Candidate survey responses
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On May 9, I asked candidates for MPP in Ottawa-Centre Marc Adornato, Bruce Faulkner, Joel Harden, Colleen McCleery, Yasir Naqvi, and Cherie Wong five questions of interest to residents of Kitchissippi ward. Below, find the responses from Adornato, Harden and Naqvi submitted by the May 25 deadline. On May 31, I received a reply to the survey from Cherie Wong. I did not receive replies from Faulkner or McCleery.
Q1. Traffic violations such as speeding, rolling stops and distracted driving are putting Kitchissippi residents at risk. How do you propose to address those using the various powers the Province has?
A1 - Automated driving and electric cars are just around the corner, and it will resolve most of these problems. In the meantime, Kitchissippi residents need to be more careful and aware of their surroundings. To enhance their vigilance, I propose we eliminate speed limits and stop signs altogether (speeding and rolling stops resolved), and teach Ontario drivers to text and drive better.
Q2. Under current land-use planning frameworks, development trumps trees. Kitchissippi is losing its urban forest canopy. How will you address this at Queen’s Park using the various powers the Province has working with municipalities to create better protection for trees when those are proposed to be lost to development?
A2- An eye for an eye. You chop down a tree, you lose a finger. 5 trees? 5 fingers. That should stop tree cutting quickly. OR we could expand The Monument to the Wrong Jack Purcell, and build many more fake modern aluminum trees to replace lost trees. I could go either way on this one.
Q3. Will you commit to advocating for annual baseline funding to build municipal cycling infrastructure? How can Provincial regulations (for example, signage requirements) be modified to remove impediments to building more cycling infrastructure?
A3 - I like bikes a lot. I have one and it goes real fast. Aside from that, I’ll go with NDP candidate Joel Harden's answer to this one. Great guy.
Q4. Relationships between neighbours and infill builders can sometimes be tense. Construction issues such as property damage, trespass, environmental contamination and others are regulated by a variety of agencies and the courts. How can the Province work with municipalities to rein in the behaviour of consistently disrespectful builders?
A4 - We can rein in the behavior of consistently disrespectful builders with Moo Shu Ice Cream and Suzie Q doughnuts. They'll do ANYTHING for that shit.
Q5. How would you propose to address the growing call for a ban on single-use plastic bags?
A5 - Clearly, Ontario should have signed a 50 year green bin contract with Orgaworld, but they didn't. So now we're in this predicament. The growing call to ban single-use plastics (and fossil fuels for that matter), needs to be silenced once and for all. I propose we find out the political leanings of Ontario citizens through covert social media information gathering, and mass surveillance. We reward the people we like with tax breaks and coupons, and punish the dissenters with higher taxes on their environmentally friendly crap (canvas bags and solar panels), and bombard them with targeted spam emails, texts, and phone calls. If you're sick of the status quo, then I'm your candidate. For more information on how I could change your world, visit: www.ADORNATO.com
Hello Jeff Leiper,
Thank you for reaching out to my campaign for comment on the issues facing citizens in your Kitchissippi ward. During this election campaign candidates are being asked varied questions in order to determine where they stand on the issues and to offer meaningful answers in the search for comprehensive solutions. I am moved by how engaged folks are in this riding with the many local issues they face. Every door I knock on is a lesson on what it is like for different people to live in this province, in this city, and in each neighbourhood therein.
My responses both to the questions posed in this survey and to the issues the residents of this riding face will be guided by the following principles.
Interconnectedness
Although most questions in election surveys are asking single issue questions, none of these issues live in isolation. All responses must consider the interconnection of the issues at hand, and the knock-on effects of the prescribed course of action. An increase in the number of bike lanes, for example, will likely result in more interactions between cyclists and drivers, which requires more road safety measures, which, in turn, requires creating new public revenue streams, reallocating existing revenue, or both.
A Strong Democracy is a Well-Funded Democracy
Building the society we want to live in requires the provincial government to take public finances seriously. All governments must be responsible and transparent about how they spend our collective wealth. Cutting public spending with one hand, while offering new spending commitments with the other, is a bait and switch tactic of the Liberals that has actually left Ontarians at a net loss—a fact that the Liberals tacitly acknowledge when they point out that Ontario has the lowest per capita government spending of any province in Canada. This election has many innovative programs and policies on offer, and they should be financed sustainably and fairly by the new revenue sources proposed by the NDP. It is time we put an end to the massive tax giveaways that the Liberals and Conservatives have given to their wealthy friends over the past thirty years.
Grassroots Democracy and Local Consultation
In a functional democracy the role of the citizen is to be involved in political discussions, debates, and decision making between elections. I am committed to creating a more engaged electorate. To do this I will only be taking the average salary in Ottawa Centre, and putting the remaining $50,000 of my MPP salary towards organizing town halls at which my constituents can inform me and hold me to account between elections.
Here are answers to your specific questions:
1. Traffic violations, such as speeding, rolling stops and distracted driving are putting Kitchissippi residents at risk. How do you propose to address those using the various powers the Province has?
An NDP government will pass a Vulnerable Road Users’ Law specifically designed to protect cyclists and pedestrians. We will support the implementation of Vision Zero Road Safety Plans which aim to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries to zero. In line with that, the NDP generally supports the recently passed Bill C-65, which allows for red light cameras, alongside other speed enforcement systems, and allows the city to set lower speed limits for citizen safety. Research shows that decreasing the speed limit to 30 km/h reduces pedestrian deaths.
I will work with both levels of government, and consult widely with my constituents, to help those communities in Ottawa Centre who are struggling with traffic issues. An NDP government will ensure that the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal lives up to its mandate; local communities and local planners need to be respected and supported when they invest time and resources defending their local land use policies. The NDP will also restore funding to the Ontario Municipal Partnership fund, increasing it to $550 million. This will help ensure that all municipalities have active plans to promote walking and cycling by 2021, and will allow local governments to make long-term plans which should include “complete streets” by factoring in safety through design.
2. Under current land-use planning frameworks, development trumps trees. Kitchissippi is losing its urban forest canopy. How will you address this at Queen’s Park using the various powers the Province has working with municipalities to create better protection for trees when those are proposed to be lost to development?
I am very supportive of protecting and enhancing the urban forest canopy and other ecosystems that exist in the city. This needs to be done through strengthening tree protection bylaws as urban greenspace contributes to overall well-being and health; it also helps us to meet our environmental goals. The Urban Forest Management Plan must be a long-term plan and it must integrate with the city’s climate change plan, because trees are a major contributor to carbon filtering. This plan must also be in dialogue with the City’s Official Plan, so that it does not conflict with development. Part of what can be done at Queen’s Park is amending the Provincial Policy Statement which provides policy direction and a framework for matters of provincial interest related to land use planning. We should entrench language that promotes the protection of trees, an increase in planting, and the netting together of greenspace across the city.
Thankfully, the reforms of the Ontario Municipal Board will put an end to developers finding excuses to run roughshod over communities, and with an NDP government the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal will have the teeth it needs to defend local plans, such as those concerning green space. I will work with local communities and organize with my constituents to monitor these decisions and to help develop community-driven plans around greenspace. The restoration of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund will help local governments make long-term plans including the development of urban forest projects.
3. Will you commit to advocating for annual baseline funding to build municipal cycling infrastructure? How can Provincial regulations (for example, signage requirements) be modified to remove impediments to building more cycling infrastructure?
As a cyclist, I know that the city needs to do more, but Ottawa cannot do it alone. I believe in supporting the increased use of bicycles, because of their positive contribution to individual, public, and environmental health. The NDP, if elected, will update Ontario’s Cycling Strategy, setting a specific goal for the number of trips by bicycle, and we will ensure all municipalities have active transportation plans that promote public transit, walking, and cycling by 2021. Our amended strategy will set out investment targets to improve cycling infrastructure, and if cities so choose, a portion of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund could go directly to cycling infrastructure.
The NDP has a long history of supporting cycling. In the past few years, our MPPs Cheri DiNovo and Catherine Fife, have both introduced Private Member’s Bills addressing cycling safety. If in government, the NDP will legislate a Vulnerable Road Users’ Law which will specifically protect cyclists and pedestrians and provide impetus for building transportation infrastructure that takes into consideration all forms of transportation. These should coincide with Vision Zero Road Safety Plans as we affirm that no one should be a victim of deadly traffic accidents.
My support for the continual development of more bike paths, and streets designed with cycling in mind, could involve changes to provincial regulations regarding signage. Some cyclist advocates, such as Citizens for Safe Cycling, have recommended removing excess signage as it can be a distraction on cycling corridors; however, the exact policies would have to be designed in consultation with local communities and experts.
4. Relationships between neighbours and infill builders can sometimes be tense. Construction issues such as property damage, trespass, environmental contamination and others are regulated by a variety of agencies and the courts. How can the Province work with municipalities to rein in the behaviour of consistently disrespectful builders?
Protecting people’s well-being is a fundamental role of government. It is why the NDP believes in an active government, because it has the ability to defend us when we need it. Greater standards and consumer protections should exist to deal with infill builders. I would gladly work with you on bringing the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association to the table to develop standards for builders in the city. Part of leveling the playing field between consumers and businesses is encouraging sanctions on those businesses that shirk their responsibilities, and recognition of those that demonstrate professionalism and high standards. This could take place at a sector or industry level, but recourse must also be available. The legal system can sometimes be unwieldy and inaccessible and that is why Consumer Protection Ontario should be strengthened to provide recourse to residents who are feeling bullied by bad builders. I would gladly work to ensure that proper laws and regulations are in place to give local municipalities the authority to address these issues.
5. How would you propose to address the growing call for a ban on single-use plastic bags?
As we look to the world we are leaving behind for our kids and our grand kids, it is time to get serious about climate change and the attendant environmental damage. Cities across the world are stepping up with ambitious policies. Banning single-use plastic bags, in comparison, is only a small step towards lowering plastic pollution, reducing our carbon footprint, and protecting wildlife. Montreal, Victoria, and cities in California, have already led the way on this issue. We should be looking even further for solutions to reducing plastic pollution. I support banning single-use plastic bags and will work to create a consensus to support this.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak directly to your constituent’s concerns.
1. Traffic violations such as speeding, rolling stops and distracted driving are putting Kitchissippi residents at risk. How do you propose to address those using the various powers the Province has?
As a result of our community’s effective advocacy to lower speed limits on residential streets and in our school zones, I championed the passage of the Safer School Zones Act. As you may recall, I made changing the law to lower speed limits a part of my 2014 campaign commitments and by collaborating with Councillor Jeff Leiper and passionate advocates from Kitchissippi ward, we were able to make this a reality. Through our City Councillor, the City of Ottawa is now able to reduce speed limits on residential streets to create safer neighbourhoods for our families.
With your help, I will continue to champion this important initiative.
The Safer School Zones Act also gives municipalities more tools to fight speeding and dangerous driving through:
- Automated speed enforcement (ASE) technology (photo radars), which will help catch speeders. Municipalities will have the option to use this technology in school zones and also in community safety zones on roads with speed limits below 80 km/h.
- The ability to create zones with reduced speed limits (such as 30 km/h) to decrease the frequency and severity of pedestrian-vehicle collisions in urban areas.
- A streamlined process for municipalities to participate in Ontario's effective Red Light Camera program without the need for lengthy regulatory approval.
Creating safer roadways requires collaboration between the Provincial government, the City of Ottawa and our community to create transportation networks that are safe and convenient for our families. I will continue working with Councillor Leiper to ensure that Kitchissippi ward has the tools and support needed to protect the most vulnerable users of our roadways.
As our community continues to grow and diversify, developments like the new Civic Hospital campus will have a significant impact on the traffic volume and patterns in our ward. Drivers trying to avoid traffic will increasingly cut through our neighbourhood roads, increasing the volume and speed that is safe for the families that live there. Year round I knock on doors in this community and across Ottawa Centre. Together, we have made changes to ensure that the City can enforce lower speed limits and I am committed to ensuring that these changes reflects our community’s priorities throughout the planning, design and construction process.
Traffic calming measures, modern cycling infrastructure as well as enforcement are all important pieces to ensuring our roadways are safe. As your MPP, I will continue working closely with Councillor Leiper so Kitchissippi ward moves in a way that protects our environment, creates easy access to destination shoppes and restaurants while keeping our streets vibrant and safe.
2. Under current land-use planning frameworks, development trumps trees. Kitchissippi is losing its urban forest canopy. How will you address this at Queen’s Park using the various powers the Province has working with municipalities to create better protection for trees when those are proposed to be lost to development?
This is a real issue that goes broader than the question. Developers for too long were having more of a say in land-use planning than they should have. The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) and its decision making had consistently been an issue for our community since I was first elected.
That is why I made a commitment in 2014 that I would reform the land-use planning appeal system. Through a massive amount of feedback and input from our community, we did just that. The new Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT), that replaces the OMB, will ensure that communities have a stronger voice in development. This Tribunal, that opened last April, allows our community greater flexibility if it has an issue with a proposed development such as eliminating urban forest canopy. Now with the LPAT, municipalities will have a much larger say when it comes to these decisions.
That is not all the LPAT will do. It will strengthen communities’ voices in the planning process by accomplishing four objectives:
1. Creating greater certainty for residents, communities, and developers by exempting a broader range of major land-use planning decisions from appeal, including new Official Plans (OP), major OP updates, and detailed plans to support growth in major transit areas.
2. Giving communities a stronger voice in development by affording greater weight to the decisions of local communities and governments, while ensuring that development and growth occurs in a way that is good for Ontario, Ottawa and its future. The new tribunal could only overturn the municipal decision if it does not follow provincial and local plans or policies.
3. Ensuring faster, fairer and more affordable hearings by establishing clear timelines for pre-hearing and hearing processes so that people can get a better sense of when the tribunal would hear their case, and how long the process is going to take.
4. Providing access to free legal and planning support for Ontarians by creating a new independent agency, the Local Planning Appeal Support Centre. The purpose of this support centre is to provide free legal and planning advice and representation to communities throughout the appeal process.
I strongly believe that these changes I will create a balanced decision-making process that is more predictable, faster and less costly, and can help ensure that cities and towns reflect the best interests of the people living in them today, as well as future generation by fostering community-inspired development.
I look forward to working with city councillors and other community partners to explore any other issues when it comes to land-use planning or the destruction of our urban forest canopy.
3. Will you commit to advocating for annual baseline funding to build municipal cycling infrastructure? How can Provincial regulations (for example, signage requirements) be modified to remove impediments to building more cycling infrastructure?
As Ottawa grows and diversifies, so too do the ways people commute to work, social services and entertainment. Cycling has increasingly become a primary method of travel in our community and we must rise to meet this demand. That is why we need permanent active transportation infrastructure. I am committed to working with the City to build more safe and dedicated cycling lanes and pedestrian walkways by using funds from price on pollution. This would build on the province’s #CycleON Action Plan 2.0.
Improving access to active transportation is very important, but doing so safely is equally important.
I have always been focussed on road safety for cyclists and pedestrians. In 2012 I introduced a bill (https://goo.gl/V5snmi ) — that became law — to enforce red-light camera tickets on out-of-province drivers. For too long, we had out-of-province drivers running red lights, and not being able to enforce the fines against them. They were making our roads unsafe, so I took action.
I knew that there was more to do though. So working with our community here in Ottawa Centre I also championed the Safer School Zones Act (https://goo.gl/A6PibC ) making it easier for municipalities to install more red-light cameras, reduce speed limits on residential streets (up to 30 km/h), and install photo radars in school zones and community safety zones. Because ensuring that we have safe streets for our kids is of the utmost importance.
We also needed to look at new ways of getting around in our community. So we started construction on the new Clegg Street-Fifth Avenue pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Rideau Canal. This bridge is crucial to uniting Old Ottawa East, the Glebe and Old Ottawa South, and will create a much-needed dedicated active transportation route to work, entertainment and shopping. By bringing these communities together, we are building stronger, closer neighbourhoods. This is a project that would not have been possible without the advocacy of local residents, support from all levels of government, and a $5 million commitment from the province.
Now that we have Ottawa LRT nearing completion, with the help of the Liberal government’s $1.6 billion investment into both Phase 1 and 2, ensuring it gets built, we also are using the money from price on pollution to turn the bus lanes on Albert and Slater streets into new cycling lanes. This will use existing infrastructure in new innovative ways while also providing cyclists a safe way to move around downtown.
But there is always more to do. Which is why I am committed to continuing to use the price on pollution to create permanent dedicated cycling infrastructure in our community. I look forward to working with the city councillors on this important planning project. As a community, we need to continue building active cycling infrastructure through reliable environmental investments for generations to come.
4. Relationships between neighbours and infill builders can sometimes be tense. Construction issues such as property damage, trespass, environmental contamination and others are regulated by a variety of agencies and the courts. How can the Province work with municipalities to rein in the behaviour of consistently disrespectful builders?
Growth in our neighbourhoods is always a concern. Ensuring that transparent and thorough consultation takes place is why I undertook giving communities a stronger voice in the development process by replacing the OMB with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.
When development does take place in our neighbourhoods, the last thing residents should have to worry about is whether construction, or demolition, is done safely and in a manner respectful of their nearby properties.
This is a real issue, with no easy answer. There are several different parties involved, such as the City Planning department, the Ministry of Labour, those in charge of the building code and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
One of my consistent commitment to our community though, is that I will work with you to come up with pragmatic solutions to complex problems. For this, that means bringing all the parties together to bolster enforcement and mechanisms for rapid response by the city or provincial departments so that we can protect both our neighbours and the workers.
Simply put, when our neighbours have concerns they should be able to rely on prompt enforcement and penalties for breaches of conduct and damage to their property.
5. How would you propose to address the growing call for a ban on single-use plastic bags?
Municipalities like Montreal have already taken steps to ban single-use plastic bags and it's important that as a city, Ottawa does our part in protecting the environment for the quality of life and health of future generations. The precedent has been set and I believe Ottawa can make the banning of single-use plastic bags a reality.
I have met with the Chair of the City of Ottawa’s Environment and Climate Protection Committee, Councillor David Chernushenko, as well as Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES) on this matter and am committed to continue exploring what is required to allow the City of Ottawa to implement a ban on single-use plastic bags.
Currently, the Waste Free Ontario Act outlines our path to reducing carbon emissions from waste and moving the Province towards a “circular economy” where we make productive use of materials for as long as possible. Disposal bans have been implemented across the world to help drive waste diversion. These bans would be an effective tool in directing waste to reuse and recycling streams, as well as eliminating plastic waste.
The Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy document outlines our plan to work with municipalities to implement disposal bans, starting with food waste, beginning as early as 2022. This first phase of disposal bans being explored also includes beverage containers, corrugated cardboard and paper materials as well as fluorescent light bulbs and plastic bags.
However, I believe that we, as a community, should work towards banning single-use plastic bags as soon as possible, and I will work hard with our city councillors to get this done.
With so many alternatives to single-use plastic bags available, such as zero waste grocery stores like NU grocery appearing here in our community, now is the time to explore how we can work together and make this change a reality.
Q1. Traffic violations such as speeding, rolling stops and distracted driving are putting Kitchissippi residents at risk. How do you propose to address those using the various powers the Province has?
We need to invest in road infrastructure that addresses traffic violations, from speed bumps to red-light cameras. Folks from 16 to 24 years old are responsible for 1 in 5 traffic deaths, so I believe we need to better promote safe driving among new drivers. Harsher legislation would help deter traffic violations, but I believe we need to utilize existing technology to address the traffic violations problems.
Ultimately, we should move away from relying on automobile travels, and create more space for bike lanes. Truthfully, we need to move away from reliance on automobiles and fund sustainable ways to travel.
Q2. Under current land-use planning frameworks, development trumps trees. Kitchissippi is losing its urban forest canopy. How will you address this at Queen’s Park using the various powers the Province has working with municipalities to create better protection for trees when those are proposed to be lost to development?
We need to strengthen our current bylaws to protect urban green spaces by including language that actively promotes the expansion of urban green spaces. Access to green spaces has positive health and social impacts on communities. Instead of blindly cutting down trees, we need to find innovative ways to protect and expand the greenery in our communities. Rather than a reactive approach on urban greenery, I believe we need to actively seek new areas to develop green spaces. Instead of leaving land-use decisions to developers, we need to consult with the communities impacted and focus on their needs.
Q3. Will you commit to advocating for annual baseline funding to build municipal cycling infrastructure? How can Provincial regulations (for example, signage requirements) be modified to remove impediments to building more cycling infrastructure?
ABSOLUTELY! As a skateboarder who uses bike lanes to travel to and from work, I am a strong advocate for complete streets and safe biking infrastructure. I believe we need to invest in cycling infrastructure that is independent from automobile traffic flow, as cars pose a huge safety issue for bikers. Although we have to always put safety first when building cycling infrastructure, the current legislation creates unnecessary barriers for municipalities looking to expand their inventory of bike lanes. I look forward to working with the community to develop safe and accessible bike lanes throughout Ottawa Centre.
Q4. Relationships between neighbours and infill builders can sometimes be tense. Construction issues such as property damage, trespass, environmental contamination and others are regulated by a variety of agencies and the courts. How can the Province work with municipalities to rein in the behaviour of consistently disrespectful builders?
We need to put the people and communities’ needs first. Construction in the community poses many challenges, and can become a safety issue. I believe it is our duty to ensure the community’s safety and properties are not damaged; and if necessary, impose penalties to deter reckless behaviours.
Q5. How would you propose to address the growing call for a ban on single-use plastic bags?
We need to take action to ban single-use plastic bags in Ottawa. There is only one Earth, and we must protect it from further pollution and excessive toxic waste. We have to offer a viable and affordable option, and I believe we need to pass legislation to empower small businesses that are leading the charge in zero-waste, like NU grocery store! Ontario should take steps towards banning single-use plastic bags and most other single-use plastic products. Realistically, we need to develop a transition plan that is inclusive for folks with different abilities and different economic statuses.
