for Distinguished Civic Award – Heritage, Gerald Smith for Distinguished Civic Award - Arts and Culture, Maria Papalia for Community Activism – Adult, and David Jenkins for Community Activism – Senior were all nominated during a ceremony held at City Hall on May 5. Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners. Your tremendous dedication to bettering our community does not go unnoticed. On behalf of the residents of our City, I thank you for
all that you have done to improve Ottawa. Please report criminal activity Pleased be reminded to report any criminal activity you witness in our community – nothing is too insignificant. Every call you make is important to demonstrating the need for increased police presence in Stittsville. Please do not hesitate to contact the police when criminal activity arises. Please use the following numbers for the specified circumstances:
Please contact my office at Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca for more information. Please be vigilant and be safe – nothing is too
insignificant to report. What’s in a name? As I mentioned in my column last week, I am exploring the idea of changing the name of the ward from Stittsville-Kanata West to Stittsville, in an effort to unify our community and better reflect our rich heritage. I encourage you to log on to my website at
www.shadqadri.com and vote on the
proposed name change. “Always Listening and Acting on Your Concerns” As your Councillor, I always welcome your keen input and ideas on how we can sustain and improve Stittsville-Kanata West. Please contact our office anytime by phone at 613-580-2476 or by e-mail at shad.qadri@ottawa.ca. Please note that you can also contact my ward office every Monday and Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and every Wednesday from 1 p.m.-8 p.m. at 613-580-2424 ext. 33440 or 33442. Also, feel free to stop by anytime at 1532 Stittsville Main Street. I will not be available at my ward office on May 16 for the 1-5pm public drop-in. Sincerely, [ close window ] |
