Off-topic

This blog post is off-topic but my ego was stimulated by an article in today’s paper, Small businesses squeezed out of federal deals - association, Kathryn May, Ottawa Citizen, Feb. 27, 2009. In the 90’s I was a small business consultant and worked with a group of like-minded consultants pursuing contract opportunities, largely with federal government clients. As a group we experienced highs and lows but the competitive environment was more open to small businesses and contractors than it is today. We were able to win a reasonable share of contracts based upon the quality of our proposals, the experience/qualifications of our people, and the competitiveness of our consulting rates against those of larger corporate competitors.

Small business consultants pursuing government contract opportunities today are forced to contract their services to large contracting organizations in order to secure work. As second or third tier contractors their consulting rates are severely squeezed. The big guys, in turn, mark-up subcontractors labor rates and make a reasonable profit while carrying little or no risk. The subcontractors become virtual employees of the big firm, with none of the benefits of employment and at rates that fail to bridge gaps that inevitably occur between contract engagements.

Government clients feel that they benefit from doing business with a smaller group of large firms using standing offers and other supply arrangements. But in reality they are missing out on the benefits of dealing with small specialist groups and individuals who often possess unique skills and experience that never surfaces through the large corporation.

Current contracting regulations are very restrictive to government mangers and directors. As a result there are losers at both ends of the chain:

• Government customers lose out by not having access to the unique skills of individual people at competitive rates;
• Small business consultants are discouraged from pursuing opportunities with government clients. Instead, they become just a group of expendable bodies working at marginal rates for large contracting organizations that take all the profit with minimal risk.

More news on the Stadium

Following up from yesterday’s post, it now appears that any request to higher levels of government for funding support would have to compete with other municipal projects like transit, roads and bridges for funding.

Councillor Peter Hume says he was surprised and disappointed by the news. He said it “was not a winning proposal” to tell citizens of Ottawa that they have to choose between building a new sports stadium and proceeding with the city’s new transit plan. “This is a significant twist” said Hume (Patrick Dare, Ottawa Citizen, Stadium or transit – council faces big choice, Feb. 25, 2009).

I would have thought this was a no-brainer, there’s just no comparison in terms of priorities. If the stadium idea is so worth pursuing why aren’t the developers proposing to put all the money up and take all the risk?

A new independent community newspaper coming to Riverside Park

Good news, a new independent community newspaper that will focus on community events and issues is coming to the Riverside Park community soon. The first edition is scheduled for publication in early April 2009. Watch out for a copy in your mail box.

There has been no community newspaper published in Riverview Park for some months now. This new paper intends to fill the gap. The Riverside Park Review is not associated with a particular community group and will remain independent.

Advertisers are being solicited and arrangements are being made for distribution across the Riverside Park community. Input is being solicited from local area politicians at all three levels of government; schools; churches; libraries and others are being approached for input. Writers will be invited to submit articles and letters.

Stay tuned for more information.

Why so much rush over the stadium?

It is difficult to understand why there appears to be such urgency in coming to a decision over a new sports stadium. The deadline is being driven by the plans of corporate enterprises and not by the city’s agenda. The city has higher priorities than a sports stadium and has no resources to invest in such an endeavor at this time anyway!

A project of this scale requires considerable research and planning before council can make an informed decision. Importantly, the site for such a facility needs to be well served by public transit (both now and in the future).

According to the Ottawa Citizen, Stadium site report confuses issue – Randall Denley, Feb. 24, 2009, “Council needs to narrow its focus to make a decision.” Denley criticizes Councillor Peter Hume for favoring a consultant’s report that brings several other sites into play. I tend to agree with Hume on this issue. However, I also agree with a comment on the article posted by Massey Mail today; here it is:

“Hume -- the "most sensible guy on council"? If true, that is a sad commentary on council. More likely, he is just the one who plays it safest -- and follows the winds and developers whims. If he ends up being mayor, we will be stuck with four years of visionless leadership (e.g. where was Hume during the bus strike and the time leading up to it?). You may not agree with everything Clive Doucet says (I know I don't), but at least he dares to think about the long term and outside the box.”

Ottawa City Council – A Need for Change

There has been a lot of press commentary recently about the unimpressive performance of Ottawa City Council and the need for wholesale change. There is justification for this view; many councilors have been there too long. They are self-interested and self-serving career politicians. It’s a job, and many decisions (votes) are taken more in the interest of improving reelection prospects than for the greater good of the community they represent.

Observing individual member’s behavior at council and committee meetings is quite disturbing. Certain councilors, including the mayor, spend significant time away from the council table dealing with off-topic issues, or glad-handing visitors and constituents. In doing so, they fail to hear properly the views of other council members and thus are not well informed in debate. Their minds are likely already made up and they see no purpose in prolonged discussion.

This is clearly wrong; surely when council or committee is in session this overrides all other concerns? Procedural steps should be taken regarding behavior around the council/committee table.

Many people have commented on recent council actions and decision surrounding the transit strike and council wavering and indecision on other issues. Hopefully the public will bear this in mind in November 2010 when a new council is voted in. We all need to do our part to ensure that councilors running for reelection are held accountable for their actions. Hopefully, viable candidates from the community will come forward to challenge them. The time for action is now!

Budget bill threatens federal environmental assessment process

A University of Ottawa – Ecojustice Environmental Law Clinic group analyzing Navigable Water Protection Act amendments included in the budget bill conclude that they will allow “unfettered discretion” by the federal transport minister to exempt projects or waterways from environmental oversight; see Critics fear budget bill will lead to loss of waterways, Ottawa Citizen Feb 12, 2009.

Transport Minister John Baird claims the amendments were included “…because they are intended to remove an antiquated regulatory burden from developers and governments for “shovel ready” projects to stimulate the economy.” Surely projects cannot be claimed as “shovel ready” unless environmental assessments are completed?

Thinking beyond this, one ponders projects, such as the proposed Ottawa River bridge crossing (Kettle Island or elsewhere) or the proposed bridge across the Rideau River that is needed for later stages of the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor, proceeding without federal environmental assessments. Since when is the need for an environmental assessment “antiquated?” As Will Amos, staff lawyer for the clinic notes, “You’re not going to fix the economy by wrecking the environment.”

Mayor's preference for Kettle Island bridge likely a good reason to examine other options

An article in today's Citizen indicates that the mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau prefer the Kettle Island bridge solution for the new Ottawa River crossing. In my book the fact that Mayor Larry O’Brien prefers the Kettle Island bridge is justification enough to consider other options.

Lowell Green - unacceptable behavior

Once again CFRA commentator Lowell Green makes insulting and inappropriate comments and gets away with a slap on the wrist (Radio show host Lowell Green "chastised" for inappropriate remarks about Muslims, Chris cobb, Ottawa Citizen, Feb 7, 2009).

Making controversial comments to raise ratings is one thing, but making inciteful racist comments is unacceptable. A human rights activist associate of mine noted that a Muslim making similar comments about other Canadians on-air would undoubtedly be fired. Its time for the tables to be turned!