Wednesday, February 20, 2019

The National Capital Commission is selling Greenbelt land.

 The Greenbelt that surrounds Ottawa is a living memorial to Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in foreign wars. Urban planner Jacques Greber designed the memorial and said the Greenbelt would be preserved in perpetuity.
However, much of the land has been earmarked for residential and commercial redevelopment:
     "The City of Ottawa has identified more than 13,700 acres of the Greenbelt worth about $1.6 billion that could be developed...without damaging its overall integrity. Environment Minister Jim Prentice opposed development in what he considered an important part of the city's heritage. Prentice vowed to fight any such move." (From: Greenbelt Ottawa Wikipedia).
Groups that are trying to save the land
Alliance to Save Our Greenbelt
Save Our Greenspace!
Ontario Chapter|Sierra Club of Canada
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Parks Canada may privatize $8.3 billion dollars worth of infrastructure including highways, roads, nature trails, culverts, dams and bridges. The sale of these Crown assets will have a major impact on a UNESCO World Heritage Site called the Rideau Canal. The lock stations are important tourist attractions and they are located in:
Merrickville; Kilmarnock; Hog's Back (Ottawa)
Davis; Old Sly's; Smiths Falls; Burritt's Rapids
Poonamalie; Lower and Upper Beveridges Lock;
Long Island; Kingston Mills; Newboro; Lower and Upper Brewers Lock
The Mackenzie King Bridge and Laurier Avenue Bridge span the Rideau Canal. This Privy Council Order-in-Council led to the sale of the bridges to the City of Ottawa. Now Parks Canada plans to sell many other bridges that span the Rideau Canal, see the list above.

A CBC article about Ottawa's Hog's Back Bridge: "Future of Hog's Back Bridge a hot topic after NCC audit reveals need for repairs." 










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