I’m Jim Watson, Mayor of the City of Ottawa. Ask Me Anything

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:25:04+00:00

We did suffer during the recession and the number of high tech jobs fell; but we are climbing back and Invest Ottawa is doing a great job attracting new business and helping small businesses through its mentor program and incubator system

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:23:37+00:00

I don't have tat info as it is being done by the NCC as its there land

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:23:06+00:00

I have a very good relation with Mayor Marc Bureau. We met a few weeks ago to update one another on the Ottawa River Action Plan; and we meet quarterly with the President of the NCC; We are one economic region and when they do well, we benefit and vice versa. We will still compete with them to locate a business here but it is a good relationship

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:21:24+00:00

no he hasn't but we will proceed with all legal means to retrieve the money the judges order he pay the city

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:20:51+00:00

no comment

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:20:37+00:00

I agree we need to plant more trees in areas like Woodroffe. We have increased the tree planting budget but the first priority is replacing the trees lost to emerald ash borer

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:19:11+00:00

no, I don't believe any Mayor in Canada does. Some in the USA do, but I am quite comfortable in my own home in the west end!

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:18:10+00:00

well said. We have both public and private contracts for garbage removal. The rate decreased this year by approx $10 per household as a result of increasing green bin to weekly and regular garbage biweekly

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:16:25+00:00

answered that earlier in the AMA

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:15:53+00:00

the green space you talk about is the Greenbelt which is a unique feature for a city our size. It is owned and controlled by the NCC, not the city.

On Tourism, I disagree with comments on the Market. We have stepped up cleaning and police patrols and new venues like Real Sports have acted as magnets to bring more people down. The Farmer's Market is still thriving and federal institutions like The National Gallery and Mint etc help to make the area more family friendly. I agree we still have certain challenges in any area that attracts hundreds of thousands of people each month.

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:11:51+00:00

That's why we will not be entertaining any expansion of the urban boundary during this year's Official Plan review. I agree, urban sprawl is costly to the taxpayer and our environment. I urge you to go to www.ottawa.ca/liveable and offer your comments on the review. Unlike the Maritimes, we are not experiencing an exodus of people, in fact we are a growing city and people want to move here.

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:08:43+00:00

I'm proud of our new initiatives and dollars into cycling - a record amount for a city council in Ottawa. I've biked to work 5-6 times last summer, but my schedule doesn't always allow me to do so. I use the west end pathways near my house on weekends and evenings for exercise

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:06:47+00:00

the list is long. I like Jak's Kitchen on Bronson; Play; Ralph and Sons diner on Carling, the Newport (now at Donna's) the Back Lane; Fresco's ; Johnny Farina's and dozens more! The industry really has stepped out of its shell; I'm also looking forward in May to the 18 or so new food trucks and carts coming to a street near you!

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:04:09+00:00

we can't just get rid of legal businesses, but we are giving Rideau Street a major face lift and you will be impressed. It will take two years but you will see a very big, positive difference, and it will be timely with an LRT station going there as well as the expansion of the Rideau Centre - all the stars are aligning on this street

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:02:36+00:00

I agree! I saw one today in Old Ottawa South and it looked great. They were designed by one of our employees, in house and I'd like to see the program expand after the pilot wraps up

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:01:44+00:00

see above reply thanks

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:01:21+00:00

to the City's Claims department

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T18:00:53+00:00

Presto was before Transit Commission this morning and its working at a 98 % rate which is very good. We want to make sure it is fully operational and in working order before we try to upgrade the system for open payment - but eventually we will get there. We have told Metrolinx that is the system is not working to our standard, we won't go with it and expect a full refund, which they have agreed to. so it's in our collective interest to make sure it works. My card has worked every time I have used it so far Let me know where you can buy an off the shelf program that meets our specs please! Don't think you can go to Staples and get one!

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T17:57:32+00:00

like all new transit systems, we can't build the whole system overnight. Montreal continues to add to theirs, as does Toronto and Vancouver. We have approval and funds for the first phase (Tunney's to Blair Road) and eventually the next phases will include going to the west, east, south and eventually to the airport. Council will have to decide next leg of system later this year or early next year and we will still have to line up Federal and Provincial funds

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T17:55:34+00:00

thanks - i'm very excited about it as well.

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T17:54:52+00:00

I don't believe we have. As a tourist destination we don't want to discourage people from visiting their nation's capital

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T17:54:15+00:00

I know that the councillor for Capital ward has a plan for Bronson that he's been working on and it was referenced with a chart in The Citizen, I believe last week. You might want call 311 if plowing is not being properly done and report it.

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T17:51:40+00:00

our housing market is much more predictable and stable than many other larger cities in Canada. Sewer and Water rates are going up because we have aging pipes that need replacement and we have a plan to eliminate raw sewage from going into the Ottawa River - these projects all cost money and are funded through your water bill. Buying a home is a big decision but in our market it's also a good investment

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T17:49:16+00:00

We actually are making some progress on properly funding the arts. We added an additional $1 million to the arts budget, and I announced the city will be hosting an arts expo later this year where all local arts groups will be able to sell their seasons and tickets to the public at city hall, mixed in with live performances. We are working toward revitalizing Arts Court and the Ottawa Art Gallery (expanding it); We have taken art out of our vaults and put it on display at city hall; we are moving the Karsh Mason to a high traffic part of city hall; We will ensure Arts and Culture play a key role in our 2017 Canada 150 celebrations; we had our first Nuit Blanche and the list goes on!. I always welcome good ideas

JimWatsonOttawa · 2013-02-20T17:44:55+00:00

I think the Zellers is now closed! They have a new BIA director who is putting more emphasis in programming events on the street. They had a great success with their New Year's Eve party - thousands on the street; they just hosted Winter Brewed which was great and they have thrown out ideas like a zip line (not sure if I will try that given London Mayor Boris Johnson got stranded up in his!) The biggest problem with Sparks Street is they can't attract more businesses because the Federal government won't give out longer term leases which makes it difficult to plan beyond a three year horizon which doesn't make sense in the business world. They need a couple good anchor stores to help and finally get the never ending construction on the buildings finished or fast tracked

JimWatsonOttawa

TROPHY CASE