OTTAWA—Somerset Ward candidate Martin Canning announced today that he will make downtown Ottawa’s streets more safe and accessible as city councillor by implementing Ecology Ottawa’s active transportation audit.
“Ecology Ottawa’s January 2014 audit on Centretown streets shows there’s much to be done to improve how Somerset Ward residents can enjoy and access their streets better and make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists,” Canning said. “If elected as councillor, I will work with Ecology Ottawa to formalize their active transportation audit before future street reconstruction in Somerset Ward.”
Canning made the announcement at an all-candidates forum on transportation Monday, where he also emphasized the need to collaborate with the community on finding where more parking for seniors is needed, looking at building the city’s streets and transportation system through a frame of public health and safety, and engaging with organizations such as the Ottawa Centre EcoDistrict to leverage opportunities and explore the many possibilities that lay in a changing downtown Ottawa landscape.
“It’s amazing when you start quantifying how prosperous cities become when you look at investing in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. That’s a value proposition that more councillors need to put forward and more leaders need to drive. Yes, we all agree that this is the right thing to do, we know this is the right thing to do, but it’s also the right thing to do from an economic development perspective,” Canning said at the forum.
Transportation is an important issue for Canning’s New Ottawa campaign. After knocking on more than 9,000 doors and through feedback from social media interactions, Canning has heard Somerset Ward residents say better streets for pedestrians and transportation options such as safer bike lanes and interconnectivity for public transit are front and centre. All of this will form Canning’s policy platform to become Ottawa city councillor, which will be unveiled in more depth this August.
“I’m running to work with Somerset residents to make the New Ottawa the most livable, affordable, sustainable city in the country. Transportation and a sustainable transportation system is a big part of that,” Canning said. “It’s an exciting future.”
ABOUT NEWOTTAWA.CA
Ottawans no longer consider their city as the old, staid, and bureaucratic town it’s been known for. Ours is a city that’s vibrant, diverse and growing. We’re on the cusp of an exciting and major transformation, and we need new leadership and policy approaches to fully realize what our city can be—one that truly embraces citizen engagement, one that values collaboration with businesses for a sustainable future and one that doesn’t turn away from opportunity.
This is what the New Ottawa campaign is about—inspiring and promoting the best solutions our city’s political process can create. It’s a platform for listening to voters and working with them to create the most sustainable city in the country, if not the world. It’s also Martin Canning’s platform for the 2014 municipal election campaign because he believes in Somerset Ward’s ability to lead this New Ottawa. Visit www.NewOttawa.ca to see how change is being created.
ABOUT MARTIN CANNING:
Martin Canning’s career has spanned public and non-profit sectors at national and international levels. His professional experiences are marked by a commitment to sustainability, performance- and strategy-based administration, and an enthusiasm for leading in demanding environments. In addition, Canning has extensive non-profit governance experience and has had the pleasure to serve as a director on numerous boards.
He was appointed to the City of Ottawa’s Environmental Advisory Committee by the mayor in 2009, and retired as vice-chair in 2012. He has also served as a founding board member of the Ottawa Centre EcoDistrict: an innovative partnership, inspiring new heights of urban sustainability in the nation's capital. Canning considers Ottawa home and currently works as a consultant. He is a graduate of Memorial University.
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