"Newcomer reception centres: What you need to know."

"The City of Ottawa is proposing up to two potential locations for newcomer reception centres. Construction will take place at the primary site,1645 Woodroffe Ave., on the federally owned Nepean Sportsplex. The secondary site at 40 Hearst Way, on part of the Eagleson Park and Ride, is dependent on funding and other factors." (Note:1645 Woodroffe Avenue and the Eagleson Park and Ride are protected by the Greenbelt designation.)

The City of Ottawa wanted one quarter of the Greenbelt: "It is estimated that of the 20,800 hectares in the Greenbelt, at least one quarter, approximately 5,560 hectares might be eligible for development consideration if the Greenbelt designation was removed and the development policies of the City's Official Plan were applied to these lands." (From: Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital-Report-May 27, 2008, page 8/11.)

Politicians who wanted to save the Greenbelt:

• Minister of National Defence Gordon O'Connor
• Minister of National Defence Barney Danson
• MP Beryl Gaffney
• MP Don Boudria
• Senator Mike Duffy
• Environment Minister Jim Prentice
• Environment Minister John Baird
• MP Marcel Proulx
• MPP and City Councillor Alex Cullen   
• MP Mauril Belanger
• MP David McGuinty
• MP Walter David Baker
• MP Royal Galipeau
• Hon. Arthur Laing, Minister of Public Works
• MP Warren Allmand
• Hon. Jean-Robert Gauthier

Organizations:

• Friends of Mer Bleue
• Greenbelt Coalition of Canada's Capital
• Gloucester Allotment Gardens
• Ottawa Rural Council
• Citizens for Safe Cycling
• La route verte
• Velo service
• Responsible Dog Owners of Canada
• Crystal Bay Community Association
• Crystal Beach/Lakeview Community Association
• Riverside South Community Association
• Country Place Community Association
• Glens Community Association
• Convent Glen Community Association
• Qualicum-Graham Park Community Association
• Westboro Beach Community Association
• Navan Community Association
• Transport 2000
• Heritage Canada (Information is from pages 35 and 36 out of 107 pages, Google" Greenbelt Phase 1, Step A, Government of Canada Publication, Crystal.")

New organizations:

• Kanata Neighbours Against Sprung Shelter
• Nepean Residents Against Sprung Shelter
• Merivale Gardens Residents Against Sprung Shelter
• Barrhaven residents gather to oppose proposed shelter

New housing is not permitted on the land. 2067 Greenbelt Vision Statement Page 53/196: "The Greenbelt will forever protect natural systems, agriculture and opportunities for outdoor recreation; and will inspire Canadians and contribute to the sustainability and quality of life in Canada's Capital Region."

The Greber Report of 1950 "A Capital City belongs to a certain extent to the whole country, and should not be placed in such a position that any one man, or company of men can have it in their power to seriously mar its beauty, and thus throw discredit on the nation. As a Capital City, the parks and open spaces should be numerous, and ample boulevards and parkways should skirt the different waterways as well as connect the principle parks and the different public buildings." (Page 192/395; originally from the Todd Report of 1903.)