A Question of Leadership

An Environmental Report Card on Mayor OBriens City Council

The 2007 Council Watch Report

Table of Contents

P2 P4

Executive Summary Report Card

Environmental Votes P5 Motion 4/8 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14

Appropriate Budget Funding to Implement the 2003 Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan Motion 10/9 Incentives for buildings that meet the LEED environmental standard Motion 10/13 Cap OC Transpo fare increases at 2% Motion 10/15 Maintenance of funding for Citizens for Safe Cycling Motion 11/6 Establishment of a source-separated organics program Motion 11/13 Establishment of a city-wide giveaway day Motion 13/6-13/7 Protection of the Tallwood woods and lobbying for increased protection of other natural areas of signicance Motion 13/9-13/10 Prohibiting unnecessary vehicle idling Conclusion About Ecology Ottawa and About the Sierra Club of Canada, Ottawa Local Group

The 2007 Ottawa Council Watch Report 1

Executive Summary
Public opinion polls show that a healthy environment is a top priority for Canadians. Public concern is growing on issues such as global warming, air and water pollution, waste management and protection of greenspaces, and people are demanding leadership from all levels of government, including City Hall. Canada, despite its enormous size and vast wilderness, is essentially an urban country. Eighty percent of Canadians live in urban areas and it is essential that municipalities across the country take responsibility and show leadership in confronting the environmental challenges that we face. Some Canadian cities, led by visionary mayors and active city councils, are rising to the challenge. They are investing in the future by creating green jobs and building healthier communities. Their mayors are champions in the ght against climate change and understand the need for action. Unfortunately, the City of Ottawa is not among these leading municipalities. Instead, Ottawa appears to be the only major city in Canada whose mayor is not actively championing the ght against climate change. In fact, as this study shows, Mayor OBrien recently opposed nancing for Ottawas under-resourced Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan, voted against efforts to reduce the unnecessary idling of cars, and refused to support efforts to keep public transportation accessible by limiting fare increases to two percent. On environmental issues, Mayor OBrien is a laggard - not a leader. In fact, Mayor OBrien out-scored only six of his 23 colleagues on City Council in the following study. A Question of Leadership: An Environmental Report Card on Mayor OBriens City Council, assesses the environmental performance of Ottawas Mayor and city councillors. Councillor votes were tallied for eight motions, beginning November 2006 (after the last municipal election) and ending October 2007. These votes were chosen due to their clear environmental focus. For all votes, a yes vote was a vote in favour of an environmentally-benecial action. A no vote indicated opposition to an environmentally-benecial action. The yes and no votes were tallied to give each Councillor a letter grade. The motions included in the report are: s Devotion of Budget 2007 funds to implement the Climate Change and Air Quality Management Plan - This vote required appropriate resources be applied to implement the citys Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan, which would improve air quality in the city while contributing to the global effort to slow climate change; s Incentives for LEED-designated buildings - This motion prompted the consideration of incentives for building according to the LEED environmental standards for building design which means that a building meets certain environmental standards regarding water use and energy efciency, air quality and use of sustainable building materials as well as building locations; s Transit fare increases to reect 2% cost-of-living increases - This vote capped the OC Transpo fare increase at 2%, which would maintain its affordability; s Maintenance of funding for Citizens for Safe Cycling - This vote saw City Council decide not to fund Citizens for Safe Cycling, a not-for-prot organization that has partnered with the City of Ottawa for over 12 years to provide education to citizens on how to safely integrate cycling into their lives as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation;

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s Establishment of a Source-Separated Organics Collection Program - This vote introduced a source-separated organics waste collection program which will reduce the amount of organic material in landlls by redirecting these materials to a composting facility; s Establishment of a Give-Away Day - This vote initiated a city-wide Give-Away Day to take place in June of each year, during which residents bring unwanted household items and furniture to the curb to be taken by others; s Addition of Tallwoods Woods to the Urban Natural Features Strategy protection plan and pressure the federal government for increased protection of greenspace - This vote sought to protect Tallwood Woods as one of the remaining major green spaces in the city, and have council encourage the federal government to provide more funding to protect urban greenspaces; s Enactment of an anti-idling by-law - This vote puts an end to the unnecessary idling of parked vehicles, excluding hybrid vehicles. Marks in the report card range from A+ to D. Some councilors are making a strong effort to put the environment at the forefront of the Citys agenda, such as councillors Deans, Doucet, Cullen, Bdard, Bellemare, Legendre, McRae and Holmes, all of whom received an A+. Nonetheless, the rest of the marks indicate a mediocre to poor performance for much of the council. Councillors Brooks, Desrochers, El-Chantiry, Hunter and Thompson all received a D. Many of the Councillors received passing grades due only to the fact that at least three of the eight votes were somewhat triing matters, requiring no responsibility from Councillors for ensuring the outcomes. Only eight votes taken at council over the twelve month period dealt squarely with the environment. Even then, several of those votes were relatively trivial motions for further study or requests for federal funding. Progress on big environmental issues such as public transit, land use, climate change, and waste management was incremental or non-existent, because these issues were seemingly not on the radar of a Mayor who was oblivious to taking a leading role on the environment. The results of this study reect a city council that is drifting, virtually leaderless, and does not have a handle on the growing number of serious environmental issues confronting Canadas fourth largest city. They have shown little visionary environmental leadership, and have along way to go if Ottawa is to become the green capital of Canada.

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Report Card
Larry OBrien Georges Bdard Michel Bellemare Rainer Bloess Glenn Brooks Rick Chiarelli Alex Cullen Diane Deans Steve Desroches Clive Doucet Eli El-Chantiry Peggy Feltmate Jan Harder Diane Holmes Peter Hume Gord Hunter Rob Jellett Christine Leadman Mayor Rideau-Vanier Ward Beacon Hill-Cyrville Ward Innes Ward Rideau-Goulbourn Ward College Ward Bay Ward Gloucester-Southgate Ward Gloucester-South Nepean Capital Ward West Carleton-March Ward KanataSouth Ward Barrhaven Ward Somerset Ward Alta Vista Ward Knoxdale-Merivale Ward Cumberland Ward Kitchissippi Ward Rideau-Rockliffe Ward River Ward Orlans Ward Stittsville-Kanata West C A+ A+ A D C+ A+ A+ D A+ D A D A+ B D B+ A A+ A+ C C Mediocre at best. Think of the environment as a part of balanced budget Excellent work Excellent work Very good work. Going with the crowd on a few no-brainers got a passing mark, but this score is still unacceptable Keep trying. Heres a hint. Cyclists are good for the environment and vehicle fumes are not. Excellent work Excellent work Going with the crowd on a few no-brainers got a passing mark, but this score is still unacceptable Excellent work Going with the crowd on a few no-brainers got a passing mark, but this score is still unacceptable Very good work. Remember the importance of affordable public transit Keep trying. It would be great if you would think more about the environment Excellent work Reasonable work. Please try to think of the environment a little more often The only councillor to vote against organic waste collection a disappointing mark. Good work Very good work. Only attendance affected the score Excellent work Excellent work. Mediocre at best and only because you went with the crowd on a few no-brainers. Please try harder Mediocre at best and only because you went with the crowd on a few no-brainers. Favoring idling cars is not a positive environmental choice. Please try harder Going with the crowd on a few no-brainers got a passing mark, but this score is still unacceptable Reasonable work. Please try to think of the environment a little more often

The 2007 Ottawa Council Watch Report

Jacques Legendre Maria McRae Bob Monette Shad Qadri

Doug Thompson Marianne Wilkinson

Osgoode Ward Kanata North Ward

D B

The Motion
Appropriate Budget Funding to Implement 2003 Climate Change Plan - Motion 4/8

Summary
This vote required appropriate resources be applied to implement the citys Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan. If properly funded, the Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan would improve air quality in the city while contributing to the global effort to slow climate change. The motion was approved.

The Environmental Issue

Council voted on, and carried a motion requiring appropriate resources be included in the 2007 budget for the implementation of the citys 2003 Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan that has not yet been fully implemented. The Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan was created in 2003 as a part of the Citys overall environment strategy. Its purpose was to address air quality and climate change at the corporate and community levels, reaching a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to 1990 levels by 2007 at the corporate level, and by 2012 at the community level. While there has been some progress on the initiatives laid out in the Plan, it has largely failed to reach its targets, due in part to under-funding. Poor air quality can seriously affect human health, especially in the very young, the elderly and those with pulmonary and respiratory problems. Smog can affect even healthy young people; it can lead to breathing difculties and has been linked to an increase in hospitalizations. Canada is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, and many municipalities including Halifax and Edmonton are moving forward with their own climate change strategies. If not addressed, it is likely that climate change will have severe effects on our ecosystem, including extreme weather and fresh water shortages, and will imperil many plant and animal species.
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How they voted:

Yes
Georges Bdard, Michel Bellemare, Rick Chiarelli, Alex Cullen, Diane Deans, Clive Doucet, Peggy Feltmate, Diane Holmes, Peter Hume, Rob Jellett, Chrisine Leadman, Jacques Legendre, Maria McRae

No
Mayor Larry OBrien, Rainer Bloess, Glenn Brooks, Steve Desroches, Eli El-Chantiry, Jan Harder, Gord Hunter, Bob Monette, Shad Qadri, Doug Thompson, Marianne Wilkinson

Incentives for Buildings that Meet the LEED Environmental Standard - Motion 10/9

The Motion

Summary
This motion prompted the consideration of incentives for building according to the LEED environmental standard for building design and required a report to council by September 2007. LEED building certication means a building meets certain environmental standards regarding water use and energy efciency, air quality and use of sustainable building materials as well as building location. Promoting LEED standards with better incentives is a way to help businesses and residents to reduce their impact on the environment. The motion was carried unanimously.

The Environmental Issue

This motion prompted the consideration of incentives for building according to the LEED (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design) standard for environmental building design and required that city staff present a report to council by September 2007. LEED is a designation given to environmentally friendly buildings, and is run by the Canada Green Building Council. It is based on the US Green Building Councils LEED program, but is designed for Canadian climates, construction practices and regulations. The LEED system has ve main categories that are scored in the certication process: water efciency, minerals and resources, sustainable sites, indoor environmental quality and energy and atmosphere. Sustainable building practices not falling into one of these ve areas are covered in a separate innovation and design process category. Provided a minimum score is achieved, there are four levels of certication: certied, silver, gold and platinum. Business and residential property owners may want to build LEED certied buildings but this process can involve additional costs up front. Councils endorsement of an investigation into incentives for building according to LEED standards and the ultimate adoption of an incentive plan would encourage more businesses and residents to construct environmentally sustainable buildings.
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How they voted:

Yes
Mayor Larry OBrien, Georges Bdard, Michel Bellemare, Rainer Bloess, Glenn Brooks, Rick Chiarelli, Alex Cullen,Diane Deans, Steve Desroches, Clive Doucet, Eli El-Chantiry, Peggy Feltmate, Jan Harder, Diane Holmes, Peter Hume, Gord Hunter, Rob Jellett, Christine Leadman, Jacques Legendre, Maria McRae, Bob Monette, Shad Qadri, Doug Thompson, Marianne Wilkinson

The Motion
OC Transpo Fare Increase Capped at 2% - Motion 10/13

Summary
This vote capped the OC Transpo fare increase at 2% for certain classes of fare rather than larger increases that had been proposed previously. Increasing transit fares ultimately costs tax payers as well as the environment because with higher rates, the public is less inclined to use transit. This results in more cars on the road and larger required investments in road infrastructure in order to reduce trafc congestion. The motion was approved.

The Environmental Issue

This vote established an OC Transpo fare increase of 2% for certain classes of fare rather than larger increases that had been proposed previously. The vote also moved up the fare increase one month earlier than previously scheduled. Public transportation provides an alternative to more cars on our roads. Using public transportation instead of a car reduces emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. The higher the cost of public transit the less incentive there is for use, and so it is important to keep fares affordable by avoiding major fare increases. For low income riders, fare increases may even reduce their ability to use public transit. How they voted:

Yes
Georges Bdard, Michel Bellemare, Rainer Bloess, Alex Cullen, Diane Deans, Clive Doucet, Diane Holmes, Rob Jellett, Christine Leadman, Jacques Legendre, Maria McRae, Bob Monette

No Absent
Rick Chiarelli
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Mayor Larry OBrien, Glenn Brooks, Steve Desroches, Eli El-Chantiry, Peggy Feltmate, Jan Harder, Peter Hume, Gord Hunter, Shad Qadri, Doug Thompson, Marianne Wilkinson

The Motion
Maintenance of funding for Citizens for Safe Cycling - Motion 10/15

Summary
This vote saw City Council vote on continuing funding Citizens for Safe Cycling, a not-for-prot organization that has partnered with the City of Ottawa for over 12 years to provide education to citizens on how to safely integrate cycling into their lives as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Use of public transit and non-fossil fuel transportation such as cycling helps to reduce the rate of greenhouse gas generation, a major contributor to global warming. The motion failed.

The Environmental Issue

Citizens for Safe Cycling is a not-for-prot organization founded in 1984. It has been partnered with the City of Ottawa for over 12 years to provide education to citizens on how to safely integrate cycling into their lives as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, as well as a great way to promote a healthy lifestyle. The funding contract for this program ended in 2006, and no funds were allocated for 2007. The Transportation Committee recommended that City Council suspend the Rules of Procedure to consider the allocation of $50,000 from citywide reserves to Citizens for Safe Cycling for programs in 2007. This was in accordance with the normal conditions attached to City Grants. It was brought to the attention of the councillors during their discussions that this program is in line with the Ofcial Plan (a plan to make Ottawa more environmentally sustainable), and it could be unwise to stop funding a program that seeks to encourage more and safer cycling. The Citizens for Safe Cycling program is important to the city because it has educated thousands of people, including elementary school children, about safe cycling and helped them become more active and less dependent on polluting modes of transportation. The Citys leadership is important on this issue, especially since it has adopted a plan to create a more sustainable city.
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A two-thirds majority was required in council to reverse their 2006 decision to cancel the Citizens for Safe Cycling funding. Fourteen councillors voted to reverse the earlier decision, while ten voted against such a move, thus depriving the Citizens for Safe Cycling of any city funding for 2007. How they voted:

Yes
Mayor Larry OBrien, Georges Bdard, Michel Bellemare, Rainer Bloess, Alex Cullen, Diane Deans, Clive Doucet, Peggy Feltmate, Diane Holmes, Christine Leadman, Jacques Legendre, Maria McRae, Shad Qadri, Marianne Wilkinson

No

Glenn Brooks, Rick Chiarelli, Steve Desroches, Eli El-Chantiry, Jan Harder, Peter Hume, Gord Hunter, Rob Jellett, Bob Monette, Doug Thompson

The Motion
Establishment of a Source-Separated Organics collection program - Motion 11/6

Summary
This vote concerned the introduction of a source separated organics waste collection program. Implementing this program will reduce the amount of organic material in landlls and redirect these materials to a composting facility. A reduction of organic material going to landlls reduces the production of methane, a known greenhouse gas, and also extends the life of the landll to save taxpayer dollars, while the compost generated can provide revenue to the city to offset the costs of waste management. The motion was carried.

The Environmental Issue

This vote mandated city staff to present the costs of a source separated organics program to council, including the possibility of debt nancing from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Waste reduction and disposal are a constant struggle for cities. Lack of space for landlls and public aversion to them, amidst growing amounts of waste means that municipalities are constantly on the lookout for new disposal methods. Reducing the amount of waste that must be sent to landlls in the rst place is one method of addressing this. The organic components (plant and other biological matter) of waste are signicant environmentally because when built up in a landll these components are often too deep or too compacted to be exposed to air and thus cannot properly break down. Organic matter that is exposed to air and able to break down produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas and contributor to climate change. Implementing a source-separated organics program will reduce the amount of organic material in landlls and redirect these materials to a composting facility. The methane produced during decomposition, which can be converted to natural gas, is also more easily captured in a composting facility than in a landll. City Councils support of this vote is progress for Ottawa. The city will be joining other Canadian cities that have initiated a separate waste stream for organics, including Toronto and Charlottetown. The likelihood of this program being implemented in the future is increased by the fact that the motion also provided a specic potential source of nancing for the project - the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). Councillors might well be more inclined to support the program with a funding source identied than without. How they voted:

Yes
Mayor Larry OBrien, Georges Bdard, Michel Bellemare, Rainer Bloess, Glenn Brooks, Rick Chiarelli, Alex Cullen, Diane Deans, Steve Desroches, Clive Doucet, Eli El-Chantiry, Peggy Feltmate, Jan Harder, Diane Holmes, Peter Hume, Rob Jellett, Christine Leadman, Jacques Legendre, Maria McRae, Bob Monette, Shad Qadri, Doug Thompson, Marianne Wilkinson

No
Gord Hunter

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The Motion
Establishing a city-wide Give-Away Day - Motion 11/13

Summary
This vote initiated a city-wide Give-Away Day to take place in June of each year, with the possibility of adding a second such day if the event is successful. On this day, residents bring unwanted household items and furniture to the curb, which are then free to be taken away by others. Efforts such as these can reduce the growth rate of landlls and save much of the considerable energy that would be used to manufacture new goods. Quite simply, it is the Reuse in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The motion was carried unanimously.

The Environmental Issue

Citing increasing concern over the use of landll sites situated in proximity to local communities, as well as the rising cost of garbage collection, City Council carried a motion to support a city-wide Give-Away Day in June 2007. On this day, residents are encouraged to bring unwanted household items and furniture to the curb where the items are freely available for anyone to take away as they please. If the event is deemed successful by city staff, a second Give-Away Day per year would be added. During these days the existing by-law that prohibits scavenging would be temporarily waived, allowing people to both share their unwanted household items, and to look for items for themselves. Give-Away Days can play a role in minimizing the citys impact on landlls and on the environment, by allowing citizens to use the unwanted goods of their neighbours. This plan would extend the lifecycle of goods in our homes and reduce the demand for new goods, thereby reducing the energy consumption and pollution associated with production. It may also extend the lives of landlls by reducing their use. How they voted:
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Yes
Mayor Larry OBrien, Georges Bdard, Michel Bellemare, Rainer Bloess, Glenn Brooks, Rick Chiarelli, Alex Cullen, Diane Deans, Steve Desroches, Clive Doucet, Eli El-Chantiry, Peggy Feltmate, Jan Harder, Diane Holmes, Peter Hume, Gord Hunter, Rob Jellett, Christine Leadman, Jacques Legendre, Maria McRae, Bob Monette, Shad Qadri, Doug Thompson, Marianne Wilkinson

The Motion
Protection of Tallwood Woods - Motion 13/6, 13/7

Summary
This vote sought to protect Tallwood Woods as one of the remaining major green spaces in the city. Council also requested that the federal government provide greater nancial resources for the protection of urban green spaces. Urban forests are important for maintaining better air quality and reduced noise pollution. They also provide crucial habitat for many small animals in addition to providing areas for the public to enjoy. The motion was approved.

The Environmental Issue

The Urban Natural Features Strategy protection plan was devised to acquire all privately and publicly owned natural green spaces in the City of Ottawa. The goal is to manage these spaces to ensure their protection and limit their development. This benets residents by creating a healthier urban atmosphere and by maximizing green spaces. The Urban Natural Features Strategy identies priority urban natural areas for protection through a staged acquisition program. In the case of Tallwood Woods, the entire parcel of land is owned by the City. A study was recently conducted to identify all major green spaces throughout the city. The study recommends protection of a large section of Tallwood, while the remaining portion of Tallwood is deemed to have major community signicance that warrants its protection. The motion to add this portion of Tallwood in the Urban Natural Features Strategy was carried, resulting in protection for the land in its entirety. A council motion to request that the federal government provide greater nancial incentives for the newly identied areas awaiting protection was carried. Many of those areas were not capital properties, which normally benet from greater nancial incentives. The city will request that the federal government expand this treatment to the lands that it has put in its Urban Natural Features Strategy inventory. If the federal government accepts, it would be easier for the City of Ottawa to purchase and protect all the identied lands in the program. How they voted:
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Yes
Mayor Larry OBrien, Georges Bdard, Michel Bellemare, Rainer Bloess,Glenn Brooks, Rick Chiarelli, Alex Cullen, Diane Deans, Steve Desroches, Clive Doucet, Eli El-Chantiry, Peggy Feltmate, Jan Harder, Diane Holmes, Peter Hume, Gord Hunter, Rob Jellett, Jacques Legendre, Maria McRae, Bob Monette, Shad Qadri, Doug Thompson, Marianne Wilkinson

Absent
Christine Leadman

The motion
Prohibiting unnecessary vehicle idling in the City of Ottawa Motion 13/9, 13/10

Summary
The intent of the vote was to put an end to the unnecessary idling of parked vehicles. Vehicle idling is a signicant contributor to poor air quality and the city itself highlights the signicant amounts of fuel that are wasted by idling vehicles. While such by-laws may not be easily enforceable, it is important to simply have them in place so that the message is conveyed to the public that idling is not acceptable. The motion was approved.

The Environmental Issue

This vote established a by-law to reduce unnecessary vehicle idling in the city. The idling control program has both educational and enforcement components. A campaign will be launched to educate the public about the environmental impacts of vehicle idling, and enforcement blitzes will occur periodically in designated problem areas. Parking enforcement ofcers will begin issuing one hundred dollar tickets in 2008. The major goal is to signicantly reduce unnecessary vehicle idling for longer than three minutes. The Idling Control By-law will contribute to the reduction of the emission of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, which are a major factor in climate change. Ottawas Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan aims to achieve a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. Similar anti-idling programs in other cities around the world have been quite successful and cost effective at reducing pollutants. The By-law excludes hybrid vehicles. How they voted:

Yes
Georges Bdard, Michel Bellemare, Rainer Bloess, Alex Cullen, Diane Deans, Clive Doucet, Peggy Feltmate, Diane Holmes, Peter Hume, Gord Hunter, Jacques Legendre, Marianne Wilkinson

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No
Mayor Larry OBrien, Glenn Brooks, Rick Chiarelli, Steve Desroches, Eli El-Chantiry, Bob Monette, Shad Qadri, Doug Thompson

Absent
Jan Harder, Rob Jellett, Christine Leadman, Maria McRae

Environmental Votes from November 2006 to October 2007

Overall Points Overall Grade

Applied Points

Appropriate Budget Funding to Implement 2003 Climate Change Plan

Incentives for Buildings that Meet LEED Certification

Limit Transit Fare Increases to 2%

Maintenance of funding for Citizens for Safe Cycling Source-Separated Organics Program for 2008 City-wide Give-Away Day

Tallwood Woods Environmental Protection

13/6,7 yes 9-May-07 9-May-07 yes 13/9,10

4/8 yes 10-Jan-07 28-Mar-07 28-Mar-07 28-Mar-07 11-Apr-07 11-Apr-07 yes yes yes yes yes

Motion/Item Environmental Vote Voting Date

10/9 10/13 10/15 11/6-2 11/13

no yes yes yes no

no yes yes yes no no yes yes no yes no yes yes yes yes

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no no

Larry OBrien Georges Bdard Michel Bellemare Rainer Bloess Glenn Brooks Rick Chiarelli Alex Cullen Diane Deans Steve Desroches Clive Doucet Eli El-Chantiry Peggy Feltmate Jan Harder Diane Holmes Peter Hume Gord Hunter Rob Jellett Christine Leadman Jacques Legendre Maria McRae Bob Monette Shad Qadri yes yes no yes no no no yes no no yes yes yes yes yes no no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no yes 4 6 8 8 D B no no yes yes

Mayor Rideau-Vanier Ward Beacon Hill-Cyrville Ward Innes Ward Rideau-Goulbourn Ward College Ward Bay Ward Gloucester-Southgate Ward Gloucester-South Nepean Capital Ward West Carleton-March Ward KanataSouth Ward Barrhaven Ward Somerset Ward Alta Vista Ward Knoxdale-Merivale Ward Cumberland Ward Kitchissippi Ward Rideau-Rockliffe Ward River Ward Orlans Ward Stittsville-Kanata West

5 8 8 7 4 5 8 8 4 8 4 7 4 8 6 4 6 6 8 7 5 5

8 8 8 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 8 8 7 6 8 7 8 8

C A+ A+ A D C+ A+ A+ D A+ D A D A+ B D B+ A A+ A+ C C

no yes yes no no yes yes yes no yes no yes no yes yes no yes yes yes yes no no

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

yes yes yes yes no no yes yes no yes no yes no yes no no no yes yes yes no yes

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes yes yes

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

Doug Thompson Osgoode Ward Marianne Wilkinson Kanata North Ward

Anti-Idling By-law

Mediocre at best. Think of the environment as a part of "balanced" budget Excellent work Excellent work Very good work. Going with the crowd on a few no-brainers got a passing mark, but this score is still unacceptable Keep trying. Here's a hint. Cyclists are good for the environment and vehicle fumes are not. Excellent work Excellent work Going with the crowd on a few no-brainers got a passing mark, but this score is still unacceptable Excellent work Going with the crowd on a few no-brainers got a passing mark, but this score is still unacceptable Very good work. Remember the importance of affordable public transit Keep trying. It would be great if you would think more about the environment Excellent work Reasonable work. Please try to think of the environment a little more often The only councillor to vote against organic waste collection - a disappointing mark Good work Very good work. Only attendance affected the score Excellent work Excellent work. Mediocre at best and only because you went with the crowd on a few no-brainers. Please try harder Mediocre at best and only because you went with the crowd on a few no-brainers. Favoring idling cars is not a positive environmental choice. Please try harder Going with the crowd on a few no-brainers got a passing mark, but this score is still unacceptable Reasonable work. Please try to think of the environment a little more often

Vote Numbers

Attendance Validity

Environmental Anti-Environmental Absent 4

13 11 0 yes

24 0 0 yes

12 11 1 yes

14 10 0 yes

23 1 0 yes

24 0 0 yes

23 0 1 yes

12 8 4 yes

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About Ecology Ottawa

Ecology Ottawa is a volunteer organization that wants to make Ottawa the green capital of Canada. We believe that Ottawans want sustainable communities and care about issues such as public transit, pollution, greenspace, global warming, renewable energy, waste disposal and recycling. We also promote citizen participation in decisions that shape Ottawas environment. Launched in December 2006, we currently have more than 1400 people signed up for our Ecology Ottawa Updates, a bi-weekly electronic newsletter. Our activities are carried out by a core group of about 30 volunteers. For more information, or to sign up for our Updates visit www.ecologyottawa.ca

About the Sierra Club of Canada, Ottawa Local Group

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The Sierra Club of Canada, Ottawa Local Group is a volunteer organization that has been active in the Ottawa area for more than 10 years working on various environmental initiatives. The group has worked to improve air and water quality, to ensure due process in development activities, to preserve rare ecosystems, to promote public transit and to promote the importance of good environmental stewardship. The group has worked alone and with other organizations on conservation campaigns, educational outings and educational programs. The group was one of three involved in the Councillor Report Cards prepared last year for public education in advance of the municipal election.

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The 2007 Ottawa Council Watch Report