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Rural residents talk about gaps in services Local resource centres work to identify a rural strategy Eastern Ottawa, OrlĂŠansCumberland Community, Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community resource centres were on hand to talk about a strategy that would be unique to rural communities. “Whether it’s seniors who can no longer drive to get groceries or high school stu-
Jennifer McIntosh jennifer.mcintosh@metroland.com
R0012704842
News - Local community resource centres met at the Greely Community Centre on May 3 to talk about how they serve their rural residents. Representatives from the Western Ottawa Community,
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dents who can’t access services, we need to look what at we do well and what we can do better,� said Larissa Silver with Western Ottawa. Julie McKercher, who is a dedicated rural community developer, works exclusively within the catchment of Carp, West Carleton and Constance Bay.
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To best advocate for their residents, community resource centres need to help facilitate communication and share information to residents, Jean Johnston-McKitterick, one of the candidates for Osgoode Ward, said. There are 90,000 residents in rural Ottawa and 60 community associations. “It’s about the size of Kingston,� McKercher said, adding the combined voices may help add numbers to any given issue. One example brought up was the city’s policies on severance, which prevents a lot of rural residents from splitting and building on their land. Another issue was the lack of places for older rural residents to go if they want to downsize. Emma Wallace, who attended Osgoode Township High School, said a lot of her friends are finding it difficult to maintain their ties with the community because their parents have to move into the urban area when they get older. “Is there any way the resource centres can help us look at development within
our own community?â€? one resident asked, suggesting residents might be able to offer unique insight on what sort of housing or other development is needed. Luc Ouellette, the executive director for the OrlĂŠansCumberland Community Association, said the resource centres would be working to ask local candidates up for election about their stance on rural affairs. “We have two elections coming up,â€? he said. “We should make them count.â€? But the bottom line is residents need to know what’s happening in their community, Const. Yolande Jacques said. Jacques works out of the Greely Community Police centre and said local high school kids could gain volunteer hours by delivering flyers from community associations. “It would be a good way to give the kids something to do,â€? she said. During the forum, residents broke up into group to answer questions about how to better utilize community associations and other resources to fill gaps in services for the rural areas. The forum was the third in a series of meetings where the community resource centres have asked for input on their rural strategy.
O’Connor held three different Cabinet posts
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McKercher said she started working with the Constance Bay Community Association on access to fresh produce. “Because they are in the rural area one would assume that access would be readily available,� she said. “But that wasn’t the case. A lot of people were using the food bank and there isn’t a local grocery store or gas station.� The resource centre helped to work out a good food box program that is now very well used. Ken Hoffman, from One World – a consulting company that worked with the resource centres on developing the strategies – said Ottawa has particular challenges because some issues are unique to a rural setting, but a lot of the decisions are made in the urban area. Sylvie McGee, who has attended several meetings concerning the Carp Road dump, said the problem is the city makes rules that affect the rural communities but don’t necessarily make sense in that climate. “I think we often forget about the rural, rural people,� McGee said, adding she married into a family that has lived on their current lot for seven generations. Her mother-in-law is in her 90s and she often doesn’t
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Aris said he couldn’t speak to the speculation, other than to say the riding association will begin the process when it is ready. O’Connor served in cabinet from 2006 until July 2013. The retired brigadier-general went from defence critic to defence minister when Stephen Harper’s Conservative took power eight years ago. His tenure wasn’t without controversy. The Conservatives had swept to power on ethics and accountability promises, including one to crack down on lobbying. (O’Connor was a defence industry lobbyist before joining elected politics.) Potential conflict-of-interest problems sprouted
almost immediately. There were also controversies involving his ministry over conflicting orders regarding the use of certain lightly-armoured vehicles after a number of Canadian soldiers were killed in them and the debate over Canadian soldiers’ handing over prisoners they captured when they allegedly knew Afghan officials would torture them. O’Connor was shuffled from defence to national revenue in 2007 and then served as chief government whip and Minister of State until last July. He remained popular with his constituents, easily winning re-election in the last election by capturing 57 per cent of the vote in Carleton-Mississippi Mills.
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0HJMWJF .PUPST -UE Â&#x2026; 4U -BVSFOU #MWE Â&#x2026; Â&#x2026; PHJMWJF NFSDFEFT CFO[ DB Š 2014 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. 2014 GLK 250 BlueTEC 4MATICâ&#x201E;˘/2014 ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATICâ&#x201E;˘ shown above, have a total price of $46,230/$64,145. **Total price for advertised vehicle of $46,230/$64,145 includes MSRP and all applicable dealer fees. *Lease offers based on the 2014 GLK 250 BlueTEC MATICâ&#x201E;˘/2014 ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATICâ&#x201E;˘ available only through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services on approved credit for a limited time. Lease example based on $548/$798 (includes a $1,115/$1,175 credit) per month for 39/39 months. Down payment of $3,995/$4,995 plus security deposit of $500/$800, freight/PDI of up to $2,075, dealer admin fee of $395, fuel surcharge of up to $80, air-conditioning levy of $100, EHF tires, ďŹ lters, batteries of up to $29.70, PPSA up to $59.15, OMVIC fee of $5, and applicable taxes are due at signing. MSRP starting at $43,500/$61,400. Lease APR of 3.9%/4.9% applies. Total obligation is $25,917/$36,917. 18,000 km/year allowance ($0.20/km/$0.30/km for excess kilometres applies). Finance example is based on a 60-month term and a ďŹ nance APR of 1.9%/ 2.9% and an MSRP of $43,500/$61,400. Monthly payment is $713/$1,033(excluding taxes) with $3,995/$4,995 down payment. Freight/PDI of up to $2,075, dealer admin fee of $395, fuel surcharge of up to $80, air-conditioning levy of $100, EHF tires, ďŹ lters, batteries of up to $29.70, PPSA up to $59.15, OMVIC fee of $5, and applicable taxes are due at signing. Cost of borrowing is $1,975/$4,339 for a total obligation of $46,775/$66,975. Vehiclelicense, insurance and registration are extra. Dealer may lease or ďŹ nance for less. Offers may change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers. See Ogilvie Mercedes for details. Offers end May 31, 2014. R0012708324/0515
2 West Carleton Review EMC - Thursday, May 22, 2014