Thomas Brawn, a cyclist from Orleans, expresses joy in cycling along bus routes now that e-buses are becoming the norm. He notes the absence of diesel exhaust full of nano-particles of carbon, which previously filled cyclists' right of way. This improvement almost removes the sting of Ottawa's confusing and dangerous bike lanes. Brawn acknowledges Ottawa is doing better and hopes the trend continues.
Debate on municipal spending limits
Alex Cullen of Ottawa responds to an article questioning whether municipal spending limits are too low. He argues the answer is no, citing Ontario's Municipal Elections Act which sets a limit of $23,000 per ward of 20,000 voters. Cullen states this is sufficient for signs and brochures for an effective campaign. He emphasizes the spending limit ensures a level playing field and that raising it would only help candidates with wealthy connections.
Ottawa's indoor ice rinks and infrastructure
Stephen O'Brien of Ottawa criticizes a recent article for missing critical context about the City of Ottawa's recreational facilities. He points out Ottawa has 44 indoor ice pads, far more than other Canadian cities: Calgary 19, Edmonton 31, Winnipeg 12, Metro Vancouver 35, Metro Toronto 50, Metro Montreal 40, Quebec City 15, and Halifax 21. Instead of maintaining these, the city announces new builds while many fall into disrepair due to high taxes. O'Brien calls for council to prioritize spending on existing assets and live within means, avoiding borrowing for fancy new projects.
Snowbirds to continue with new aircraft
A letter responding to Mike Lahaie's June 16 letter clarifies that the Snowbirds team is not being disbanded. The team will fly until the end of 2026, when the aging Canadair CT-114 Tutor jets are replaced by new CT-157 Siskin aircraft built by Pilatus in Switzerland. The Siskin will be powered by Canadian PT6 turboprop engines, considered among the most reliable in the world. The writer argues that airshow aerobatic teams are about precision flying and performance, not whether planes have propellers. The new Snowbirds in Siskins will continue to thrill spectators.
