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Mayor asks commission to include waterway on inter-governmental meeting
Mayor Larry O’Brien yesterday asked the National Capital Commission to get involved in efforts to clean up the Ottawa River by having municipalities reduce the amount of sewage being dumped into the waterway.
Mr. O’Brien said he has asked the NCC to include the river in the agenda for the Sept. 22 meeting among NCC chief executive Marie Lemay, Gatineau Mayor Marc Bureau and Mr. O’Brien. These tripartite meetings are designed to increase co-operation for joint projects across the provincial boundary.
Sewage overflows into the Ottawa River have become a big issue this summer since it was revealed that a huge spill due to malfunctioning equipment in 2006 was not disclosed to city council or the Ontario government. As well, the frequent rainstorms in Ottawa this summer have resulted in frequent overflows into the river, since the existing sewer system can’t handle the extra stormwater.
Mr. O’Brien said it’s important that Ottawa and Gatineau, as well as Quebec, Ontario and the federal government, get senior officials together to look at the river because he said it’s not just a question of what Ottawa should do. Gatineau releases sewage into the Ottawa as well, though the city does not report on how much.
Ontario Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson welcomed the inclusion of more parties in the debate. Mr. Watson said six governments have some say in what happens to the Ottawa River and it’s important that they act in “a co-ordinated approach.”
“I want the whole river cleaned up, not just half the river,” Mr. Watson said.
Alta Vista Councillor Peter Hume, chairman of council’s planning and environment committee, welcomed Mr. O’Brien’s involvement of the NCC. He said it will take planning and money from all three levels of government to get a series of projects under way that improve the Ottawa River.
The city has a $20-million commitment from federal Environment Minister John Baird to help clean up the river.
Mr. Watson said the provincial government wants to make sure the Ottawa River projects are based on the right science and technology so they have a real benefit for the river.
© The Ottawa Citizen 2008