Larry O’Brien

Today, along with Councillor Bédard, Councillor Doucet, MP Paul Dewar and MPP Meilleur, I dropped the ceremonial puck for a game of pick-up hockey between the Ottawa Police Service and a local children’s hockey team through the Lowertown Community Association.

The game took place as part of Ottawa’s Hockey Day in Canada celebrations.

Today, City Council approved Budget 2010 - a budget that delivers value for money and a number of service improvements that will help to create a better Ottawa.

Altogether, I am very pleased with our new budget process, which allowed Council to gather input from you, the public, as we worked to create a budget that both reflects your priorities and maintains fiscal prudence and restraint. We’ve reformed the process, and now we need to reform our services and the way we deliver them so that living in the great City of Ottawa is more affordable for all.

In 2010, Ottawa will make an unprecedented investment in infrastructure renewal. The City’s investment in capital projects is on top of the $398 million worth of economic stimulus projects which all three levels of government announced jointly last year.

As a result, Budget 2010 will help build and improve roads, sewers and water mains. It maintains transit services at current levels and will lead to better parks and recreational facilities. Libraries will benefit, as will a number of cultural facilities

The 2010 City of Ottawa Budget; 

• Invests $600 million in Ottawa’s core public infrastructure
• Offers transit savings to university students through a new U-Pass pilot project
• Extends the lifespan of landfills by implementing the next phase of the Green Bin program
• Protects people and property by investing in 23 paramedics, a new Ottawa West fire station and maintaining funding for the Crime Prevention Office
• Provides for 37 new replacement buses and 43 buses for further expanded service in 2011
• Improves parks, recreation and cultural programs and continues to make Ottawa one of North America’s most livable cities.

For more information, please visit www.ottawa.ca

Today, Mayor O’Brien made a presentation to City Council to showcase January 2010 as Heart Month in the City of Ottawa.  Mayor O’Brien was also proud to welcome John deHooge as the City’s new Fire Chief.

Pictures from the event can be found here:

Gallery - Heart Month & Fire Chief deHooge

Today it was announced that telecommunications giant TELUS will be recognized by the Association of Funding Professionals (AFP) with the 2010 Freeman Philanthropic Services Award for Outstanding Corporation at its upcoming Awards for Philanthropy event.

It is corporations like TELUS who are leading the way in charitable giving and volunteerism. Cities across the country, including the City of Ottawa, are seeing the concrete results of TELUS’ tireless efforts.

The Outstanding Corporation Award honours a corporation that demonstrates outstanding commitment through financial support and encouragement and motivation of others to take on leadership roles in their communities.

It takes commitment by all employees of an organization to earn the distinction of being a first-class corporation, and TELUS has  clearly hit the mark. I would like to encourage all Ottawa-area companies to place a high priority on volunteerism and support for community initiatives.

Additional details regarding TELUS’ award can be found HERE.