For the past four years council’s antics at city hall have required many conscientious citizens to spend an inordinate amount of personal time communicating with individual councillors, speaking at delegations, and mounting protests and rallies. A modest amount of such action indicates a healthy engaged community. However, when it becomes the order of the day because local government is acting irresponsibly it indicates that it is time for a major change.
Unfortunately a large number of incumbent councillors are still running for office, so unless we are vigilant at the polling booth we will be faced with four more years of irresponsible government at city hall. A change of mayor appears to be on the cards but changes at the ward level are equally, in fact more, important.
I started this blog because of my concerns about the performance of my own ward councillor, Peter Hume. His time has passed; we need a fresh face, a fresh start! We need a representative who puts community interests first rather than those of developers who have contributed heavily to past campaigns.
It is my fervent hope that an alternative candidate will be successful, so that I can shut this blog down. We can make this happen. I have thrown my support behind Clinton Cowan. His Fresh Start campaign is right on the mark for Ward 18. Hopefully with new councillors like Cowan at the wheel we can all spend more time enjoying the pleasant pastimes that Ottawa has to offer.
Showing posts with label Clinton Cowan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clinton Cowan. Show all posts
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
If your not an incumbent give up hope
In the last week of the 2010 Ottawa municipal election campaign the Ottawa Citizen is releasing a series of editorial pieces identifying their choices for council in the various wards across the city. If their choices continue to favour incumbent councillors for re-election, as they have today (October 18) then newcomers don’t stand a chance and change in Ottawa will never happen.
Cowan is right in saying that troublesome areas have crept into the culture at city hall; the power of special interest groups; and the failure of councillors to consult the community regarding past developments. “People now feel that special interest groups have hijacked our seat at council and at the Planning and Environment Committee….” says Cowan.
The Citizen editorial writer cites the televised debate on Rogers. My recollection of the debate is that Hume blustered and interrupted at every opportunity, attempting to put his opponents off-base. Any credibility Hume may have had before that debate, which was zero to precious little, completely evaporated and left him looking like the small, aggressive bully he is.
Had the writer attended the all-candidate event hosted by Riverview Park Community Association last week in Ward 18 he/she would have seen a high level of enthusiasm for Hume’s opponents and Hume’s handling of questions from the Riverview Park community was pitifully off-base.
In almost every case the Citizen cites lack of experience as the main reasons for rejecting newcomers, even though in some cases they have some new ideas. If we don’t vote some of the newcomers in how will they ever gain experience and how will we ever see any improvement in the way council behaves and performs?
The Citizen accuses candidate Clinton Cowan of talking in platitudes. This is interesting because Hume’s campaign is almost entirely based on platitudes. In an October 5 press release Hume claims that he has created a comprehensive development program to position Ottawa as a world class city:
- Firstly he wants to “pre-zone” areas to introduce fixed height restrictions. It is surprising that he has been chair of planning and environment committee for so long and is only now suggesting that changes are needed.
- Secondly he says that Ottawa has the potential to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing capitals in the world if the planning process is overhauled. Has Hume seen some of the strip mall and big box mall development that is taking place on every open space and suburban development across the city; development approved by planning committee under his watch? How can Hume miss the fact that Ottawa is one eyesore after another for miles along Carling, Richmond and Baseline? Now he wants yet another eyesore on the canal at Lansdowne Park.
- Hume picks up on one of Larry O’Brien’s ideas, citing Sparks Street as an example of poor development in the city centre. Existing and past municipal councils, of which Hume has been a member, have failed to communicate effectively with senior levels of government on this and other issues for years and years. Why should voters believe him now?
- Hume quotes urban designer George Dark’s praising of Hume’s planning initiatives. Interestingly, Dark is being paid by the city for work he is performing on Hume’s portfolio. No wonder he sings Hume’s praises!
Friday, October 15, 2010
It’s not only the infrastructure that needs an overhaul
Re; One-time suburb needs infrastructure overhaul, Louisa Taylor, The Ottawa Citizen, October 15, 2010.
While the three candidates opposing Peter Hume for councillor in Ward 18 have different platforms they all agree on one point, along with an increasingly large number of residents. After 19 years with Hume at the helm, it’s time for a representative on council who cares for and respects Ward 18 and it’s residents.
Candidate Clinton Cowan says that “After 19 years, the position of councillor has changed to ward boss rather than city employee….Hume doesn’t respect the wishes of the community.” Hume says these accusations are “patently untrue” and points to the long list of endorsements he has received from residents as proof that’s not the prevailing view on the street.
Hume goes on to say “Ask the people who live near the proposed new bus garage, for example, and they’ll tell you I’m there for them.” But it wasn’t quite like this on the ground. The first time the community really had an opportunity to state its concerns over this garage occurred early this year when an open house was organized to inform people about plans to expand the “proposed” bus garage, when construction was already at an advanced stage.
Concerns were raised forcefully by members of Riverview Park Community Association as well as the local residents Hume refers to. At this time Hume was not too accepting of the communities concern, preferring instead to identify mediation steps that did little to address residents’ concerns directly.
As it turned out, residents were far from satisfied by these offsetting benefits and Hume and the city have now had to take additional measures in order to minimize the negative impact that the “garage mahal” will have on the community. These new measures have not come without significant cost to the taxpayer and will not be in place for some time. Details of the land swap arrangement between the Ottawa Train Yards landowner and the city have not been made public other than to indicate that the deal also involved transfer of a substantial sum of money to the developer.
The developer seems to have benefited from this negotiation two ways: firstly, the contiguous area of land resulting from the exchange will make it easier for Ottawa Train Yards to expand this already large shopping mall; and secondly the owner has new cash in the bank besides.
Despite his claims to the contrary, some of Hume’s votes on council have been against the interests of many of his ward residents but clearly in the interests of developers; for example his endorsement of the Alta vista Transportation Corridor (AVTC) and his abandonment of the international design competition to redevelop Lansdowne Park.
As Clinton Cowan says, “It’s time for a Fresh Start.”
While the three candidates opposing Peter Hume for councillor in Ward 18 have different platforms they all agree on one point, along with an increasingly large number of residents. After 19 years with Hume at the helm, it’s time for a representative on council who cares for and respects Ward 18 and it’s residents.
Candidate Clinton Cowan says that “After 19 years, the position of councillor has changed to ward boss rather than city employee….Hume doesn’t respect the wishes of the community.” Hume says these accusations are “patently untrue” and points to the long list of endorsements he has received from residents as proof that’s not the prevailing view on the street.
Hume goes on to say “Ask the people who live near the proposed new bus garage, for example, and they’ll tell you I’m there for them.” But it wasn’t quite like this on the ground. The first time the community really had an opportunity to state its concerns over this garage occurred early this year when an open house was organized to inform people about plans to expand the “proposed” bus garage, when construction was already at an advanced stage.
Concerns were raised forcefully by members of Riverview Park Community Association as well as the local residents Hume refers to. At this time Hume was not too accepting of the communities concern, preferring instead to identify mediation steps that did little to address residents’ concerns directly.
As it turned out, residents were far from satisfied by these offsetting benefits and Hume and the city have now had to take additional measures in order to minimize the negative impact that the “garage mahal” will have on the community. These new measures have not come without significant cost to the taxpayer and will not be in place for some time. Details of the land swap arrangement between the Ottawa Train Yards landowner and the city have not been made public other than to indicate that the deal also involved transfer of a substantial sum of money to the developer.
The developer seems to have benefited from this negotiation two ways: firstly, the contiguous area of land resulting from the exchange will make it easier for Ottawa Train Yards to expand this already large shopping mall; and secondly the owner has new cash in the bank besides.
Despite his claims to the contrary, some of Hume’s votes on council have been against the interests of many of his ward residents but clearly in the interests of developers; for example his endorsement of the Alta vista Transportation Corridor (AVTC) and his abandonment of the international design competition to redevelop Lansdowne Park.
As Clinton Cowan says, “It’s time for a Fresh Start.”
Thursday, October 14, 2010
A well attended all candidates event in Riverview Park
At last evening’s all-candidates meeting hosted by Riverview Park Community Association (RPCA) four candidates running for councillor in Ward 18 were in attendance (Clinton Cowan, Kevin Hogan, Peter Hume and Ernie Lauzon). Six candidates running for mayor also attended (Clive Doucet, Cesar Bello, Andy Haydon, Mike Maguire, Charlie Taylor and Jim Watson). All 20 were invited.
Each candidate was given five minutes to present their platform and the there was a short question and answer period. All three opponents to incumbent councillor Peter Hume did a convincing job, persuading people that changes are needed at city hall and in Ward 18 in particular.
Some of the audience questions directed a Hume asked for clarification on council decisions he has made in connection with development plans that affect Riverview Park residents. The first questioner received a weak response from Hume. In fact he failed to answer the question at all. The detailed question asked:
“The TrainYards complex provides only uncertain and low paying jobs to residents of Ottawa and increases traffic, yet again, on Industrial Ave, not the sort of conditions that will encourage people to settle in the community to help it be a safe and beautiful place to raise a family.
“Could you explain to me what the benefit is, to Riverview Park and indeed to the city of Ottawa, of the still-growing TrainYards big-box store complex when it serves to dilute business from downtown and the Byward Market, 10minutes away, from one of the oldest and most established shopping centres in Ottawa, St Laurent Shopping Centre, which is just around the corner, and from other shopping close by in the area: Alta Vista Plaza and Elmvale Acres.”
In response Hume indicated that we (council) were unable to negotiate an entirely satisfactory commitment from the developer to a multi-used industrial/business/retail area that would provide employment and retail opportunities. He suggested that instead they tried to make the shopping complex more community friendly. Clearly Hume, his committee and council friends as well as his developer friends failed badly here. Not only is the complex not community friendly it’s not even shopper friendly when you need a car to go from one store to another. Hume never did address the question of benefits to Riverview Park or any of the other issues raised by the questioner.
Unfortunately there was no time for a rebuttal to Hume’s statements by his opponents. However candidate Clinton Cowan is already on record, stating “How else can one explain how a Walmart and a large-box store development has ended up in our ward, ten minutes from downtown? This is a dagger in the hearts of our locally owned businesses! If this is an example of high quality development then we must ask whether we have let our guard down or was the backdoor left open?”
Each candidate was given five minutes to present their platform and the there was a short question and answer period. All three opponents to incumbent councillor Peter Hume did a convincing job, persuading people that changes are needed at city hall and in Ward 18 in particular.
Some of the audience questions directed a Hume asked for clarification on council decisions he has made in connection with development plans that affect Riverview Park residents. The first questioner received a weak response from Hume. In fact he failed to answer the question at all. The detailed question asked:
“The TrainYards complex provides only uncertain and low paying jobs to residents of Ottawa and increases traffic, yet again, on Industrial Ave, not the sort of conditions that will encourage people to settle in the community to help it be a safe and beautiful place to raise a family.
“Could you explain to me what the benefit is, to Riverview Park and indeed to the city of Ottawa, of the still-growing TrainYards big-box store complex when it serves to dilute business from downtown and the Byward Market, 10minutes away, from one of the oldest and most established shopping centres in Ottawa, St Laurent Shopping Centre, which is just around the corner, and from other shopping close by in the area: Alta Vista Plaza and Elmvale Acres.”
In response Hume indicated that we (council) were unable to negotiate an entirely satisfactory commitment from the developer to a multi-used industrial/business/retail area that would provide employment and retail opportunities. He suggested that instead they tried to make the shopping complex more community friendly. Clearly Hume, his committee and council friends as well as his developer friends failed badly here. Not only is the complex not community friendly it’s not even shopper friendly when you need a car to go from one store to another. Hume never did address the question of benefits to Riverview Park or any of the other issues raised by the questioner.
Unfortunately there was no time for a rebuttal to Hume’s statements by his opponents. However candidate Clinton Cowan is already on record, stating “How else can one explain how a Walmart and a large-box store development has ended up in our ward, ten minutes from downtown? This is a dagger in the hearts of our locally owned businesses! If this is an example of high quality development then we must ask whether we have let our guard down or was the backdoor left open?”
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Clinton Cowan Candidate for Councillor - Ward 18
Here is a summary of Alta Vista/Canterbury/Riverview Ward candidate Clinton Cowan’s election platform. For more details visit his website at http://clintoncowan.ca and click on “The Issues” page.
Why is Clinton Running?
• To Preserve our neighbourhoods. To Protect our values. To Promote our issues.
• To respect our residents, their taxes and our environment.
• To ensure that essential services are delivered effectively and efficiently.
• To address aggressive commuter traffic in order to protect children and cyclists.
• To improve our neglected infrastructure needs. Restructuring development charges to support older neighbourhoods.
• To move forward with affordable light rail without reductions to our local bus service.
• To invest $5,000 of earned Councillor’s salary to strengthen local community associations.
• To create a Ward Advisory Council and enhance transparency and public consultation.
• To advocate for community garden projects in our parks and schools. Expand our allotment garden network.
City-Wide Goals:
• To build safe, sustainable, supportive neighbourhoods where people can live, work and play. While reducing traffic, spending on major new roads and protecting greenspaces.
• To ensure public transit is reliable and affordable. Start talks to expand the Eco-Pass program to small and mid-sized employers.
• To avoid costly transit strikes, lawsuits, project overruns, and end sole source deals.
• To cut the leash of developers' influence in urban planning. Create an Integrity Commissioner for elected officials and staff.
• To seek term limits and provide real access to voting records.
• To adjust the system of development charges to favour "green" building projects (LEED Gold Standard).
• To reduce the city's reliance on high-priced consultants.
• To ensure urban intensification respects the character of established neighbourhoods and includes community endorsement.
• To improve community health through targeted investments in seniors’ services, daycare, health centres, crime prevention and local sports.
Why is Clinton Running?
• To Preserve our neighbourhoods. To Protect our values. To Promote our issues.
• To respect our residents, their taxes and our environment.
• To ensure that essential services are delivered effectively and efficiently.
• To address aggressive commuter traffic in order to protect children and cyclists.
• To improve our neglected infrastructure needs. Restructuring development charges to support older neighbourhoods.
• To move forward with affordable light rail without reductions to our local bus service.
• To invest $5,000 of earned Councillor’s salary to strengthen local community associations.
• To create a Ward Advisory Council and enhance transparency and public consultation.
• To advocate for community garden projects in our parks and schools. Expand our allotment garden network.
City-Wide Goals:
• To build safe, sustainable, supportive neighbourhoods where people can live, work and play. While reducing traffic, spending on major new roads and protecting greenspaces.
• To ensure public transit is reliable and affordable. Start talks to expand the Eco-Pass program to small and mid-sized employers.
• To avoid costly transit strikes, lawsuits, project overruns, and end sole source deals.
• To cut the leash of developers' influence in urban planning. Create an Integrity Commissioner for elected officials and staff.
• To seek term limits and provide real access to voting records.
• To adjust the system of development charges to favour "green" building projects (LEED Gold Standard).
• To reduce the city's reliance on high-priced consultants.
• To ensure urban intensification respects the character of established neighbourhoods and includes community endorsement.
• To improve community health through targeted investments in seniors’ services, daycare, health centres, crime prevention and local sports.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Following interesting Ward Councillor competitions
On this morning’s CBC Ottawa Morning broadcast commentators Vicki Smallman and Walter Robinson identified Ward Councillor competitions that they find to be of particular interest. One competition they did not mention is the competition for Councillor in Ward 18 (Alta Vista/Canterbury/Riverview) where three candidates are running against incumbent Councillor Peter Hume.
I think that this competition is of particular interest because, for the first time ever, Hume is being opposed by a viable candidate, Clinton Cowan. Cowan is a likeable, intelligent candidate who has been campaigning hard in the ward for some months. He has built up a strong following and his campaign is moving into high gear.
Peter Hume has made some controversial voting decisions on council and in his role as chair of Planning and Environment Committee over the past four years, and has more often than not disregarded the views and concerns of communities within his ward.
This contest has legs. It should be very interesting to watch.
I think that this competition is of particular interest because, for the first time ever, Hume is being opposed by a viable candidate, Clinton Cowan. Cowan is a likeable, intelligent candidate who has been campaigning hard in the ward for some months. He has built up a strong following and his campaign is moving into high gear.
Peter Hume has made some controversial voting decisions on council and in his role as chair of Planning and Environment Committee over the past four years, and has more often than not disregarded the views and concerns of communities within his ward.
This contest has legs. It should be very interesting to watch.
Friday, June 11, 2010
It is time to rethink Ottawa’s transit options before spending billions on the wrong solution
With the municipal election campaign gaining momentum Ottawa’s proposed light rail project appears likely to become a serious issue again (Watson accused of playing to people’s fears, Alex Cullen, Ottawa Citizen, Letter to the Editor, June 9, 2010). As well there was something of a slanging match between Mayor Larry O’Brien and mayoralty candidate Jim Watson on the same issue. This all happened the same week that the Feds announced they will contribute up to $600M to the project, matching the provincial government’s commitment.
Some new entrants to the municipal elections have concerns about the municipal government’s current spending priorities. Plans for the proposed light rail system are high on their list of concerns.
James O’Grady, candidate for councillor in Ward 9 (Knoxdale-Merivale) has launched an on-line policy discussion group to interchange ideas with supporters and members of his campaign team. Transit and transportation are high on the list of priorities under discussion right now and some interesting ideas are being presented. some observations made by “Agnes of the Glens” particularly caught my attention:
“The issue is not whether we want LRT but whether we can afford it and also where it would go. In most European cities suburbs are connected to avoid driving cars and then they have metro. In our model the downtown area, where you can actually walk, gets all kinds of transit option but the suburbs will only get connected if they intensify….Provide train rail to downtown from major suburban areas (Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans) and later work on other options. The way the tunnel is propose I do not see any change for the suburbs. I do not condone policy that people should know when they move, it is unrealistic. The tunnel has many issues; costs and security are the main constraints. Until design engineering studies are done we may not learn about what else might be there.
“As a taxpayer I see very little in actual clearing of the gridlock unless there is easy accessible transit from suburbia to downtown like the go- train in Toronto and after this is done consider the metro options and the digging. I have not seen anything in existing plans to make me a convert although I would love to see a train getting me downtown.”
Clinton Cowan, candidate for councillor in Ward 18, Alta Vista/Canterbury/Riverview, makes the following observations in a column in the June 2010 issue of Riverview Park Review:
“Light rail dependent on expropriation is a symptom of poor planning. That approach cannot continue in our city if we hope to shape it properly for future growth.
“The greatest challenge is not where transit goes but who uses it…. To encourage ridership in the short term what is needed is an expansion of the Eco Pass program and to tip the balance in favour of transit use versus car use. A shift in the funding ratio is needed and this requires innovative thinking. If the current council were truly sincere about encouraging ridership, they would minimize new road building. There is a piecemeal approach to road use, development of corridors, and traffic…. Communities are willing to share growing pains but they must be able raise awareness to what is not feasible or sustainable or acceptable to a community.”
The enlightened comments offered by these new candidates and by members of the public lead me to think that a great deal more analysis and planning needs to be done before a shovel is put in the ground for the light rail project. For instance, if priority were given to providing rail links from suburban areas to downtown, maybe we could make use of existing rail line infrastructure minimizing the need for costly expropriation and reducing construction costs as well as construction time.
Notwithstanding that all levels of government have now put a great deal of money on the table, the scope of studies undertaken to date appears to have been focused on strictly defined goals that have prevented serious consideration of alternatives. To my knowledge there have been no broadly based investigations and cost/benefit trade-offs that look at the overall needs of the municipality undertaken.
Maybe we need to go back to the drawing board and take a fresh look. This might even result in significant cost savings and free up money for other high priority needs within the municipality, water and sewer infrastructure renewal for example.
Some new entrants to the municipal elections have concerns about the municipal government’s current spending priorities. Plans for the proposed light rail system are high on their list of concerns.
James O’Grady, candidate for councillor in Ward 9 (Knoxdale-Merivale) has launched an on-line policy discussion group to interchange ideas with supporters and members of his campaign team. Transit and transportation are high on the list of priorities under discussion right now and some interesting ideas are being presented. some observations made by “Agnes of the Glens” particularly caught my attention:
“The issue is not whether we want LRT but whether we can afford it and also where it would go. In most European cities suburbs are connected to avoid driving cars and then they have metro. In our model the downtown area, where you can actually walk, gets all kinds of transit option but the suburbs will only get connected if they intensify….Provide train rail to downtown from major suburban areas (Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans) and later work on other options. The way the tunnel is propose I do not see any change for the suburbs. I do not condone policy that people should know when they move, it is unrealistic. The tunnel has many issues; costs and security are the main constraints. Until design engineering studies are done we may not learn about what else might be there.
“As a taxpayer I see very little in actual clearing of the gridlock unless there is easy accessible transit from suburbia to downtown like the go- train in Toronto and after this is done consider the metro options and the digging. I have not seen anything in existing plans to make me a convert although I would love to see a train getting me downtown.”
Clinton Cowan, candidate for councillor in Ward 18, Alta Vista/Canterbury/Riverview, makes the following observations in a column in the June 2010 issue of Riverview Park Review:
“Light rail dependent on expropriation is a symptom of poor planning. That approach cannot continue in our city if we hope to shape it properly for future growth.
“The greatest challenge is not where transit goes but who uses it…. To encourage ridership in the short term what is needed is an expansion of the Eco Pass program and to tip the balance in favour of transit use versus car use. A shift in the funding ratio is needed and this requires innovative thinking. If the current council were truly sincere about encouraging ridership, they would minimize new road building. There is a piecemeal approach to road use, development of corridors, and traffic…. Communities are willing to share growing pains but they must be able raise awareness to what is not feasible or sustainable or acceptable to a community.”
The enlightened comments offered by these new candidates and by members of the public lead me to think that a great deal more analysis and planning needs to be done before a shovel is put in the ground for the light rail project. For instance, if priority were given to providing rail links from suburban areas to downtown, maybe we could make use of existing rail line infrastructure minimizing the need for costly expropriation and reducing construction costs as well as construction time.
Notwithstanding that all levels of government have now put a great deal of money on the table, the scope of studies undertaken to date appears to have been focused on strictly defined goals that have prevented serious consideration of alternatives. To my knowledge there have been no broadly based investigations and cost/benefit trade-offs that look at the overall needs of the municipality undertaken.
Maybe we need to go back to the drawing board and take a fresh look. This might even result in significant cost savings and free up money for other high priority needs within the municipality, water and sewer infrastructure renewal for example.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
An interview with Clinton Cowan
Clinton Cowan a Candidate for Councillor in Ward 18
I recently interviewed Clinton Cowan on behalf of my community newspaper, Riverview Park Review. People living outside Riverview Park who might be interested in learning more about Mr. Cowan. Here is a copy of the article.
Clinton Cowan, a long-time resident of Alta Vista, is running for councillor in Alta Vista/Canterbury/Riverview Ward in the upcoming October municipal election. Clinton is a husband and father with a determination to improve the quality of living in Ottawa. Clinton has worked in the public, private, and non-profit sectors helping to build vibrant communities and he currently works in the field of labour relations. His education includes Carleton University - Public Administration and University of Ottawa - Communications. Clinton has served the community in many volunteer roles including: South-East Ottawa’s Community Health Centre; Ottawa Valley Autistic Homes; Byward Market Safety and Security Committee; CHEO, the Ottawa Food Bank and the Salvation Army.
Mr. Cowan made the decision to run for councillor in the upcoming election because he has observed that there is a broken relationship between the community and the current councillor. Clinton wants to work with residents to return strong leadership to City Hall by repairing the disconnect and using every avenue in keeping the people informed so that residents can participate in shaping our unique community.
Riverview Park Review asked each of the three candidates running for council in Ward 18 questions on several issues. Here are Clinton’s responses:
Some members of council have proposed that referendum questions on homelessness be included in the 2010 ballot. What are your thoughts about homelessness in Ottawa? “We have a tremendous amount of intellectual and, at times, financial resources available but we have challenges in addressing the populations at risk because of the competitive duplication in providing services. Competing, or near-competing, groups could be brought together to work on a strategic long term approach. Individual cases are unique, requiring a holistic consistent approach to people at risk. The most important thing we can do is to show individuals what support is available to them and where to find support. Interestingly, in Ward 18, one in four people lives at or below the government defined poverty line.”
What can be done to improve local transit links within the community and accelerate a comprehensive light rail plan for the city while making public transit affordable to everyone?
“Light rail dependent on expropriation is a symptom of poor planning. That approach cannot continue in our city if we hope to shape it properly for future growth.
“The greatest challenge is not where transit goes but who uses it. It is now a competition for people to decide whether to use personal transportation with personal music and climate control which contributes to traffic congestion and air pollution, or use the bus. To encourage ridership in the short term what is needed is an expansion of the Eco Pass program and to tip the balance in favour of transit use versus car use. If the current council were truly sincere about encouraging ridership, they would minimize new road building. A shift in the funding ratio is needed and this requires innovative thinking. There is a piecemeal approach to road use, development of corridors, and traffic. The new bus garage at Industrial Ave. and Russell Road will likely saturate roadways in the area but only token notice and communication to community have occurred during this major development. Communities are willing to share growing pains but they must be able raise awareness to what is not feasible or sustainable or acceptable to a community.
What are your views on intensification projects within the community? How can changes be effectively integrated while respecting existing communities (residents and infrastructure)? “Wonderful communities have developed over many years and intensification decisions need to respect the nature of communities. The City over-inflated projected populations within planning time-horizons. We must be honest about intensification targets and we must look at all the options if intensification is to be kept in scale with what we need and if we are to make it truly successful. There is a history of poor planning resulting in increased traffic, increased pollution and a community divided by major arterial walls.”
Some construction projects being funded under the governments’ Economic Action Plan have been fast forwarded so that they can be completed within the deadlines imposed. What are your views on this approach? “This financial opportunity was put in place to help mitigate the effects of a global crisis. We cannot ignore this; however the municipality should have requested an amendment asking that the city be allowed to implement its normal practices. Rushed projects provide minimal opportunity for community participation. Good decisions take time.”
What do you think can be done to build neighbourhoods where people can live, work and play? “Neighbourhoods matter. I am a supporter of sustainable communities that enhance quality of life. Currently I am working on a movement to increase the capacity of home care spaces in our community, which has one of the highest unfulfilled demands for spaces in the city. Changes in land use occur frequently and we rarely look at the need to support the current mix of residential, commercial, institutional land use that makes them sustainable. Not counting gas stations, Alta Vista has three convenience stores. The corner store does not exist. Walmart is not a corner store. There is a lot of room for improvement; any change must involve the community.”
Do you think that tax increases can be set at or below inflation with a balanced focus on economic, social, and environmental sustainability? “In an ideal setting it would be wonderful if there were no need for continual tax increases. However, the challenge to predetermining a tax rate does not account for the needs and wants of the community. Ottawa has greater needs than wants. We are looking at capital expenditures for our transit system, to resolve neglected waste water infrastructure, to build a new public library, and to develop Lansdowne. We need to take a look at what is needed today, to minimize stress on taxpayers. Currently we have a 3.7% increase to our taxes but we still have increasing user fees, including higher water rates coming shortly, and we have to deal with levy after levy. Most of it is money required to fix problems that should have been addressed or avoided a long time ago. It is apparent that we need a Fresh Start at the council table.”
Do you think that debate and citizen engagement on governance issues (amalgamation, borough councils, and ward councils) should be encouraged? “Should I have the honor of representing Alta Vista Ward I will make every effort to encourage community engagement, using every tool available to a councillor. The fact is that our city was not amalgamated by our choice. As a city we exist by a legislative act from the province. Dialogue must be brought up to the provincial level to initiate change. I have talked to community associations and business improvement associations across the city and it is clear that a lot more interchange between civic leaders and members of the community is needed.”
What are your views on the OSEG/Lansdowne Live proposal? Do you agree that projects of the magnitude of Lansdowne Live should be contracted on a sole-source basis and have so much financial risk transferred to the City? Do you think Lansdowne Live fits in with the neighbourhood? “At this point we will likely never know if this proposal represents the best possible use of this land. It is worrisome that the city has not looked at other alternatives. Do we have the right eyes at the table? Seven of ten architects review panel resigned. In a hiccup our councillor was able to pull his team from across country; locals are only minimally involved. Will they do this with other developments (e.g. the downtown tunnel)?”
At all levels of government voters complain that they only hear from their elected representative at election time. What would you do to engage community members regularly, to listen to their concerns and to respond constructively? “As a candidate I believe I have broken new ground for how residents can become and stay involved and I will provide uncensored opportunities for people to communicate, not just on election day, every day. That commitment is on my website (http://www.clintoncowan.ca/). I make the effort to come to people; I do not expect them to take time off to come to me. I will attend community associations and I will always try to maximize opportunities for community engagement. I have the commitment, the vision and the energy to bring City Hall to the people.”
Thursday, April 22, 2010
A new Candidate for Councillor in Ward 18
Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of speaking with Clinton Cowan. Clinton, a long-time Alta Vista resident, is running in Alta Vista/Canterbury/Riverview Ward to ensure that our next city council includes respect for residents and their issues. He is focused on unifying our unique community neighborhoods and ensuring they are informed and involved in shaping the city towards a brighter future.
He speaks every day with ward residents and expects to meet with everybody in the ward before the October 25 election. Clinton says that an increasing number of Ottawa residents feel that during the past four years, the city has not worked in favour of it’s citizens. He says that over the coming months he will continue consulting with community residents to discover what are the top issues affecting Ward 18.
Clinton is running to preserve our neighborhoods, protect our values and promote our issues. His Fresh Start campaign is aimed at uniting our neighborhoods and bringing respect for the community back to city hall.
Clinton Cowan has worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors to help build vibrant communities. Raised in Ottawa, Clinton is a husband and father with a determination to improve the quality of living that Ottawa has to offer. His vision is to build an inclusive and accessible city that respects its citizens, and to ensure that essential services are delivered effectively and efficiently.
Clinton is a leader in the field of labour relations, and his ongoing success in dispute resolution and conflict avoidance practices continues to build lasting solutions for complex issues. His education experience includes Carleton University - Public Administration and University of Ottawa - Communications. His skills in these areas will provide great value in understanding the merits of programs and policies at City council, and establishing a real two=way dialogue with residents.
Clinton already serves the community in many volunteer roles including:
South-East Ottawa’s Community Health Centre;
Ottawa Valley Autistic Homes;
Voiceprint, providing the visually impaired with in depth news information;
Byward Market Safety and Security Committee;
CHEO;
The Ottawa Food Bank; and
The Salvation Army.
I found Clinton to be respectful and easy to talk to. His pleasant outgoing manner encourages one to engage in conversation. It quickly became clear that he understands the important issues at city hall and in Alta Vista, Canterbury/Riverside and he has some interesting/exciting ideas.
You can find out more about him on his website http://www.clintoncowan.ca/. His platform will be unveiled progressively on his website over the coming weeks.
He can be contacted by E-mail clinton@clintoncowan.ca,
by phone at 613-680-7601
by mail:
Clinton Cowan Campaign
2706 Alta vista Drive, Suite 310, Ottawa, ON, K1V 7T4
He speaks every day with ward residents and expects to meet with everybody in the ward before the October 25 election. Clinton says that an increasing number of Ottawa residents feel that during the past four years, the city has not worked in favour of it’s citizens. He says that over the coming months he will continue consulting with community residents to discover what are the top issues affecting Ward 18.
Clinton is running to preserve our neighborhoods, protect our values and promote our issues. His Fresh Start campaign is aimed at uniting our neighborhoods and bringing respect for the community back to city hall.
Clinton Cowan has worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors to help build vibrant communities. Raised in Ottawa, Clinton is a husband and father with a determination to improve the quality of living that Ottawa has to offer. His vision is to build an inclusive and accessible city that respects its citizens, and to ensure that essential services are delivered effectively and efficiently.
Clinton is a leader in the field of labour relations, and his ongoing success in dispute resolution and conflict avoidance practices continues to build lasting solutions for complex issues. His education experience includes Carleton University - Public Administration and University of Ottawa - Communications. His skills in these areas will provide great value in understanding the merits of programs and policies at City council, and establishing a real two=way dialogue with residents.
Clinton already serves the community in many volunteer roles including:
South-East Ottawa’s Community Health Centre;
Ottawa Valley Autistic Homes;
Voiceprint, providing the visually impaired with in depth news information;
Byward Market Safety and Security Committee;
CHEO;
The Ottawa Food Bank; and
The Salvation Army.
I found Clinton to be respectful and easy to talk to. His pleasant outgoing manner encourages one to engage in conversation. It quickly became clear that he understands the important issues at city hall and in Alta Vista, Canterbury/Riverside and he has some interesting/exciting ideas.
You can find out more about him on his website http://www.clintoncowan.ca/. His platform will be unveiled progressively on his website over the coming weeks.
He can be contacted by E-mail clinton@clintoncowan.ca,
by phone at 613-680-7601
by mail:
Clinton Cowan Campaign
2706 Alta vista Drive, Suite 310, Ottawa, ON, K1V 7T4
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