NEWS ARCHIVESNovember 21, 2008 Your tax dollar matters – have your voice heard The budget continues to be a hot-button item in our community and across the City as Councillors and City Staff prepare to establish the financial and service delivery framework for 2009 and beyond. I continue to hear from residents, associations and organizations about their vision for Ottawa, and what is important to each of you. I am encouraged by what I am hearing and I implore others to voice their thoughts on the upcoming budget, the proposed tax increase, the proposed service cuts and what you feel is vital to the functioning of our City. I remain committed to a financially sustainable City budget that does not rely on one-time funding sources. I believe spending controls with moderate inflation-based increases in property taxes and user fees in order to maintain services are appropriate. Having said this, I am not in favour of the 4.9 per cent increase proposed by staff, especially during these tough economic times. I am committed to reducing this number through efficiencies, streamlining operations and controlling staff levels to ensure the right staff are in the right places at the right times and most importantly, at the right cost. The City must continue to uphold its current four-year commitment to the arts, but festivals and other similar events must become more self-sustaining through private funding partnerships and support from the businesses and hotel associations who benefit from these festivals. Many residents have raised concerns over proposed changes to the parks and recreation service fees. I am in favour of reviewing, and possibly upgrading some of the user fees. As a City, we must strive to ensure the programs we offer recoup expenses. In other words, the services become self-sufficient. The proposed changes to OC Transpo service echo this sentiment as the City is striving to have a more equitable ratio between revenue from users and property taxes funding service. It is critical to review essential and non-essential programs the City offers to determine if they operate in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This is vital to the budget process. If you are interested in attending the budget deliberations and public delegations, they occur the week of December 1. Public delegations run December 1 10-12:30pm and 1:30-7pm, December 2 10-12:30pm, 1:30-6pm, and 6:45-9pm, and December 3 10-12:30pm and 1:30-7pm if necessary. Budget deliberations run December 4 10-12:30pm and 1:30-7pm, and December 5 10-12:30pm and 1:30-7pm. I encourage you to continue providing my office with your
thoughts on the 2009 budget process, the City’s service delivery and your taxes.
Please send your comments by e-mail to
Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca or by phone to 613-580-2476. Plasco public meeting breakfast Plasco Energy Group, an Ottawa-based waste conversion and energy generation company, will be holding a public pancake breakfast to update the community on the company’s operation and future in the City. From 9:30-11:00am on December 6 at the Stittsville Community Centre, Rod Bryden, CEO, along with the rest of the Plasco Energy Group will be on hand to deliver a project update for Plasco and its Trail Road facility. I encourage those interested to attend this event to learn
more about Plasco, their role with the City, and how they plan to revolutionize
the garbage industry, which will have implications on our community. Food for the holidays: Stittsville Food Bank in need The holiday season is upon us, and in the spirit of giving, please remember and assist those in our community who are less fortunate. A donation bin for the Stittsville Food Bank is set up just outside my ward office, located at the Goulbourn Recreation Complex, 1500 Shea Road. The Giving Tree has been set up at Brown’s Independent Grocery, which allows you to make food donations as you shop. The Stittsville Food Bank is in need of canned fruit, canned chicken and ham, canned stew, canned potatoes and personal hygiene items. On behalf of the Stittsville Food Bank and those across
our community who are in need, I thank you for your generous contributions and
to ensuring we all have a safe, healthy and enjoyable holiday season. The event of the holiday season Stittsville's annual festive parade is just days away! The Parade of Lights, organized by the Stittsville Village Association (SVA), occurs on November 29 and kicks off with the parade at 7:30pm. Dozens of floats featuring businesses, community organizations and associations and prominent members of the community will wind their way through the heart of the community along Stittsville Main Street. Santa will once again ride high atop a fire truck provided by the Stittsville Fire Station. When Santa arrives at the Village Square Park, the trees will be lit up marking the start of the festive season. The lights will remain on for the duration of the season. Hot beverages will be served and the SVA encourages you and your family to join in singing some holiday favourites. I look forward to see you and your family well bundled up,
and celebrating the holiday season! Christmas Card challenge opens to children As Christmas is fast approaching, I am once again ho-ho-holding my Christmas Card Contest for children in our community. I encourage you to express your artistic and creative side through festive, holiday cheer. Winning submissions will be on display for hundreds of people to enjoy this holiday season, as your artwork will be prominently featured on the front of my office's Christmas e-card. Great prizes are also available for the winners. A team of judges will choose a total of four designs from the four different categories. Two designs will be chosen in the age group of up to 6 years old, one design from an artist age seven to 10 and one from age 10 to 13. When working on your art, please ensure you do not use glitter paints or stickers, as it must be suitable to copy onto the front of the Christmas Cards. Please submit your child's entry no later than 4pm on November 28 to Councillor Shad Qadri, 110 Laurier Ave. W, Ottawa, ON, K1P 1J1, or drop-off your creation to my ward office, located in the Goulbourn Recreation Complex, 1500 Shea Road, Mondays and Fridays 9am-5pm and Wednesdays from 1-8pm. I look forward to your creations! Celebrating the holiday season with the Mayor You and your family are encouraged to join Mayor Larry O’Brien and celebrate the holiday season as part of the Mayor’s Eighth Annual Christmas Celebration. Festivities take place on December 6 from 2-6pm in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park located at 1015 Bank Street. The celebration will include a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot chocolate, Beaver Tails, crafts, live music and entertainment. Between 6-7pm, activities will move into the Civic Centre, where children can share the ice with members of the Ottawa 67’s. From 7-10pm, your whole family can skate in the Civic Centre to the magic of Christmas music. Share the spirit of this festive season by bringing a non-perishable food donation for the Ottawa Food Bank. Admission to this sponsored event is free. "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. Please contact our office anytime by phone at 613-580-2476 or by e-mail at shad.qadri@ottawa.ca. My ward office is located in the Goulbourn Recreation Complex, located at 1500 Shea Road. The hours of operation are Mondays and Fridays from 9am-5pm and Wednesdays from 1pm-8pm. Please do not hesitate to pay us a visit. Sincerely, |
