Officials lash out at MPP

“We are very disappointed to read the paid advertisement by (McNeely) in a recent edition of the Now EMC,” read a statement released July 15 by Ottawa-Orléans MP Royal Galipeau and area councillors Rainer Bloess, Rob Jellett and Bob Monette, referring to a July 10 ad placed by the MPP that questioned municipal officials for not funnelling enough funding to the east end. “We believe that Mr. McNeely’s remarks in this advertisement and leading up to this publication are incorrect, unproductive and unwelcome as we strive to work together on behalf of the east Ottawa communities.”

In the ad, McNeely suggested only three per cent of total funding was designated for the east end, compared to 54- and 34-per-cent portions divvied out elsewhere in the city, calling Orléans “short-changed”.

Last month, a $125-million municipal contribution for local shovel-ready infrastructure projects – in conjunction with almost $250 million in federal and provincial funds – was rubber-stamped by the city. The east end – including initiatives like widening Mer Bleue Road, St. Joseph Boulevard streetscaping and the Hunt Club Road extension – was slated to receive almost $30 million of that funding, funnelled from a $3.4-billion federal-provincial stimulus investment.

Though representatives from McNeely’s office said he had “no further comment” on the matter, in an earlier interview he pointed to the $20 million in funds to move ahead the Hunt Club Extension – long a pet project for area elected officials – as a highlight of the announcement. “We’re getting phase one of that, which is good,” he explained. “I’m pleased to see that.”

However, stacked up against the money dedicated to both the south and west ends, the east end came out lacking, McNeely suggested. “I’m wondering where Trim Road is (in this),” he said. “Where are the major asks?”

Other big projects like extending the Transitway further east and the Blackburn Hamlet Bypass Extension were left off the list, McNeely added. “We depend on public transit, so getting the bypass to Trim would have been a great thing to do,” he explained. “You have to look at where the money goes in the city, and it doesn’t come east. Fairness is not a big thing on this list.”

In recounting the motivation behind the statement, Galipeau explains he realizes “(McNeely) was not aiming at me in his ad – he was aiming at the councillors – the fact is we all have to work together. (He) should be able to do it too.”

Indicating his willingness to support the councillors – and previously even McNeely “without hesitation” – Galipeau also suggests that “on occasion, the MPP does go off-track.”

Though debate of this nature isn’t uncommon, he continues, McNeely’s move to air his grievances publicly “deserved a response and it got a response.” “We’re all elected,” Galipeau adds. “We all have a mandate to serve and serve without partisanship. Let’s turn the page and move on.”

Meanwhile, Cumberland Coun. Jellett points to the fact the statement was a joint project of three municipal officials, including Innes Coun. Bloess, a nominee for the Ottawa-Orléans federal Liberal party who might become competition for the riding’s current Conservative MP. “That’s pretty telling,” he says. “It tells you we’re putting the partisan stuff aside.”

The hope, Jellett continues, is that a strong vote of support for the stimulus funding from all four politicians will further push ahead work on Hunt Club, specifically the interchange. “Now we need to get (that),” he explains, with the city already dedicating its 50 per cent share of funding, and currently awaiting a provincial decision on the remaining half. “If we don’t get the interchange, there’s no point of building the road.”

Though he describes himself as “very hopeful” money will come through, Jellett stresses that everyone involved needs to look forward and put old antagonisms in the past. “Let’s put all this nonsense aside,” he suggests. “(I hope) that this is the end of it.”