Kevin O'Donnell's blog
Green party would repeal Bill 115
I don't blog very much here about labour issues, not because I'm not interested, but because it's not my forté. Nonetheless here is an update from Matt Richter, our Education critic: Read more »
Binders full of MPAC - a Westhaven unfairness story
When MPAC property assessment letters arrived a few weeks ago residents in Ottawa's core (all of Ottawa Centre) saw their property taxes go up well above the average, despite the fact the urban core is cheaper to service than other parts of Ottawa. Read more »
The Truthiness Cliff
I'm not sure whether to be happy, or weep, that today's Ottawa Citizen editorial, Why the truth squads can’t compete, calls out the rampant lying in politics for what it is, "pants-on-fire" lying. On the one hand its wonderful. In my twenties I volunteered for an alternative-media organization, convinced that if only the real story could get out, we would see politics change. Read more »
Adaptation is more costly than mitigation - aim for the root cause of climate change
Here's a real world example of an externality that benefits the energy industry (carbon pollution is free) and hurts those who work in fisheries, from ThinkProgress.org's Hurricane Sandy, Climate Change, And The Future Of Fish (emphasis mine): Read more »
Gender bias against Ottawa's female councillors
Earlier in the month the Ottawa Sun put out a mid-term report card of Ottawa's city council. Right up front this is completely unscientific since the respondents were self-selecting, so buyer beware. Nonetheless the results show a gender bias illustrative of the challenge women face in politics. (Update: Also, I believe this bias would show up under any similar poll by any media organization). Read more »
Why do we pay property owners to keep their empty buildings empty?
Today I attended the FEDCO meeting that considered a large report that included a plan to develop community improvement programs. I spoke against it, to no avail. I'm against subsidies that just add a layer of obfuscation over the city's fundamentals. There is a reason Orléans has the lowest jobs-to-homes ratio and the proposed subsidies won't do much to address it. Read more »
A three season biker, going for four?
In years past I've never attempted to ride year around and always put my bike away at the end of October or early November. This year I'm going to let my newly minted biker set the pace.
I may not end up biking year around, but there's no way I'm going to cave before my daughter does. She's eager so we'll go until she wants to stop. I'm not going to say when its too cold to bike, or too dark, or too anything. Read more »
Ontario enables Energy Efficient Homes loan program
Ontario has finally made an important step in the right direction by enabling municipal loans to homeowners so they can afford energy efficiency upgrades. This will help Ontario families save money, permanently, on energy bills. Read more »
Tax Incremental Financing comes to Orléans
Where to start with City to subsidize ‘good jobs’ in Orléans? How about some math.
The city is going to spend $20 million over five years to bring 3,000 jobs to Orléans.
The city is going to spend $6,666 in the next five years to create one job in Orléans.
The city is going to spend $1,333 a year for every job it creates in Orléans. Read more »
Lifting delegated authority to clear the air
I'd like to expand on some tweets just in case my suggestion to Councillor Fleury to lift site-plan delegated authority on the 250 Montreal Road situation makes anyone think he's at fault for any of this. He's not. At all. Read more »
