The propositions:
1. Support for a strong site alteration by-law, with emphasis on “strong.”
2. Renewed commitment to an annual allocation towards an environmental lands acquisition fund.
3. Standing firm in support of the prohibition against future country lot subdivisions.
4. The City’s Advisory Committees should be genuine bridges between the public and Council.
Catherine Fortin LeFaivre: “Yes, you have my support.”
Mathieu Fleury: “I am supportive of the four Greenspace Alliance propositions.”
Marc Aubin:
#1: “As a contender for office in Rideau-Vanier ward, and as President of the Lowertown Community Association for a number of years, I have witnessed personally these ‘tree massacres’. I am disturbed by the lack of effort on the part of the City to engage with developers to find solutions that enable the retention of these mature trees more frequently. I am also concerned that efforts to replace lost trees whether it be to dieasese or ‘massacres’ are far too weak to make up for the losses we are sustaining. I believe trees are far more important to our urban environments than what the City of Ottawa’s current operations communicate and I will be an advocate for tree retention and greater tree planting in this City.”
#2: “Once again, being in a downtown ward, I understand the need to protect natural areas for the future benefit of residents. The City of Ottawa has relied on the NCC for far too long for the provision and protection of greenspaces for residents. The City of Ottawa must take more responsibility itself going forward and your suggestion for a meaningfully sized Enviromental Lands Aquisition Fund is a good one. I will support it.”
#3: “I am committed to the principle of more compact and environmentally sustainable forms of development. Building more country lot subdivisions clearly is not consistent with this principle and I will support the current City policy. Moreover I am familiar with the number of times that City policy is compromised by individual exceptions and pledge to not support this practice when it concerns individual applications for exceptions to this policy on new country lot subdivisons.”
#4: “I am concerned by a number of changes that have happened over the last term of council that when their impacts are collectively rolled up have the net effect of reducing democratic participation in the decision making process at the City. I am in favour of reversing this trend and finding new ways for residents to have influence on City policy and decision making. I have witnessed first hand the dynamic where City staff for one reason or another are ineffective at implementing innovative new proposals. The dynamism and fresh eyes of interested and motivated individuals often makes a difference between doing things ‘the same old way’ versus doing things better. I think your suggestion to start with the existing advisory committees and empowering them to be more effective at gathering citizen input would be a good place to start.”
One candidate was not accessible. The remaining two candidates did not respond.