Council sends electric bus debate back to transit commission
Ottawa city council has voted to continue the discussion on the city's zero-emission bus program after new councillors expressed concern about a lack of debate this term.
City council was slated to vote on approving budget authority for the planning, design, and construction of the charging infrastructure for the fleet of what would eventually be 350 zero-emission buses.
Staff said the city would buy 26 40-foot electric buses this year and 77 next year as it moves to build its electric bus fleet. The goal is for OC Transpo's bus fleet to be fully electric by 2036.
However, Coun. David Hill moved a motion asking for the matter to head back to transit commission, saying the current term of councillors have not had a chance to look at the plan.
"My preference would be for us to go to transit committee so that we can actually talk this through with the experts, to allow for public delegations who are not able to come today, and to allow for a fulsome discussion for the new 2022 to 2026 transit commission, who will own this problem on behalf of council," Hill said. "If this goes south in three years' time, it is not going to be last term that is going to wear it; it's going to be us."
Councillors voted 20 to 5 in favour of sending the report back to transit commission for more discussion. Councillors Glen Gower, Tim Tierney, Cathy Curry, Sean Devine and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe voted against the motion.
"I'm still not sure what would happen at a special meeting of the transit commission that we couldn't do today," Sutcliffe said, encouraging council to vote against Hill's motion and instead ask questions at a committee of the whole.
The transit commission isn't scheduled to meet again until Feb. 9, but Hill said he would like the commission to call a special meeting sooner to discuss the issue.
"This motion today was not about the actual technology, it was about the ability for transit commission to ask those questions internally because we have more opportunity to engage with public delegations, we have the opportunity to speak more repetitively and more frequently so we can really get to the heart of the issue," Hill told CTV News.
Gower, who voted against referring the report to the transit commission, told CTV News that experts were present at Wednesday's council meeting, but those experts will need to reconvene for a special meeting.
"We had all the experts to answer questions from councillors today, so we’re looking at Friday morning, potentially, to bring those experts back and bring city councillors back together so we will have the opportunity to ask the same questions on Friday morning," he said.
100 FEWER BUSES
The report included details about federal funding that would help pay for the transition to electric buses, including $350 million from the Infrastructure Canada grant and $75 million drawdown on the Canada Infrastructure Bank credit facility
But while OC Transpo said in 2021 it planned to buy 450 electric buses, last week it said the plan now includes only 350 buses.
The total estimated cost of the program for 350 buses is $974 million, the report says.
--With files from CTV's Tyler Fleming.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.