OPINION
Your Community Newspaper
EDITORIAL
Taking our interprovincial bridge opportunity
I
t’s time to take a step back, and look at the big picture. The national capital region desperately needs an eastern interprovincial bridge. Truck traffic is clogging the downtown core, turning what should be the most pedestrian friendly part of the city into a small sample of Highway 401. Gatineau city council has been eager to embrace the Kettle Island option with
open arms. While the glass is half empty for Ottawa residents who oppose the proximity of the proposed corridor, the benefits are overflowing for Gatineau, something Ottawa seems to overlook. It benefits workers on Montée Paiement, which would directly connect to the bridge through the Kettle Island crossing, corridor five. The Gatineau Sports Centre opened only a few blocks away from Montée Paiement
not even two years ago, and would no doubt benefit from the easy access the bridge would provide. But it seems that some residents would rather see the bridge project thrown in the trash permanently if that’s the alternative to having it in their backyard. Yes, it isn’t agreeable to have a bridge close to your residential property. No one is going to be able to argue with that. But at the end of the day, it has to go
somewhere if it’s going to be built. There are Ottawa residents who are currently faced with the demands of the trucking traffic flow who need relief in the form of a bridge – yet other Ottawa residents are quick to reject a proposal for infrastructure development in the region. Infrastructure development comes hand in hand with living in an urban area, it’s an undeniable thing with time, just as hair grays, and
wrinkles form with age. There are better development options than others, and ways to reduce the impact on residents, but the outright rejection of a bridge for the ‘not in my back yard attitude’ will ultimately stunt the city’s growth. There’s also a courtesy that isn’t being extended very well to our Quebecois neighbours to factor in what is ultimately a slam dunk of a decision for them. It’s time to be productive
and get on with it. It’s time to embrace making the corridors the least impactful on affected residents, and stop saying, “anywhere but here.” Because in the future, sporting events, conferences, businesses and people will look at the national capital region – which should be a unique fusion of Ontario and Quebec that offers the best of all things Canadian at once – and start saying the same thing. Anywhere but there.
COLUMN
Protecting the family meal BRYNNA LESLIE Capital Muse
M
y five-year-old came home from school the other day, dutifully put away his snow gear and sat down at the dining table. “I’m hungry, Mom,” he said. “What would you like to eat?” “Something wet, please.” Excuse me? I couldn’t help but laugh. I expected him to say “a piece of cheese,” or “apple slices,” or “a granola bar.” But something wet? His response made me realize that we spent a lot of time thinking about food at our house. As my 16-year-old babysitter noted the other day, “I’ve never seen someone consider food as much as you do.” She wasn’t implying that we are obsessed with nutrition. Of course, like many parents of young children (and most 30-something women mid-metabolic-slump), I frequently contemplate the health benefits of food. But we also think of food in another way at our house. I’m not a “foodie” by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I only taught myself to cook a handful of years ago, starting with baby food purees. But I have a tendency toward boredom, I’m generally on a budget and I have an aversion to processed foods. All of this means I prepare most food from scratch at home. And I like to talk about food; in fact, I like to talk about it a lot. Not in the gourmet sense, but in the meal-planning sense. We generally have a cooked breakfast on weekdays. As we sit down to eat together as
a family, it’s not uncommon for me to ask the children what they would like to eat for dinner that night. We think about flavours and different vegetables. I talk about how I may cook them, or flip through one of my cookbooks for ideas, showing the boys pictures. I often clip recipes out of the morning newspaper and read them aloud. In the afternoon, following homework and playtime and music practice, my five-yearold often wields a small chopping knife for salad or stir-fry, eating one veggie for every one that makes it into the bowl. My older son spends many minutes setting the table, sometimes wrapping knives and forks in napkins, as he’s seen them do in restaurants, or seeking out special placemats. They take turns making vinaigrettes or other condiments. And while we do talk about the nutritional benefits of various foods, we also take the time to talk about flavours and cultures. Sometimes we buy foods they’ve seen their in friends’ lunchboxes. This leads to discussions about their friends and what they did at school. I encourage the children to employ formal table manners, using a knife and fork, placing napkins in their laps, elbows off the table, and chewing slowly with their mouths closed. Until recently, I’ve taken these meal times for granted as a normal family experience. But as I talk to friends and neighbours, I realize that our consideration of food and the fact that we sit at the table for, on average, fourteen meals each week as a family, is a rare blessing, given the pressures of modern life. Of course, sometimes we forget our manners, and usually once a week we eat takeout pizza with our hands in front of the television. But as our lives get ever busier, I will do my best to protect the family meal fiercely. Because, as my son’s request for “something wet” demonstrates, there’s so much more to food than just eating.
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Do special exhibits like the current Whales Tohora encourage you to attend Ottawa’s museums?
Was it the right move by the city to dismiss OC Transpo general manager Alain Mercier?
A) Yes. I don’t often get out to museums, B) It depends. If it’s something truly unique I’ll go, but not for everything.
C) I’m a member of a museum, so I only attend exhibits at that particluar location. matter how special it is will get me in the doors.
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8
Ottawa South EMC - Thursday, March 8, 2012
A) Yes. Too many controversies had
80%
marked his time in charge.
but special events are a real draw.
D) I can’t stand museums and no exhibit, no
Ottawa South EMC welcomes letters to the editor. Senders must include their full name, complete address and a contact phone number. Addresses and phone numbers will not be published. We reserve the right to edit letters for space and content, both in print and online at www.yourottawaregion.com. To submit a letter to the editor, please email to patricia.lonergan@ metroland.com , fax to 613-224-2265 or mail to Ottawa East EMC, 80 Colonnade Rd. N., Unit 4, Ottawa, ON, K2E 7L2.
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B) No. I don’t think anyone else could have done much better given the challenges.
0%
0% C) He should have been given the chance to put things right with the union in the upcoming labour negotiations. D) Are the buses going to run on
20%
time now? That’s all I care about.
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