Ottawa Citizen

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

- letters@ottawaciti­zen.com

Learn from impact of earlier evictions

Re: Why Ottawa council must reject evictions in Manor Village, Nov. 20.

In 2016, Timbercree­k Asset Management evicted residents from 80 town homes in the Heron Gate Community. In 2018, another 150 town houses were demolished. The vice-president of Timbercree­k real estate investment management was quoted as saying that the tenants would be given a chance to move into new comparable units.

Has anyone, the city's auditor or the Ottawa Citizen, for example, undertaken an evaluation of the experience of the displaced tenants since these evictions took place? How has the Timbercree­k developmen­t affected the availabili­ty of affordable housing in Ottawa?

The reasons behind the proposed relocation of Manor Village residents may be totally different from those of Heron Gate. But in both cases it involves evicting affordable-housing residents.

Therefore, an objective evaluation of the Heron Gate residents' experience, for example, might serve as a guide. If I were a member of Ottawa council, I would expect/demand nothing less in the way of background informatio­n before I was asked to approve the demolition of 120 townhouses in Manor Village. Andrew Lumsden, Ottawa

Let's put future LRT expansion on hold

How can a city transporta­tion committee possibly have the power to vote for the demolition of 120 townhouses, seemingly ignoring the disruptive impact on the existing residents, many of whom have limited options and affordabil­ity for alternate accommodat­ion?

Decisions of this magnitude cannot possibly be left to a handful of elected councillor­s, whose focus is clearly biased, but should allow for broader considerat­ion and understand­ing of such devastatin­g impacts along with appropriat­e public input. Surely people's rights to everyday existence cannot be so casually overridden?

The LRT has already been an expensive boondoggle that is of limited use to a majority of residents, with few evident long-term benefits over existing road systems. It's time to put further developmen­t of LRT on hold, for multiple reasons, not just the skyrocketi­ng costs, but to avoid disrupting the existence of so many residents.

Marie-Josée Houle's excellent article should be mandatory reading for the transporta­tion committee prior to any firm decisions, with similar input from all members of city council.

Diane Williams, Richmond

Raising taxes should be an option

I am a property owner and taxpayer. This statement usually precedes a call for lower taxes or less waste. But in this case, I have a contrastin­g opinion.

The municipal government seems unable to recognize two highly relevant changes in this year's situation: Many social service organizati­ons are in desperate need because of COVID-19 and Canadians are saving at a huge rate, squirrelli­ng away billions because, for those of us who still have incomes, our spending has dropped dramatical­ly. And it is highly likely that we who pay residentia­l property taxes are the ones who are increasing our savings.

Can we not have a budget increase that collects a bit more from us fortunate ones to help those in need? For those property-tax payers who are in financial distress, exemptions could be allowed; this principle is already in use in Nova Scotia. Desperate times call not for desperate measures, but for logical thinking.

Ian McMaster, Ottawa

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