{"id":3289,"date":"2025-06-27T15:04:30","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T15:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/?p=3289"},"modified":"2025-08-20T14:38:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T14:38:55","slug":"ottawas-priorities-highway-417-congestion-and-what-we-need-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/?p=3289","title":{"rendered":"Priorities &#8211; Highway, Congestion and what we need to do"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-playlist wp-video-playlist wp-playlist-light\">\n\t\t<video controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\" width=\"1118\"\n\t\t height=\"1959\"\t><\/video>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-next\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-prev\"><\/div>\n\t<noscript>\n\t<ol>\n\t\t<li><a href='https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/MicrosoftTeams-video-44.mp4'>RingRoad<\/a><\/li>\t<\/ol>\n\t<\/noscript>\n\t<script type=\"application\/json\" class=\"wp-playlist-script\">{\"type\":\"video\",\"tracklist\":true,\"tracknumbers\":true,\"images\":true,\"artists\":true,\"tracks\":[{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/MicrosoftTeams-video-44.mp4\",\"type\":\"video\/mp4\",\"title\":\"RingRoad\",\"caption\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"meta\":{\"length_formatted\":\"0:33\"},\"dimensions\":{\"original\":{\"width\":548,\"height\":960},\"resized\":{\"width\":1118,\"height\":1959}},\"image\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64},\"thumb\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64}}]}<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\t\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">At the AMO conference, I raised the importance of getting the conversation on a ring road for our city back on the table. It\u2019s an idea I continue to push for, and one that needs to move forward with planning sooner rather than later. Watch the clip below for more.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 1140px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-3289-1\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/july23-2025-1080p.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/july23-2025-1080p.mp4\">https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/july23-2025-1080p.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p>This page will continue to be added to as the discussion around 417 congestion and city congestion continues to evolve.<\/p>\n<p>While a replacement motion to the one that was debated three weeks prior, that committee was swapped out in the 11th hour, with the replacement motion only removing \u201cRing Road\u201d the one item that was the most important in my mind and clearly the province, and the citizens of Ottawa&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Please check back on a regular basis.<\/p>\n<h3>July 23rd &#8211; Council Meeting Update<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-playlist wp-video-playlist wp-playlist-light\">\n\t\t<video controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\" width=\"1118\"\n\t\t height=\"629\"\t><\/video>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-next\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-prev\"><\/div>\n\t<noscript>\n\t<ol>\n\t\t<li><a href='https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TMP-Part2.mp4'>TMP-Part2<\/a><\/li>\t<\/ol>\n\t<\/noscript>\n\t<script type=\"application\/json\" class=\"wp-playlist-script\">{\"type\":\"video\",\"tracklist\":true,\"tracknumbers\":true,\"images\":true,\"artists\":true,\"tracks\":[{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TMP-Part2.mp4\",\"type\":\"video\/mp4\",\"title\":\"TMP-Part2\",\"caption\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"meta\":{\"length_formatted\":\"0:37\"},\"dimensions\":{\"original\":{\"width\":640,\"height\":360},\"resized\":{\"width\":1118,\"height\":629}},\"image\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64},\"thumb\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64}}]}<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\t\n<p>This past week at Council, we debated a motion connected to the City of Ottawa\u2019s Transportation Master Plan (TMP), which sets the long-term vision for how we plan and invest in infrastructure, roads, and transit. The motion recognized the need to relieve pressure on Highway 417 and called attention to projects of national significance\u2014but in a last-minute change, it removed key language about exploring a future Ring Road.\u00a0That language had already passed at committee, and in a surprise\u00a0motion it was <strong>stripped at council<\/strong>, which I fought to have the language put back in and lost.<\/p>\n<p>I believe that if we don\u2019t start protecting corridors and setting a bold vision now, we risk losing opportunities that could serve us for decades to come. It\u2019s about more than just fixing what\u2019s broken\u2014it\u2019s about looking ahead and making room for smart, data-driven decisions that will benefit future generations.<\/p>\n<p>As I said during the meeting:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIf we don\u2019t start protecting and looking at the vision\u2026 We need vision on this Council. We\u2019ve been doing a great job repairing things. When it came to garbage, people were furious\u2014we changed that number. When it came to the Enbridge pipeline, where they wanted to shut off natural gas, we used a rational decision\u2014we fixed that problem. This has been a Council of fixing up to this point.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Right now, congestion is affecting residents not just five days a week, but all seven. The 417 remains the only major route through Ottawa. This isn\u2019t about choosing between transit and roads\u2014it\u2019s about building a complete, connected city. That\u2019s why I supported advancing the next origin\u2013destination study, which has now been moved up by a few years. The data we\u2019ll gain from that study is essential to making informed choices\u2014whether it\u2019s a bypass, a corridor, or a future bridge.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-playlist wp-video-playlist wp-playlist-light\">\n\t\t<video controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\" width=\"1118\"\n\t\t height=\"629\"\t><\/video>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-next\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-prev\"><\/div>\n\t<noscript>\n\t<ol>\n\t\t<li><a href='https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/july23-2025-1080p.mp4'>july23-2025 (1080p)<\/a><\/li>\t<\/ol>\n\t<\/noscript>\n\t<script type=\"application\/json\" class=\"wp-playlist-script\">{\"type\":\"video\",\"tracklist\":true,\"tracknumbers\":true,\"images\":true,\"artists\":true,\"tracks\":[{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/july23-2025-1080p.mp4\",\"type\":\"video\/mp4\",\"title\":\"july23-2025 (1080p)\",\"caption\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"meta\":[],\"dimensions\":{\"original\":{\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080},\"resized\":{\"width\":1118,\"height\":629}},\"image\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64},\"thumb\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64}}]}<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\t\n<p>I emphasized this point at Council:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThis comes down to two words. The two words that are in the provincial statement: Ring Road. Yes, there are 50 points in that document\u2014but it\u2019s pretty clear. It\u2019s big and bold. It\u2019s right there. Tells us straight up: this is what the province would like us to look at. And as much as you\u2019d like it or not, they actually do have a bit of a stick in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need alternatives in this city. And if we don\u2019t set out vision\u2014and again, if Councillor Johnson\u2019s motion passes\u2014we\u2019ve discounted looking at a vision document in this TMP. It\u2019s a major miss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe whole goal of that\u2014when we missed the boat in the past with some others\u2014was to set out a vision. That\u2019s what a TMP is: a vision document, to look at the future, so we are going to progress that way. And that would achieve what? To make sure we don\u2019t put big buildings in or things where there could possibly be some kind of pathway that the province wants to use for a Ring Road.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p data-end=\"2991\" data-start=\"2649\">The final vote divided the Council.<\/p>\n<p data-end=\"2991\" data-start=\"2649\">Supporting the inclusion of the Ring Road language were:<\/p>\n<p>Matthew Luloff<br \/>\nDavid Hill<br \/>\nSteve Desroches<br \/>\nDavid Brown<br \/>\nAllan Hubley<br \/>\nClarke Kelly<br \/>\nCatherine Kitts<br \/>\nTim Tierney<br \/>\nLaura Dudas<br \/>\n<em>(was away for the vote but has been a consistent supporter\u2014her ward is shown in dark green)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Opposing the Ring Road were :<\/p>\n<p>Mayor Sutcliffe<br \/>\nMarty Carr<br \/>\nLaine Johnson<br \/>\nRiley Brockington<br \/>\nJeff Leiper<br \/>\nRawlson King<br \/>\nGlen Gower<br \/>\nShawn Menard<br \/>\nCathy Curry<br \/>\nTheresa Kavanagh<br \/>\nJessica Bradley<br \/>\nSt\u00e9phanie Plante<br \/>\nWilson Lo (who changed his vote from committee)<br \/>\nIsabelle Skalski (who changed her vote from committee)<br \/>\nSean Devine (who changed his vote from committee)<br \/>\nAriel Troster (who changed her vote from committee)<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/f97cf5215f20bc1facbaa5de7\/images\/1a3019d0-b4d1-fb50-b8de-afe381aaf624.jpg\" width=\"560\" height=\"469\" data-file-id=\"6705106\" data-cke-saved-src=\"https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/f97cf5215f20bc1facbaa5de7\/images\/1a3019d0-b4d1-fb50-b8de-afe381aaf624.jpg\" \/><br \/>\nThe map above\u00a0shows how each ward voted\u2014those in green supported keeping the Ring Road language, those in red voted against, and Laura Dudas\u2019s ward is marked in dark green to reflect her intended support:<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m also actively engaging the Province to continue this conversation so we don\u2019t lose any more time. Whether it\u2019s a bypass, a corridor, or a bridge\u2014these decisions take years to plan and even longer to build. If we wait until the crisis worsens, we\u2019ll be left with fewer options and higher costs.<\/p>\n<p>As I said at the end of the meeting:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;This should&#8217;nt be a battle between public transit versus roads. This ia about establishing a vision for our city and if we don&#8217;t do it this term maybe we will have to take care of it next <strong>term<\/strong>&#8220;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\ud83d\udce3 Statement by MPP George Darouze:<br \/>\n<a title=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/196kpzgcl3\/?mibextid=wwxifr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/196KpZGcL3\/?mibextid=wwXIfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-cke-saved-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/196KpZGcL3\/?mibextid=wwXIfr\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/196KpZGcL3\/?mibextid=wwXIfr<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Update: Minister of Transportation Prabmeet\u00a0Sarkaria now engaged<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/f97cf5215f20bc1facbaa5de7\/images\/f3703fbb-ba19-c050-ebbe-d5046bec3872.jpg\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" data-file-id=\"6705136\" data-cke-saved-src=\"https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/f97cf5215f20bc1facbaa5de7\/images\/f3703fbb-ba19-c050-ebbe-d5046bec3872.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">I\u2019m encouraged to see growing collaboration on this front, and I\u2019m glad the Mayor is willing to work with us. Stay tuned.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This has never been just about roads. It\u2019s about whether we\u2019re willing to plan ahead\u2014to leave space for the future, even if we\u2019re not ready to build it today. That\u2019s what responsible city-building looks like.<\/p>\n<h3 data-end=\"747\" data-start=\"454\">A Must-Watch: The Future of Traffic in Ottawa<\/h3>\n<p>The City of Ottawa has a Transportation Master Plan (TMP) that outlines our long-term priorities for transportation, infrastructure &amp; transit.<br \/>\nThis motion highlights the need for additional routes around the city, particularly to reduce pressure on the 417 and to address projects of national significance. We remain committed to advancing the priorities already laid out in our TMP.<\/p>\n<p>Before building a costly burden (like Montr\u00e9al\u2013Mirabel International Airport for example) that doesn&#8217;t meet the needs of municipality, let&#8217;s be sure to use data driven decision-making, only achievable in the next origin \u2013 destination study that has been advanced to the next couple of years.<\/p>\n<p>Will there be a bridge in the future? Yes, but we require this data to make an informed decision.<\/p>\n<p>(We thank you Ray William Johnson for this narrative style)<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-playlist wp-video-playlist wp-playlist-light\">\n\t\t<video controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\" width=\"1118\"\n\t\t height=\"629\"\t><\/video>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-next\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-prev\"><\/div>\n\t<noscript>\n\t<ol>\n\t\t<li><a href='https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/RRvsBRIDGE.mp4'>Congestion<\/a><\/li>\t<\/ol>\n\t<\/noscript>\n\t<script type=\"application\/json\" class=\"wp-playlist-script\">{\"type\":\"video\",\"tracklist\":true,\"tracknumbers\":true,\"images\":true,\"artists\":true,\"tracks\":[{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/RRvsBRIDGE.mp4\",\"type\":\"video\/mp4\",\"title\":\"Congestion\",\"caption\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"meta\":{\"length_formatted\":\"2:40\"},\"dimensions\":{\"original\":{\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080},\"resized\":{\"width\":1118,\"height\":629}},\"image\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64},\"thumb\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64}}]}<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\t\n<p data-end=\"747\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\" data-start=\"454\"><em>Latest Statements :<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-end=\"747\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\" data-start=\"454\"><strong>Mona Fortier:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/monafortier.libparl.ca\/2025\/06\/24\/statement-on-the-eastern-bridge-kettle-island-bridge\/?lang=en\">Mona Fortier<\/a><br data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"355\" \/>The Honourable Mona Fortier<br data-start=\"382\" data-end=\"385\" \/>Member of Parliament (MP) for Ottawa\u2014Vanier\u2014Gloucester<br data-start=\"439\" data-end=\"442\" \/>Liberal Party<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"60\" data-end=\"270\"><strong>Lucille Collard<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/rhpoa.ca\/statement-mpp-lucille-collard-proposed-eastern-ottawa-bridge\">Statement by MPP Lucille Collard on Proposed Eastern Ottawa Bridge | rhpoa.ca<\/a><br data-start=\"75\" data-end=\"78\" \/>Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Ottawa\u2014Vanier<br data-start=\"133\" data-end=\"136\" \/>Ontario Liberal Party<br data-start=\"157\" data-end=\"160\" \/>Third Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House<br data-start=\"214\" data-end=\"217\" \/>Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"272\" data-end=\"338\"><del><strong>Rawlson King:<\/strong> June 27, 2025 Newsletter &#8211; Councillor Rawlson King<\/del><br data-start=\"284\" data-end=\"287\" \/><del>Ottawa City Councillor, Ward 13 Rideau-Rockcliffe<br \/>\n<\/del><em>(Did not support a ring road in the end, removed)<\/em><del><br \/>\n<\/del><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"272\" data-end=\"338\"><strong data-start=\"77\" data-end=\"97\">Jacques Legendre<\/strong><br data-start=\"97\" data-end=\"100\" \/>Ex-Councillor, Rideau-Rockcliffe<\/p>\n<p data-end=\"747\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\" data-start=\"454\">\ud83c\udfa7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/listen\/live-radio\/1-92-all-in-a-day\/clip\/16156212-could-ring-road-solve-traffic-problems-queensway\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Listen on CBC &#8211; All in a Day with Alan Neal &#8211; Could a ring road solve traffic problems on the Queensway?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This past week, I brought forward a motion at the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee to address one of Ottawa\u2019s most urgent issues\u2014traffic congestion on Highway 417. With support from Ontario\u2019s Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria, MPP George Darouze, and MP Mona Fortier, we\u2019re pushing for real solutions that reflect how people move today.<\/p>\n<p data-end=\"755\" data-start=\"496\">As I discussed with Patricia Boal on CFRA\u2019s <em data-start=\"668\" data-end=\"684\">Ottawa at Work<\/em> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/580-cfra\/councillor-proposes-ring-road-to-reduce-traffic-congestion-instead-of-new-kettle-island-bridge?in_playlist=ottawa-at-work\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"685\" data-end=\"865\">in this recent interview<\/a> the motion calls for serious planning around alternative routes and a future ring road\u2014not a $3 billion interprovincial bridge that does nothing to fix the gridlock we face daily. I\u2019m proud to share that the motion passed with the support of nine councillors.<\/p>\n<p data-end=\"973\" data-start=\"757\">But this isn\u2019t the final step. The motion goes to full City Council on <strong data-end=\"849\" data-start=\"828\">Wednesday, July 23<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"446\" data-end=\"765\">Traffic congestion in Ottawa is no longer limited to rush hour. Our city&#8217;s population has grown rapidly, and the 417 is now clogged all seven days a week. It\u2019s time we face the facts: the highway is over capacity, and the absence of alternative routes when accidents or breakdowns occur brings our city to a standstill.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"767\" data-end=\"1150\">On Thursday, at the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, we took a critical step forward. I want to thank the nine members who voted in favour of our city&#8217;s priorities and rejected the idea of a $3 billion interprovincial bridge that won\u2019t fix the traffic crisis happening now on our roads. This was not just a procedural motion\u2014it was a statement of intent and responsibility.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1152\" data-end=\"1626\">Let\u2019s be clear. The 417 is our only major east-west corridor. Whether you\u2019re traveling from Stittsville to Barrhaven, or from Orl\u00e9ans to downtown, you\u2019re relying on a single piece of infrastructure. That\u2019s not sustainable. Every time there\u2019s a crash, a stalled car, or roadwork, the entire region suffers. And it\u2019s not just commuters anymore. It\u2019s families running errands on weekends, seniors heading to appointments, and workers on shifts that don\u2019t follow a 9\u20135 schedule.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-playlist wp-video-playlist wp-playlist-light\">\n\t\t<video controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\" width=\"1118\"\n\t\t height=\"592\"\t><\/video>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-next\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-prev\"><\/div>\n\t<noscript>\n\t<ol>\n\t\t<li><a href='https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/motionPWIC06262025.mp4'>motionPWIC06262025<\/a><\/li>\t<\/ol>\n\t<\/noscript>\n\t<script type=\"application\/json\" class=\"wp-playlist-script\">{\"type\":\"video\",\"tracklist\":true,\"tracknumbers\":true,\"images\":true,\"artists\":true,\"tracks\":[{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/motionPWIC06262025.mp4\",\"type\":\"video\/mp4\",\"title\":\"motionPWIC06262025\",\"caption\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"meta\":{\"length_formatted\":\"4:09\"},\"dimensions\":{\"original\":{\"width\":2818,\"height\":1492},\"resized\":{\"width\":1118,\"height\":592}},\"image\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64},\"thumb\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64}}]}<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\t\n<p data-start=\"1628\" data-end=\"1982\">We passed a motion that outlines the need for new thinking. We\u2019ve got to start planning for infrastructure that reflects Ottawa&#8217;s real growth\u2014not legacy ideas that don&#8217;t fit the way people move today. That means we need to talk seriously about a ring road, alternative routes, and modernized highway planning that isn\u2019t bottlenecked by a single corridor.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1984\" data-end=\"2275\">I also want to highlight the important contribution of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Back in 2022, they produced a report calling for exactly this kind of thinking. The provincial government asked us to consider alternatives to relieve the 417\u2014and that\u2019s what this motion is doing.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1984\" data-end=\"2275\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3290\" src=\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-91551141-B459-44BC-9E9F-B131DA4E5ACD.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1284\" height=\"1714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-91551141-B459-44BC-9E9F-B131DA4E5ACD.jpg 1284w, https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-91551141-B459-44BC-9E9F-B131DA4E5ACD-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-91551141-B459-44BC-9E9F-B131DA4E5ACD-767x1024.jpg 767w, https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-91551141-B459-44BC-9E9F-B131DA4E5ACD-768x1025.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-91551141-B459-44BC-9E9F-B131DA4E5ACD-1151x1536.jpg 1151w, https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-91551141-B459-44BC-9E9F-B131DA4E5ACD-600x801.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1284px) 100vw, 1284px\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1984\" data-end=\"2275\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3292\" src=\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-EE05B756-AFDC-40A3-A89E-4B77183547AB.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1290\" height=\"1464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-EE05B756-AFDC-40A3-A89E-4B77183547AB.jpg 1290w, https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-EE05B756-AFDC-40A3-A89E-4B77183547AB-264x300.jpg 264w, https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-EE05B756-AFDC-40A3-A89E-4B77183547AB-902x1024.jpg 902w, https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-EE05B756-AFDC-40A3-A89E-4B77183547AB-768x872.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_original-EE05B756-AFDC-40A3-A89E-4B77183547AB-600x681.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2260\" data-end=\"2526\"><strong data-start=\"2260\" data-end=\"2278\">In Favour (9):<\/strong><br data-start=\"2278\" data-end=\"2281\" \/>Luloff, Ward 1 (Orl\u00e9ans East-Cumberland)<br data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2316\" \/>Dudas, Ward 2 (Orl\u00e9ans West-Innes)<br data-start=\"2329\" data-end=\"2332\" \/>Devine, Ward 9 (Knoxdale-Merivale)<br data-start=\"2351\" data-end=\"2354\" \/>Skalski, Ward 20 (Osgoode)<br data-start=\"2376\" data-end=\"2379\" \/>Desroches, Ward 22 (Riverside South-Findlay Creek)<br data-start=\"2420\" data-end=\"2423\" \/>Troster, Ward 14 (Somerset)<br data-start=\"2441\" data-end=\"2444\" \/>Lo, Ward 24 (Barrhaven East)<br data-start=\"2463\" data-end=\"2466\" \/>Kitts, Ward 19 (Orl\u00e9ans South-Navan)<br data-start=\"2493\" data-end=\"2496\" \/>Tierney, Ward 11 (Beacon Hill-Cyrville)<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2528\" data-end=\"2586\"><strong data-start=\"2528\" data-end=\"2544\">Opposed (2):<\/strong><br data-start=\"2544\" data-end=\"2547\" \/>Gower, Ward 6 (Stittsville)<br data-start=\"2566\" data-end=\"2569\" \/>Bradley, Ward 10 (Gloucester-Southgate)<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-playlist wp-video-playlist wp-playlist-light\">\n\t\t<video controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\" width=\"1118\"\n\t\t height=\"623\"\t><\/video>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-next\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-prev\"><\/div>\n\t<noscript>\n\t<ol>\n\t\t<li><a href='https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/votePWIC06262025-1.mp4'>votePWIC06262025<\/a><\/li>\t<\/ol>\n\t<\/noscript>\n\t<script type=\"application\/json\" class=\"wp-playlist-script\">{\"type\":\"video\",\"tracklist\":true,\"tracknumbers\":true,\"images\":true,\"artists\":true,\"tracks\":[{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/votePWIC06262025-1.mp4\",\"type\":\"video\/mp4\",\"title\":\"votePWIC06262025\",\"caption\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"meta\":{\"length_formatted\":\"6:24\"},\"dimensions\":{\"original\":{\"width\":2852,\"height\":1588},\"resized\":{\"width\":1118,\"height\":623}},\"image\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64},\"thumb\":{\"src\":\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64}}]}<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\t\n<p data-start=\"2588\" data-end=\"2983\">To those councillors who supported the motion: thank you. To residents wondering what this means\u2014this isn\u2019t the end. The motion now moves to full City Council on <strong data-start=\"2750\" data-end=\"2777\">Wednesday, July 9, 2025<\/strong>. We have the support of the Mayor, but your voice matters. If your councillor voted \u201cno\u201d or wasn\u2019t on the committee, now is the time to reach out. This is about building the city you live in and depend on.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2985\" data-end=\"3228\">I\u2019ve already received hundreds of emails about this\u2014residents saying they support a ring road, they want investment in smarter solutions, and they don\u2019t want to see $3 billion sunk into a bridge that doesn\u2019t address our most immediate problem.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3230\" data-end=\"3488\">We support infrastructure. We support interprovincial collaboration. But it has to work for Ottawa. It has to solve the real issues. And what we\u2019re seeing today\u2014gridlock, delays, missed appointments, and lost productivity\u2014tells us everything we need to know.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3490\" data-end=\"3853\">I also want to thank MP Mona Fortier for her leadership. Earlier this week, she made a public statement opposing the bridge proposal, saying clearly that it does not meet Ottawa\u2019s needs. You can read more about that <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/ottawa\/article\/ottawa-liberal-mp-says-proposed-interprovincial-bridge-does-not-meet-ottawas-needs\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"3706\" data-end=\"3852\">here in the CTV story<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3855\" data-end=\"4065\">We\u2019re not done yet\u2014but we\u2019ve started something important. Let\u2019s make sure this momentum continues right through to Council on July 9. This is about more than a road\u2014it\u2019s about responsible growth and leadership.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4067\" data-end=\"4156\">Here is the link to the CBC story covering the motion: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/ottawa\/councillor-pushes-ottawa-ring-road-instead-of-6th-bridge-1.7571935\">Councillor pushes Ottawa ring road instead of 6th bridge | CBC News<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4158\" data-end=\"4271\">Thank you for your continued support and for staying engaged on issues that truly matter to the future of Ottawa.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Statement by MP Mona Fortier on the Eastern Bridge (Kettle Island Bridge)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Ottawa, June 25th 2025<\/p>\n<p>During the last election campaign, I reiterated the importance of adopting a comprehensive regional approach to address interprovincial transit needs within the National Capital Region.<\/p>\n<p>As the re-elected Member of Parliament for Ottawa\u2013Vanier\u2013Gloucester, I believe that, to this day, we have yet to identify a comprehensive solution\u2014particularly on Ottawa\u2019s side\u2014and I am listening to and hearing the many concerns of the Ottawa\u2013Vanier\u2013Gloucester community, including, among others, the neighbourhoods of Vanier, Manor Park, New Edinburgh, Lindenlea, Carson Grove, Beacon Hill, Sandy Hill, and Lowertown.<\/p>\n<p>The Eastern bridge project via Kettle Island\u2014specifically the corridor between Aviation Parkway and Mont\u00e9e Paiement\u2014as proposed by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), does not meet Ottawa\u2019s needs. It does not guarantee the removal of heavy trucks from the King Edward corridor, which is a crucial issue for safety, air quality, and traffic flow in the downtown core.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, PSPC did not consult Ontario\u2019s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) regarding the already overcapacity Highway 417, particularly at the interchange with Highway 174. This new bridge cannot become a \u201cbridge to nowhere\u201d\u2014it must be part of a coherent, integrated, and sustainable regional solution that does not simply shift the problem onto new communities.<\/p>\n<p>With an estimated cost between $3 and $4 billion, this project represents a major investment that does not offer clear or equitable benefits for our region. Furthermore, based on my many conversations with residents and numerous community associations, this project is not a priority.<\/p>\n<p>These voices are instead prioritizing public transit, housing, the fight against homelessness, and sustainable development \u2014 priorities that the federal government is supporting through significant investments in affordable housing, the revitalization of the ByWard Market, and public transit in the National Capital Region.<\/p>\n<p>The studies conducted to date by the National Capital Commission (NCC) and PSPC on the Kettle Island option have not demonstrated clear benefits for the City of Ottawa, and risk adding congestion to Highway 417 and worsening traffic for residents east of downtown Ottawa. It is time to shift the discussion toward a comprehensive solution that connects Highway 50 to the 417, addresses the issue of truck traffic in the downtown core, and ensures fair and respectful outcomes for all communities.<\/p>\n<p>I will continue to advocate for this project to be re-evaluated. We must adopt a winning approach for the entire National Capital Region\u2014a modern vision, grounded in up-to-date data, that respects our communities and supports our shared future.<\/p>\n<p>Make your voice heard<\/p>\n<p>The NCC is currently conducting the first phase of public consultations from June 19 to July 10, 2025. As described on the survey website:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In this first round of public engagement, we invite you to share your thoughts on the project\u2019s early planning and design principles. Your input will also inform the initial project description, which will be submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada as part of the federal Impact Assessment process.<\/p>\n<p>Results will be shared with the integrated project team, including Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and the National Capital Commission (NCC).<\/p>\n<p>Your feedback will play a key role in:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Identifying the project\u2019s most important benefits from a community perspective;<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Understanding potential impacts on people, places, and the environment\u2014and exploring ways to mitigate them; and<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Shaping the initial planning and design principles that will guide the project\u2019s development in future phases.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>To make your voices heard, I invite you to share your opinion and complete this initial survey in this new phase of development:<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/ncc-ccn.gc.ca\/projects\/eastern-bridge-in-the-national-capital-region<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Statement by MPP Lucille Collard &#8211; On Proposed Easter Ottawa Bridge<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b><strong>On the Proposed Eastern Ottawa Bridge (also known as Kettle Island and the 6th Crossing) and Regional Transportation Planning:<\/strong><\/b><br \/>\nAs the Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa\u2013Vanier, I am compelled to speak out against the current direction of the proposed interprovincial bridge at Kettle Island. This project, as it stands, does not serve the interests of Ottawa residents and fails to address the most pressing transportation challenges in our region.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><strong>1. Ontario\u2019s Absence in Regional Planning<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) has publicly acknowledged that Highway 417 is failing during peak hours, particularly between the 174 and Parkdale. Despite this, and despite recent investments at the 417\/174interchange, the Province has disengaged from the regional conversation on interprovincial transportation. This is unacceptable.<\/p>\n<p>Ontario must re-engage and ensure that any new infrastructure aligns with the City of Ottawa&#8217;s Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan, and resolves the challenges faced by communities in Ottawa.<\/p>\n<div><strong>2. Mischaracterisation of Ottawa&#8217;s Francophone Community<\/strong><\/div>\n<p>The NCC&#8217;s recent public survey on the Kettle Island bridge includes language that is deeply troubling. It suggests that the bridge would serve to &#8220;connect francophone communities,&#8221; implying that Ottawa&#8217;s francophones are geographically isolated or concentrated in a single corridor. This is not only inaccurate\u2014it is insulting. The National Capital Commission&#8217;s public survey on the Kettle Island bridge includes the following statement:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Pour que le projet du pont de l&#8217;est contribue \u00e0 renforcer les liens entre les r\u00e9sidents de la r\u00e9gion de la capitale nationale,y compris les deux principales communaut\u00e9s francophones&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ottawa&#8217;s francophone community is vibrant, diverse, and present in every neighbourhood of our city. To suggest that this bridge would advance a &#8220;minority objective &#8220;is to reduce our rich francophone heritage to a checkbox in a federal infrastructure plan. I call on the NCC and PSPC to immediately revise this language and to engage in meaningful consultation with francophone leaders and communities across Ottawa.<\/p>\n<p>3.\u00a0<strong>A Bridge That Solves Nothing for Ottawa<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The urgency to resolve the issue of interprovincial trucks cutting through Ottawa&#8217;s downtown streets cannot be overstated. For decades, communities in Lowertown and Sandy Hill have borne the brunt of heavy truck volumes, with serious consequences for safety, air quality, economic development, and livability.<\/p>\n<p>This proposed project\u2014whether called the Kettle Island Bridge, the 6th Crossing, or the Eastern Bridge\u2014cannot go forward without addressing the truck traffic crisis. In its current form, the proposal offers clear gains for Gatineau, while Ottawa residents would see no resolution to the trucking issue, increased congestion on local streets\u2014particularly for Orl\u00e9ans commuters\u2014and further pressure on the already strained 417 corridor.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Call to Action<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The time for vague promises and outdated plans is over. We need:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\u2022 A provincial government that shows up for Ottawa\u00a0in regional transportation. The Minister of Transportation must meet with the Mayor of Ottawa.<\/div>\n<div>\u2022 A federal government that respects and reflects the diversity of our communities, with coherent environmental and transportation policies and respect for Ottawa&#8217;s francophone communities.<\/div>\n<div>\u2022 A solution that removes the truck route from downtown, improves transit and connectivity\u2014not one that exacerbates congestion and shifts the burden onto neighbourhoods and the 417.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Statement by Ex-City councillor Jacques Legendre &#8211; Ward 13 Rideau-Rockcliffe<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p align=\"center\"><b><u><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">CONSULTATION RE. KETTLE ISLAND BRIDGE<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p>I wish to submit my views to PSPC, the NCC and interested citizens of Ottawa regarding the proposed bridge connecting Mont\u00e9e Paiement to the Aviation Parkway by a bridge over Kettle Island.\u00a0 I will not be completing the suggested survey since the survey assumes that a bridge would be built.\u00a0 There is little ability to express alternate views through that mechanism.<\/p>\n<p>The proposal currently suggests, as one of the \u2018benefits\u2019 of a bridge at Kettle Island, that truck traffic through downtown Ottawa would be\u00a0<u>reduced<\/u>.\u00a0 Certainly, that is important but reduction should not be the aim.\u00a0 That truck traffic needs to be\u00a0<u>drastically curtailed<\/u>.\u00a0 That downtown route is a nightmare for truck drivers and very bad (even dangerous) for the downtown businesses and residential communities.\u00a0 Given its obvious negative effects, especially on the business and residential sectors, it\u2019s hard to understand the wisdom of shifting a significant fraction of these known problems to a different residential community and immediately adjacent to Montfort Hospital for a mere promised reduction in the negative effects of the existing corridor on Ottawa\u2019s downtown.<\/p>\n<p>What is needed is a new vision for the problems faced on a daily basis caused by the current principal inter-provincial corridor.\u00a0 That vision is a real solution to the current problems and something that the national capital region will eventually need in any case.\u00a0 I speak of a genuine ring road encompassing both the Ontario and the Quebec urban areas not merely a southern by-pass.\u00a0 Of course, this will necessitate not one bridge but two, one to the east of the cores and one to the west.<\/p>\n<p>Ring roads have been built around many cities in both North America and Europe.\u00a0 They are intended primarily to accommodate traffic, whose destination is not the city itself but somewhere beyond, of the necessity of crossing through the city (or regional) core.\u00a0 They also serve commuters from the periphery who find themselves on the wrong side of the cores from their workplace, their homes or their destinations for other purposes.\u00a0 Ring roads also provide benefits for mass transit modes (primarily buses) by reducing the competition for road space they face daily.\u00a0 On the Ontario side, apart from rescuing the downtown, the southern portion of the ring road may reduce congestion on the 417 by providing an alternative east-west corridor.<\/p>\n<p>This project would be worthy of the list of major infrastructure improvements sought by the Canadian government as it seeks to address the economic challenges resulting from the turmoil coming from our neighbours to the south.<\/p>\n<p>I hope that this proposal will provoke a healthy discussion for a better future for Ottawa\u2019s transportation solutions and not merely a rehash of a previously examined and discredited corridor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Replacement motion to the one that was debated three weeks prior, that committee was swapped out in the 11th hour, with the replacement motion only removing \u201cRing Road\u201d the one item that was the most important in my mind and clearly the province, and the citizens of Ottawa..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","hentry","category-government","post_format-post-format-video"],"aioseo_notices":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Andrea Shane","author_link":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/?author=3"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/?cat=75\" rel=\"category\">Government<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Replacement motion to the one that was debated three weeks prior, that committee was swapped out in the 11th hour, with the replacement motion only removing \u201cRing Road\u201d the one item that was the most important in my mind and clearly the province, and the citizens of Ottawa..","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3289"}],"version-history":[{"count":60,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3543,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3289\/revisions\/3543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}