THE BUZZ Remembering our veterans, page 6 A look at the Bronson Ave. reconstruction, page 7 November 18, 2011 VOL. 16 NO. 11 At the heart of Ottawa since 1995 CENTRETOWNBUZZ.COM Bronson Ave. getting facelift Busy street under construction over winter 2012 UZZ B Christopher Hofley photo Bronson Avenue will be under construction this winter as the City of Ottawa begins to widen the busy arterial road. For more on the project, see page 7. By Dorian Panchyson However, should the current To counter the bottleneck, the measure the negative impacts a proposal go ahead as planned, the city’s proposal would widen the wider laneway would have on the As part of the City of Ottawa’s street would be made 35 per cent laneways between Arlington Street residents and businesses along ongoing infrastructure renewal pro- wider to accommodate the influx of and Laurier Avenue to ease the flow Bronson,” said Darwin. “Even if cess, Bronson Avenue is scheduled commuter traffic in the downtown of traffic to and from the downtown you move the sidewalk in just six for a major facelift throughout win- core — an issue which has caused core. Wider lanes are believed to of- or eight inches, it makes the street ter 2012. considerable concern amongst lo- fer more space, thereby increasing much less livable.” According to the city’s website, cal residents, business owners and the speed of travel and diminishing Darwin is concerned that the the project will involve “the re- community associations. the likelihood of human error. commuter-first planning mental- placement of aging underground Bronson Avenue serves as a Eric Darwin, president of the ity may cause Bronson to become infrastructure, reconstruction of the key north-south route, linking the Dalhousie Community Association, less safe as wider laneways and im- roadway, improvements to pedes- Queensway, Carleton University, believes that, although the proposal proved lighting would increase the trian corridors and revitalization of and much of south Ottawa and be- may marginally improve traffic temptation to speed — especially the street through landscaping ini- yond to the downtown core. As a flow, it will worsen other problems north of Gladstone Avenue where tiatives.” result, it is often overcrowded and plaguing the street such as unsafe traffic numbers are much less than Given the thoroughfare’s der- dangerous at peak hours, devolving pedestrian crossings, crumbling and on the section south of the Queen- elict state, an upgrade would bring into a gridlocked mess that leaves non-existent sidewalks and an over- sway. a much needed improvement to one little room for pedestrian or cyclist all sense of urban blight. Bronson Ave., of the city’s key arterial roads. traffic. “The city has no barometer to see page 2 Stray cats in Centretown Naqvi gets appointed By Christopher Hofley could not specify the location of By Christopher Hofley “It was a tremendous honour the stray animals to protect the to be asked to serve as the parlia- A not-for-profit cat rescue op- cats and said that five had re- Newly re-elected Ottawa-Centre mentary assistant to the minister of eration is asking for the public’s cently died after being poisoned. MPP Yasir Naqvi was appointed as finance,” said Naqvi. “I look for- help to ease what it is calling an The HHCR said that the over- parliamentary assistant to the min- ward to working with ... Duncan animal welfare emergency in a population in the area is the re- ister of ffinance on Nov. 9. and the new challenges that await ENTRETOWN Centretown neighbourhood. sult of owners either letting their Naqvi was also named assistant me.” Hungry and Homeless Cat unwanted pets go in the streets, to the chair of the management Naqvi was first elected to the Rescue (HHCR) said Nov. 6 that or not having their animals board of cabinet. Ontario Legislature in 2007 and there are approximately 40 stray spayed or neutered. And while According to a statement from won a second term last month. cats living in a space smaller than the story is not unique to this Naqvi’s office, the new assignment He has previous served as par- a square block – the result “of area, this specific case is par- will give the second-term politi- liamentary assistant to the minis- C human responsibility and ne- ticularly severe. cian the chance to assist Finance ter of education, and as assistant glect.” Minister Dwight Duncan as “he to the minister of revenue and Valerie Froud, founder of the Stray cats, focuses on the economy and creat- community safety and correctional volunteer-run HHCR, said she see page 2 ing jobs.” services. 2 CENTRETOWNBUZZ.COM NOVEMBER 18, 2011 November 18, 2011 — Vol. 16, No. 11 OPINION CENTRETOWN City budget 2012: Status quo or progress on climate change? BUZZ By Roger Ritsema surrounding its causes and ture. Their inaction on what councilors are accepting rec- effects, and links to current is surely one of the biggest ommendations for the 2012 At the heart of Ottawa since 1995. problems make it so. This threats to our continued well budget. A local organization, igns of climate also makes it easy to doubt. being is inexcusable and be- Ecology Ottawa, has put change are all 101-210 Gloucester St. It is such an ominous yet ob- yond comprehension. It is forth some recommendations around us: from re- Ottawa, ON S scure threat that it is hard to their duty to understand these to council for the upcoming duced skating time on the K2P 2K4 wrap our minds around it and issues and make the difficult budget. These include taking Rideau Canal due to warm- therefore makes it difficult decisions to move forward on a proactive approach with er winters, to the Emerald Phone: 613-565-6012 to perceive associated risk progress. sustainable energy by putting Ash Borer infestation eat- and to take action. Action The City of Ottawa is ta- solar panels on municipal ing away at Ottawa’s trade- www.centretownbuzz.com usually means breaking long bling the 2012 budget on buildings, taking an active mark canopied neighbour- twitter.com/centretownbuzz established habits, conve- Nov. 30, 2011. There is pre- role in helping families ret- hoods (less cold winters to niences, and social norms. As cious little in terms of action rofit their homes to minimize kill off larvae). a result of all of this, inaction on climate change in light of heat loss, and helping low- These may seem like triv- seems to be the easiest thing the threat posed. There are income families make their ial issues compared to major to do. myriad common sense mea- homes more energy efficient. climate-linked disasters such While doing nothing is sures that our city officials I urge you to give them a Centretown Buzz Staff as flooding and wildfires. But somewhat understandable can and should adopt, one read and then write or phone they are significant nonethe- for individuals, it is certainly of the most obvious being a your councilor and tell them Managing editor less and, perhaps even more not for our locally elected of- thoughtful reduction in fossil what you think. Through Christopher Hofley | [email protected] importantly, a sign of more ficials. They are tasked with fuel emissions by supporting inaction we are gambling disruptive things to come. and well paid to look out for renewable energy. with our future. Is it worth it? Associate editor Yes, climate change is the city and its residents’ best There is still time to make Let your councilor know Eleanor Sawyer scary. The complexity of the interests now and in the fu- a difference however. Your what you think. problem, the lack of clarity City editor David Gladstone | [email protected] Animal overpopulation causes suffering Distribution managers Archie Campbell & David Seaborn Stray cats ter, or offering financial as- [email protected] from page 1 sistance to help get the cats healthy. “If nothing is done to ad- “People need to be edu- dress this situation, soon there cated on the impact of their will be many more homeless selfish decisions by not ster- cats that are vulnerable to ilizing their cats, and/or then Advertising disease, abuse, accidents and disposing of them outside,” The Buzz is proud to offer an effective advertising me- premature death,” the orga- said Froud. “These 40-plus dium that reaches 10,000 Centretown homes and nization said in a statement, starving, malnourished, in- businesses each month. Our competitive advertising adding that the stray cats in jured babies who are not rates are as low as $28 per issue. question are mostly kittens equipped to survive the im- and young cats. minent cold Ottawa winter, View our rate card and publishing dates at In addition to causing suf- A local cat rescue operation is trying to solve are the results of these cruel centretownbuzz.com. For more information, email fering for the animals, over- actions.” [email protected] or call 613-565-6012. an animal welfare emergency in a Centretown population can have a nega- neighbourhood. For more information on tive impact on the flora and Because the HHCR is ing to the community to how you can help, contact the Next Issue fauna of an area because the HHCR at 613-231-6839 or The next issue of the Buzz will be published completely community- help curb the problem, ei- animals don’t have enough visit www.hungryandhome- December 16. Contact the managing editor based and volunteer-driven, ther by adopting a stray, for submission deadlines. food. the organization is look- providing temporary shel- lesscatrescue.com.