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 McKenney: “… What you have done with this survey is demonstrate the wealth of knowledge and energy available among committed citizens and groups like the ones who have signed on to your position. This is a valuable resource that the City needs to be drawing on, through meaningful consultations, advisory committees, and an ongoing relationship with communities.

I would be pleased to support the positions put forth in your letter.”

Jeff Morrison:

#1: “Yes, I would support this. Greenspace is particularly lacking in Somerset ward, and many concerns have been expressed that the rapid pace of development in downtown is causing even greater loss of what trees and vegetation we do have. Clear rules and regulations regarding the removal of vegetation would be important to address these concerns.”

#2: “If funds were available, I would be in support. It is possible that Section 37 monies could be used to top up this Fund, and possibly bolstered in conjunction with external partners such as Ducks Unlimited. I would also not support any parcelling off of land from the Greenbelt.”

#3: “As a candidate in a downtown ward, this is admittedly not an issue that has been raised by residents. However, as a proponent of smart intensification, I would support retention of this regulation.”

#4: “I have long been a proponent for opening up City Committees to greater public involvement and input – for instance, as President of Centretown Community Health Centre, I was a proponent for opening the Ottawa Board of Health to external representation. One of my key themes in this campaign is greater engagement, so yes, I would very much be in favour of opening up meetings, and making Advisory Committee meetings more transparent and inclusive.”

Lili Weemen:

“I support your proposition.

In Somerset ward, with intensification most trees have been cut down and often residents are concerned about the dramatic decrease in number of trees in the downtown core over the past 50 years.

We should encourage tree planting in somerset and increase the funds for environmental lands acquisition. Ask students volunteer to plant trees throughout Somerset ward.

It is important to protect land from massive country lot estate development projects. I have been to certain parts of the world where trees have been cut bare and new trees that are being planted required to be chained not to be blown away by strong winds.

It is important to involve more ordinary Canadians on city advisory committees to have direct input from the public.. The quality of air and level of pollution affect our health and it is important that we replace trees cut for development.”

Thomas McVeigh:

#1: “I am strongly supportive of creating a strong site alteration bylaw. The key will be ensuring that the repercussions for flouting it are severe enough that they won’t be treated as a cost of doing business.”

#2: “I would commit to working towards the goal of putting money towards a fund for acquiring environmentally important lands and ecosystems.”

#3: “On the first day of my campaign I posted my policies, and one of those was “I am ecstatic that the Greenspace Alliance has at long last won the battle to get rid of Country Lot Estates.” It’s safe to say I will not support any compromise.”

#4: “I am an advocate of much better consultation, and this is one more example of how we can and should do better.”

Martin Canning:

#1: “Yes. The stalled Environmental Strategy refresh, the weak Air Quality and Climate Change Action Plan, and the failure to produce a site alteration by-law are evidence of poor environmental leadership at council. I look forward to providing that leadership, if elected. Please see my platform at newottawa.ca for my specific commitments to environmental leadership.”

#2: “Yes. The city should not be shy about acquiring natural areas to preserve our natural capital.”

#3: “Yes. I fought the urban boundary expansion, and it’s critical that council continue to hold the line when it comes to protecting agricultural land and wildlife habitat. We need to encourage a denser urban environment.”

#4: “Yes. I was Vice Chair of the Environmental Advisory Committee when advisory committee mandates were gutted. As one of the most educated populations in North America, City Hall should benefit from the significant experience and expertise in the community; advisory committees are one of the best vehicles to accomplish this.

In general, collaboration is in my DNA. The platform development process I went through with my team is evidence of that, and is unprecedented in municipal history. I knocked on 20,000 doors, held seven public policy events, met with hundreds of community and business stakeholders and engaged more than 5,000 people on social media to develop the New Ottawa Plan. Please visit newottawa.ca to see my specific commitments on public engagement.”

Denis Schryburt:

#1: “Yes. We must do what we can to protect our greenspaces, especially in a downtown ward with all the intensification currently happening or planned to be done. When development is done right and done smart, we can certainly preserve our greenspaces. Also, many trees have also been removed due to invasive pests such as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). We must ensure that those trees are replaced and not just taken down.”

#2: “Yes. However, I would encourage that other community and environmentally friendly organizations join the city in playing a role in contributing to this fund. Partnerships are key in these instances.”

#3: “Yes. Not something we don`t deal with in Somerset Ward but none the less, something I can put my support behind.”

#4: “Yes. From the very start of this campaign, when I signed on as a candidate on January 2 and was interviewed by the Ottawa Citizen and CBC radio, I stated that as city councilor I would be a strong advocate for more public engagement. Whether it is a community organization or city meeting, we must ensure that the doors are always open for the public to engage.”

Edward Conway: “I am fully committed to all of your points.”

#2: “As for environmental land acquisition, Greenspace is always fighting a losing cause against development. Few people really appreciate what a de-forested city would look like. I am an economist. I have spent all my academic life dealing with the fact that economic activity tends to ignore the value of Greenspace because the public authority puts too low a value on the Greenspace as against the apparent value of development. What the public authority seldom understands is that development will happen in any event even with strong Greenspace protection in the city environs.”

#3: “As for the country lot subdivisions, a continuing cause of urban sprawl, I have a fully developed policy that seeks to contract the city’s footprint over the coming years. My policy aims to increase not decrease density. Increasing country lot subdivisions will only continue to low city density with all the costs and problems and greenhouse gases associated with high road use.”

#4: “As a lawyer working intensively with the disabled community, I have dealt with the disabled advisory committee and followed their work. All the city projects and proposals are supposed to obtain the committee’s input before project approval. The city often bypassed this committee on many items that were deemed problematic for the city. The city’s failure to do so led in one case to catastrophic injury. I am committed to making sure advisory committees are listened to.”

The remaining three candidates did not respond.