The Green Bin Protest - it's not over yet!‏

The Carleton Landowners Association, along with the Ottawa Taxpayers Advocacy Group, the Ottawa Voters' Coalition and the Rural Council, held a rally in support of better local governance on Wednesday, December 9th, at Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West. This event demonstrated to Ottawa councillors and staff the level of frustration felt by many residents on how programs and services, such as the green bin, are ill conceived and implemented.

For those still concerned about the green bin program and the way it has been implemented, you can share your concerns with the City but you must do it soon, before budget deliberations are completed.

In his column in the December 11 EMC, Councillor Eli El-Chantiry wrote that,

"Ottawa city council has not made a final decision on how costs of implementing the Green Bin program are going to be recovered. This will be determined during budget deliberations in January 2010. You are strongly encouraged to have your say in advance of any final decision."

You can do this by:

• calling 311 and having the operator take note of your name and concerns,
• sending an email to 311@ottawa.ca (include your name and address), or
   
• you can make an appointment to present your thoughts in person to Ottawa City Council by calling 613-580-2424 x12487.

It is very likely that rural residents and others who did not receive the green bin will pay for the program through property tax increases. If you don't agree with this or the program in general, please use one of the options above to voice your opposition.

Please see the City of Ottawa website at http://www.city.ottawa.on.ca/city_hall/budget/budget_2010/consultations_en.html for more information.

It is important that you make your thoughts known to Council, regarding this $300-Million-plus venture setting up in Ottawa, on a 20-year contract, (after its 2-year failure record in Toronto) !