CLEANING
UP THE CITY
Last week, it was agreed to
tighten up the policy banning city staff from
accepting hospitality or gifts from companies
doing business with the city. The goal it is
remove any possible confusion.
Unfortunately, council is still
debating whether or not the policy should apply
to councillors. The decision should be automatic.
It is a problem when either staff or councillors
accept gifts from companies bidding for city
contracts or trying to get council to approve
their development applications.
Whenever banning gifts or political
contributions from developers or companies like
Waste Management is discussed, we hear comments
like “I can’t be bought for $750”
or “A free Senators ticket doesn’t
affect how I vote at council.”
That misses the point.
What companies are looking
for is access. They know that, while a gift
or political donation does not guarantee they
will get a councillor’s vote, it will
ensure they get a chance to make their case.
The average citizen does not have that kind
of opportunity.
Another argument we can expect
is that there are some events in the community
that councillors would attend as part of their
jobs where the value of the entertainment or
dinner at the event means it would be covered
by a policy stopping councillors from accepting
gifts or hospitality. My guess is that, if we
asked the groups organizing these events whether
they would rather have a councillor at their
event or less chance of conflict of interest,
they would choose clean government. There may
be a few community events my council colleagues
or I are no longer able to attend, but with
the number of meeting requests I receive I am
not short of things to do.
OPEN HOUSE ON WIDENING EAGLESON
An Environmental Assessment of widening Eagleson
Road between Cadence Gate/Cope Drive and Fernbank
Road is underway. To give people a chance to
provide feedback on the proposal, including
measures to deal with noise, an Open House is
being held. It will be:
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Kanata Recreation Complex, Upper Hall (2nd floor)
100 Walter Baker Place, Kanata
NEW COMPUTER RECYCLING PROGRAM
Heartwood House, an initiative that gathers
sixteen charitable organizations together under
one roof, and RD Long Computers have joined
together to offer a computer-recycling program.
The only fee is $20 for people dropping off
CRT (traditional style monitors).
Currently, the only drop off
point is Heartwood House at 153 Chapel Street.
To make the program more accessible to people
in Kanata, Heartwood House is looking for an
organization or business willing to act as a
drop office location in Kanata.
Heartwood House estimate that
the amount of space required for an indoor drop-off
would be approximately 15 feet by 15 feet. Hours
would be based on what works for those providing
the location with 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on
a Saturday used as an example. On each drop-off
date chosen, the e-waste would be collected
and carted off at the end of the day, so long-term
storage would not be required.
If you want more information
on the program or, if your business or organization
is interested in providing a drop-off location,
please contact Nicole Colbeck at 613-323-1782
or everybodywins@heartwoodhouse.ca.
FILMS SHOW HOW OTTAWA GREW – AND WHY GETTING
A BETTER TRANSIT SYSTEM IS SUCH A CHALLENGE
On Monday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m., the National
Film Board will be showing a series of short
films on how Ottawa has changed as a city. The
screening is to mark the 150th anniversary of
the selection of Ottawa as the capital city.
The screening will be in the Auditorium at the
Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. Admission
is free, but people are asked to RSVP by calling
613-995-9687.
Some of the challenges we face expanding light
rail have their roots in decisions made in the
fifties so the showing of these films shortly
after the release of the report of the Mayor’s
Transit Task Force is particularly timely.
WORKING
FULL-TIME FOR KANATA SOUTH
I
appreciate the chance to hear from you about
issues affecting our community. You can reach
me at 613-580-2752 (office), 613-580-2762 (fax),
or peggy.feltmate@ottawa.ca |