Council pushes ahead Kettle Island, reconsiders Lower Duck

A hotly-debated motion carried at council this morning – narrowly approved by one vote at 12-11 – confirmed that study operators NCE-Roche proceed to the project's next step. A vote to reconsider two locations at Lower Duck Island being included in the study's second phase, however, was passed 11-12 – with three more affirmative votes than required – leaving that decision pending. Barrhaven Coun. Jan Harder, who was under observation at hospital following a car accident, missed both votes. "We made a decision, we should stick to it," said Cumberland Coun. Rob Jellett during the proceedings, making reference to a council vote last summer that saw councillors support the Kettle Island corridor 17-4. "It's the right decision now. Too often on this council when we hear information we don't like, we turn around and start to criticize the people who provided the information. Too often on this council we pretend to be experts."

The 10 corridors initially part of the environmental assessment were all carefully considered along with "extensive" public consultation and examination, he continued, adding that previous interprovincial crossing studies have almost all mirrored the same conclusion. "The NCC approach is wrong in our city," countered Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Michel Bellemare. "The problem is the NCC has come out with a recommendation for only one bridge. The trap we're falling into is that one bridge is going to solve all our problems."

Suggesting the NCC "has not been comprehensive enough in this exercise," Bellemare called the proposed bridge "the wrong approach," and one that will not solve the downtown truck traffic issue. "We will have as many trucks traveling through the downtown in the years to come as there are today," he added, pointing to a ring road around the National Capital Region as a better solution. "It doesn't make sense to transfer the problems … to our suburban corridors."

The continued bridge debate began earlier this week, at a special meeting of the transportation committee on Monday, Jan. 12 where study operators tabled their first-phase findings and recommendations, hoping to gain a city endorsement before moving ahead with the environmental assessment’s next step. Councillors also listened to residents give their take on the proposed structure, with approximately 50 delegations giving five-minute presentations.

With the Lower Duck question still to be decided, however, the NCC will also seek endorsements from the City of Gatineau, as well as both provincial governments prior to moving ahead with the study’s second phase.