Queensway Coalition

September 30, 2007
I e-mailed our questionnaire to each party candidate in four Ottawa ridings, requesting responses by September 29, 2007. The four questions had been developed at our CCC meeting on August 23, 2007. Without finding e-mail addresses for the three independent candidates in those ridings, I was not able to send them the questionnaire.
We have received responses from seven candidates: two in Ottawa Centre, one in Ottawa-Vanier, three in Ottawa South and one in Ottawa West-Nepean. They represent four parties. I recommend reading through to the end in order to get a sense of what the parties as well as the individual candidates have done with the questionnaire. The compilation below is on a riding-by-riding basis. The order of presentation is alphabetical by candidates’ last names. This compilation leaves it to readers to evaluate the responses.
Cam Robertson
Chair, City Centre Coalition

Ottawa Centre
Ottawa-Vanier
Ottawa West-Nepean
Ottawa South

The questions:

Cities are seriously underfunded for the responsibilities they have been mandated. We favour uploading financial responsibility from cities to the Province for services previously downloaded. What will you do to resolve this longstanding issue?

* We, along with other organizations, have filed a bump-up request regarding the proposed widening of the Queensway through various central sections of Ottawa. Our request is that the Environmental Assessment on the proposed project be done at the proper level of thoroughness in order to assure adequate protection of neighbourhoods through which the highway passes. Do you support our request?

* We have asked the Minister of the Environment not to approve the inadequate Environmental Assessment done on a proposed project to build a highway through the Alta Vista Corridor – a project that would cause irreparable harm to communities bordering the corridor and to those downstream that would have the traffic dumped on them. Do you support our request?

Very little provincial attention is paid toward promoting cycling and educating all road users about cycling safety. While the Ministry of Health Promotion pays much attention to helmet safety, such programs reach only people who already cycle. Do you support provincial funding for expanded cycling facilities and for programming to encourage bicycle use and awareness?

* The Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process used in these studies is streamlined for road expansions and consequently could not recommend a transit-only solution. The bump-up from a Class EA to an Individual EA would ensure a more complete examination of all alternatives.

Ottawa Centre

Will Murray, NDP

Here are my responses to your questions. Please let me know if you need anything else.
1. Howard Hampton and the NDP will reverse four years of McGuinty Liberals weakening Ontario communities by delivering a fair deal to municipalities and today’s working families. The NDP plan to rebalance the provincial-municipal fiscal relationship will freeze transit fares for two years, ease pressure on rising property taxes and provide increased support for key municipal services. At issue is municipal downloading, and the McGuinty government’s refusal to pay for its own programs. McGuinty refuses to pay for provincially-mandated services like transit, court costs and disability assistance. Ontario’s municipal property taxpayers pay for those programs. Ontario is the only province where that happens. That’s why Ontario families pay the highest property taxes in Canada. Highlights of the NDP’s plan include:
• Implementing a two-year transit fare freeze to keep cars off the road and protect transit riders from punishing fare hikes. As of Jan. 1, 2008, we will assume Ontario’s traditional responsibility for paying 50 per cent of public transit operating costs. Municipalities and property taxpayers will see $220 million a year in benefits.
• Uploading court security costs to provide needed relief for municipalities and property taxpayers. As of Jan. 1, 2008, the provincial government will assume the cost of providing security services in courtrooms. Municipalities and municipal property taxpayers across the province will see $200 million in benefits that they can choose to use for initiatives that keep our communities safe, like hiring more police officers.
• Honouring Ontario’s cost-sharing and funding agreements and pay the $225 million the McGuinty government has been shortchanging municipalities.
• Uploading disability assistance and related drug benefit costs. The Ontario Disability Support Program and the Ontario Drug Benefit Program are provincial programs. New Democrats will remove those costs from the property tax base by the end of 2011 and make sure the province pays them. Municipalities and property taxpayers will see $800 million in benefits. The NDP is on track to upload the download by 2015. That’s the most practical and fair plan put forward ahead of the provincial election. 2. Yes. A thorough Environmental Assessment is fundamental to any development, but must be accompanied by community input.
3. Yes. A thorough Environmental Assessment is essential as is community input. More roads will mean more cars, and in any development plan for Ottawa, alternatives like expanded bike paths, sidewalk widening, improved public transit, must be considered. The province is ignoring our public transit needs with only $200 million offered to Ottawa, compared with the $17.5 billion invested in Toronto and Hamilton. Ottawa deserves its fair share of public transit dollars. I will fight for a fair deal for Ottawa to get the system we clearly need. Better public transit means fewer cars on our roads, encouraging more
bikes and walkers, resulting in less consumption and congestion, and will play an important part building a greener Ottawa. Keeping it affordable is the key to ensure its success and make sure that it is accessible to everyone.
4. Yes. This is an environmental issue, a health issues, and a smog and congestion issue. It is important for everybody from businesses to working families.

Yasir Naqvi, Liberal

Thank you for the opportunity to share with you, and with the members of the City Centre Coalition the commitments, ideas and initiatives that I would bring to Ottawa Centre if elected as your Member of Provincial Parliament. Working together, I believe we can accomplish many things, most important of which is the enhancement of our riding as a vibrant, green and sustainable place to live.
My responses to your questionnaire are as follows.
1. The former Tory government gutted many of our public services by downloading them to cash-strapped municipalities and under-funding our basic infrastructure. Since taking office, and eliminating the $5.6 billion deficit inherited from the previous Tory administration, the McGuinty government has begun uploading provincial services (approximately 25% of them) back to the province, starting with the Ontario Disability Support Program and the Ontario Drug Program. We will complete that task. Indeed, a study is currently underway between the government and the Association of the Municipalities of Ontario to determine which services belong where. I am committed to ensuring that Ottawa gets a fair deal in this arrangement. But uploading is just one part of the solution. Fundamentally, cities need more money to do the things they do. The McGuinty government has increased funding to Ottawa from $14.1 million at the time of the last provincial election in 2003 to over $118 million today. An additional $200 million has also been secured for developing Ottawa's rapid transit system, and is still on the table once the City develops its plan for this system. This is just a start. I am ready to get to work for all of us.
2. Like you, I am opposed to the widening of the Queensway across the downtown core, and will work with all residents to ensure that the bump-request is fulfilled. I will also be a strong advocate against having even one additional lane of the Queensway built through the downtown segment of our community.
3. Yes, I oppose the planned arterial road through the Alta Visa corridor and will advocate your request to the Minister of the Environment.
4. I am strongly committed to keeping our community green, bikeable, and liveable. Cycling must be a vital part of both our transportation and health promotion strategies; it encourages active living while decreasing our environmental impact. As a long-time volunteer in the health care sector, I am committed to working diligently with the Minister of Health Promotion to continue this government’s progress on encouraging bicycling, such as the recent initiative to provide free bicycle helmets to low-income children. I will also work with our city councillors to develop an integrated transportation vision that encourages bicycling as a mode of transportation, and supports the construction of additional bike paths and lanes.
Should you have any other questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at 613-232-7141.

Stuart Ryan, Communist

1. The Communist Party of Ontario would upload the costs of transit, welfare, health, housing and education to the province, which has the resources to pay for them. We would give municipalities stable funding, either through provincial grants or the ability to tax corporations. We would give municipalities 50% of the gas taxes. We would give them standing in the Canadian constitution, rather than being creatures of the provincial government.
2. The Communist Party would support your bump-up request.
3. The Communist Party supports your position that the Minister not approve the inadequate Environmental Assessment.
4. The Communist party supports more funding for cycling facilities because it is a healthy and environmentally sound alternative form of transit. I sing in an environmental choir Just Voices that promotes cycling. We need more cycling lanes on busy streets line Bronson Avenue and Bank Street so that cyclists can travel safely alongside trucks and cars.

Ottawa-Vanier

Leonard Poole, Green

Thank you for the opportunity to respond.
1. The province must immediately assume responsibility for the full cost of social services. They should not be imposed on the municipal tax base. Municipal taxes currently have no relationship either to the cost of the service provided or to the ability of an individual to pay. Because of this inherent unfairness, taxpayers understandably put intense pressure on their councilors to eliminate tax increases. This leads to short term thinking on the part of city councils across the province. I am very interested in proposals developed by the Ottawa based Federation of Community Associations (FCA). As an MPP I would work hard for a full review of the provincially imposed municipal tax system.
2. I strongly support your request. The Green Party of Ontario is committed to cleaner, cheaper, more efficient and safer forms of transportation. Ontario’s current transportation system is inefficient, expensive, polluting, dangerous and unsustainable. The Green Party envisions a transportation system that does not reduce our quality of life. Our Plan for sustainability would Divert 75% of all money budgeted for new highway construction until 2012 to public transit such as GO Transit, Toronto Transit Commission and Ottawa’s OCTranspo. This will fund the service improvements, expansion and infrastructure renewal required to create a world-class transportation system, relieve gridlock and eliminate the need for new highways.
3. I strongly support your request. Transportation systems must be designed to integrate well with the surrounding communities and bring us together not split us apart.
4. Yes I do. I am an active cyclist and enjoy cycle touring. It is a sustainable practice that enhances one’s health.

Ottawa West-Nepean

Jim Watson, Liberal

Thank you for writing to me, it is very nice to hear from you. I will respond to the issues that affect either my riding or my Ministry. I would suggest you contact my colleagues in Ottawa Centre and Ottawa Vanier for a reply to the issues that fall within their ridings.
1. As the Mayor of Ottawa that bore the brunt of the Tory downloading, I am very pleased that our government has been gradually uploading costs back to the province.
. 50% of ambulance costs
. 75% of Mandatory Public Health costs
. ODSP and Drug Benefits costs (beginning January 1st, 2008)
We await the final report of the AMO Provincial Fiscal Review for further action on this issue.
4. My Ministry has adopted and begun to implement its Provincial Trails Strategy (see the Strategy at www.mhp.gov.on.ca). In addition, we have pledged to remove the PST on bicycles and helmets. We also have expanded the infrastructure program so that recreational facilities like trails are now eligible for funding. And as you pointed out, we have launched our injury prevention program that will distribute approximately 10,000 free bike and sport helmets to economically challenged children.

Ottawa South

Jean-Serge Brisson, Libertarian

1. I have been working on a proposition that I am hoping will be accepted by both federal and provincial libertarian party.
What I am suggesting that should happen is for all of the money that is raised through gasoline taxes at both government levels, execpt for the cost of administration, should be given to municipalities. Reason is that the majority of roads are maintained by municipalities. It would make sense to have that level of government, with a smaller bureaucracy to be the one to take care of maintaining and even building new roads and transit system as they are needed. If this means raising the cost of fuel used in transportation, then let it be so. To do anything else other then to charge the cost of transporting people and goods by subsidizing it through other means of taxation is wrong. Those who consume the product must be made to pay for it.
2. Any expansion of a major highway that goes through a city is always a touchy topic. I don't remember what happened when the 401 was expanded in Toronto and I have not looked up the archives to read on how it happened, but I expect that many were expropriated in order to do so. Not a pretty sight. What I had been made aware of was a "ring road" that would go around the city of Ottawa to allow for "through traffic" and not cause the traffic buildup that occurs on the Queensway at all times of the day. It was to be constructed in a less built up area allowing for a minimum of expropriating residences. Whether or not that idea is still being considered I don't know. For me that would seem the answer to a growing traffic pattern. So I guess that yes, I support your request.
3. Expanding the Alta Vista Corridor does not seem like a good idea. It is highly built up and means either cutting into front yards of homes that would then be very close to the road and open to more noise destroying the quiet environment it now enjoys. A wider road will lead to higher speeds and more noise. It does not look good to push through more traffic through a road that is meant to allow a residential area to come and go. It was not meant as a corridor to allow traffic from one end of the city to circulate through to the other end of the city. Unless the intent is to expropriate all of the homes that are along the roadway, it would still be a different neighborhood that would now have to deal with higher traffic that is not related to those living in the area. I support your request.
4. If the municipalities were given the monies from gasoline taxes, then the municipal taxes that are presently used to maintain roads could be differed to such improvements in order to allow for an increase in safe usage of bicycles without having to compete with an automobile. As for government funding for safer cycling, I think that the cycling community can do that one best. Groups and organizations that will develop around the activity are better connected to communicate to the cyclists on safety in the activity that they will be doing. It was my pleasure to have the opportunity to respond.

John Ford, Green

1. There are really at least two things that need to happen - many of the downloaded responsibilities need to be uploaded back to the provincial (and/or) federal budgets, and cities need to reform their system of taxation. The property tax system needs to be reformed be become more fair, and cities need to be allowed to create other forms of taxation and be prepared to use them.
2. Regardless of environmental assessments, we have to start diverting private motor vehicle traffic into more sustainable forms - and even more importantly - reduce the need for travel by eliminating the need for people to commute longer and longer distances to work. If the volume of traffic generated by Orleans <-> Kanata <-> Orleans commuting was handled by convenient and quick rail (and with the reduction of commuting as above) we would not 'need' to attempt to increase the capacity of a major highway. I would support any initiative that puts the quality of life issues ahead of simply assuming more roads equals satisfied commuters.
3. I live next to greenspace in Alta Vista (but not on the corridor itself) and would like to see light rail implemented to properly service local transport from the south part of Ottawa. As in the answer above, I think we need to start putting up barriers to discourage long commutes from rural areas which would be part of an overall program to discourage urban sprawl and an unsustainable lifestyle. I expect a certain amount of traffic that the proposed highway is to accomodate long distance commuters who live beyond the urban boundaries of the city. It will also service neighbourhoods which have no commercial sectors, and no opportunity for the residents to work locally. These are all areas we need to change. Again, environmental assessments aside, we need to stop assuming the answer to congestion is more roads. If the only mechanism currently available to curb such developments is through the environmental assessment process, we must add some go / no-go type triggers early in the environmental assessment process to simply stop wasting time and money even assessing unsustainable projects.
4. I've been a vehicular cyclist for 40 years, and have cycled all around the world. I've got a 'fleet' of 4 bikes that get used daily. I'm not a fan of separate cycling facilities, I think we should be sharing the road and not create the false impression that bicycles are second rate road users. If by cycling facilities you mean accomodation in terms of parking and levelling the cost factor by having the cost of operating motor vehicles become less (or not) subsidised, then yes. I helped write sections of the GPO platform for transportation and energy. While I can't reveal specifics until the platform is released, look for some very forward thinking initiatives to get people out of cars and on to two wheels. I have also been working with EVCO, who was the group principally responsible for the electric assist bicycle pilot in Ontario getting approval. It is absolutely essential that we have people thinking of smaller and more efficient modes of transportation instead of the status symbol the SUV has become.

Dalton McGuinty, Liberal

Thank you very much for your letter regarding issues of concern to the City Centre Coalition. I commend you and your organization for your dedication to improving the quality of life in Ottawa — the place I am proud to call home. I welcome the opportunity to answer your questions on behalf of Ontario Liberals.
1. The downloading of social services to municipalities stands as one of the worst misjudgments of the previous Conservative government. Even with the massive deficit left to us by that government, Ontario Liberals have taken significant action to support Ontario’s cities. We have improved municipal-fiscal support programs, given cities two cents of the gas tax for public transit — totalling more than $80 million for Ottawa since 2003 — and moved to covering three-quarters of the cost of public health, and half of the cost of land ambulance services. For the City of Ottawa, we have also provided additional funding to purchase new buses and build affordable housing. We recognize that there is more to be done. That is why we provided $200 million in new funding for the O-Train expansion, which is still on the table, and announced that we will upload the entire $935 million annual cost of the Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Drug Benefit program. We have also launched the Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review, which will set the stage for a long-term sustainable solution to the downloading problem. Ontario Liberals are especially proud of our record on public transit. While the previous Conservative government cut funding for public transit for the entire province to a mere $38 million in 2000, we increased that funding to more than $1.7 billion last year alone. Overall, by 2011 we will have increased support to municipalities by $2.8 billion compared to 2003.
2. Unlike the previous Conservative government, we are strong supporters of the Environmental Assessment process. We have made important changes to strengthen this process and ensure that it is more open, thorough and inclusive. My colleague the Minister of the Environment, the Honourable Laurel Broten, and her staff are carefully reviewing all the information and input from the public on this Bump-up Request.
3. All decisions on Environmental Assessments, Terms of Reference, and Bump-up Requests are made on the scientific and technical merits of the proposed projects, while taking into account the community’s concerns. All factors —including concerns about the impact of the proposed project on bordering communities — will be taken into account when the issue comes before the Minister of the Environment for a decision.
4. One of the many deficits left behind by the previous Conservative government was the infrastructure deficit in the community recreation sector. Ontario Liberals have made great progress in rectifying the situation by investing $74.5 million in 48 new sport and recreation infrastructure projects to help families, children and seniors get active and stay healthy. These projects range from the construction of new multi-purpose facilities, to facility upgrades, repairs, trail investments — and investment in not-for-profit community recreation infrastructure. Ontario Liberals have also created the Communities in Action Fund, which has provided $23.5 million over the last four years to over 800 local community recreation organizations and has enabled over one million Ontarians to get active. We are making better use of our existing resources by reducing gym fees at all school boards for before- and after-school programming through our $20-million Community Use of Schools program. And we launched the Healthy Eating, Active Living Action Plan to encourage all Ontarians, especially youth, to live a healthy and active lifestyle. It is now time to build on our record of solid progress and we see promoting cycling as a means of doing that. Our platform, Moving Forward Together, commits to providing tax incentives to encourage Ontarians to stay active in their daily lives — including a break on provincial sales tax on bicycles and bike helmets, and tax credits for families with children enrolled in organized physical activities. We will also dedicate a portion of our 10-year $60 billion infrastructure fund to community recreational features such as bike lanes and paths.
Mr. Robertson, thank you again for submitting the important questions of the City Centre Coalition. Ontario Liberals do not want to see our great province go backwards under the Conservatives. Instead, we want to continue our work with Ontarians to strengthen our communities — including Ottawa — and to keep our province moving forward. We hope to have that opportunity. I ask for the support of the City Centre Coalition on October 10.