overview of gatineau`s environmental initiatives

Transcription

OVERVIEW
OF GATINEAU’S
ENVIRONMENTAL
INITIATIVES
SEPTEMBER 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................4
2. CONTEXT............................................................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Objectives ......................................................................................................................................................................4
2.2 The legislative context ....................................................................................................................................................4
3. OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES ..............................................................................................................5
3.1 Objective ........................................................................................................................................................................5
3.2 Water ............................................................................................................................................................................5
3.2.1 Drinking water (distribution systems, the production of drinking water, well water, etc.) ........................................6
3.2.2 Wastewater (sewers, treatment, etc.) ......................................................................................................................9
3.2.3 Runoff water (runoff, banks, shorelines, floodplains, watersheds, surface contamination, etc.) ..............................10
3.3 Air ................................................................................................................................................................................11
3.3.1 The air we breathe (contaminants, smog, etc.) ........................................................................................................12
3.3.2 Pollution (greenhouse gas (GHG), etc.) ..................................................................................................................13
3.4 Soil ................................................................................................................................................................................14
3.4.1 The soil that nourishes us (farmland) ......................................................................................................................15
3.4.2 The soil on which we live (contaminated sites, floodplains, constraint zones, etc.)..................................................16
3.5 Biodiversity....................................................................................................................................................................17
3.5.1 Preservation of species (wildlife, flora, etc.) ............................................................................................................18
3.5.2 Preservation of habitats (wetlands, woodlands, alvars, habitats of threatened or vulnerable species, etc.) ..............20
3.6 Residual materials ..........................................................................................................................................................21
3.6.1 Implementation of the Residual Materials Management Plan (RMMP)....................................................................22
3.7 Power............................................................................................................................................................................23
3.7.1 Alternatives to the electrical and natural gas grids ..................................................................................................23
3.7.2 Saving energy ........................................................................................................................................................24
3.8 Quality of life ................................................................................................................................................................24
3.8.1 Tranquility (noise, smells, etc.) ..............................................................................................................................25
3.8.2 Hygiene and health (pesticides, allergens, pests, infectious diseases, public health, etc.) ........................................26
3.8.3 Harmonization of natural and built-up areas (greenbelts, parks, recreational pathways, views, etc.)........................27
4. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................................................29
OVERVIEW OF GATINEAU’S ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
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1. INTRODUCTION
Ville de Gatineau wants to develop an environmental policy
with a focus on sustainable development. To this end, it has
decided to start by preparing an overview of its environmental
initiatives throughout its territory, as well as those by the organizations that it supports (Développement économique – CLD
Gatineau, Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport, Maison de la
culture, Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival and Société de
transport de l’Outaouais). The work of collecting and compiling
the information from the municipal units was entrusted to
GENIVAR.
This overview shows things as they currently stand based on
information available at this point in time. It documents the
regulatory context and lists the main environmental initiatives,
as well as the efforts that have already been made by Gatineau.
The purpose of this overview is to head into the consultation
stage with a good sense of the current situation.
This is the first time that such a detailed inventory has ever been
prepared in Gatineau. Nonetheless, it could hardly be considered
exhaustive because new initiatives, both modest and major,
are constantly being introduced. The initiatives included in
this overview are the ones that are documented, quantified
and integrated into the organization’s current practices.
2. CONTEXT
2.1 Objectives
Gatineau’s Municipal Council set up the Commission consultative sur l’environnement et le développement durable
(CCEDD) in March 2006. The mandate of this commission is
to review issues related to the environment and sustainable
development for Gatineau’s administration and population,
and to present recommendations to the Municipal Council,
which then makes the decisions.
After reviewing other documents and environmental policies,
the commission proposed seven themes, which were adopted
by the Municipal Council: water, air, soil, biodiversity, residual
materials, power and quality of life. The following key elements
will be considered under these themes in the development of
the environmental policy: the implementation of good environmental practices (human behaviour), awareness and education,
public involvement, the development of a sense of belonging,
municipal management and the involvement of different
municipal services.
The process of developing the environmental policy and its
action plan includes a scientific survey, an overview of environmental initiatives (this document), consultation workshops in
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October 2007, a draft environmental policy, further public
consultations in May 2008, and finally the adoption of the
final version of the policy by the Municipal Council in
September 2008 and its implementation in 2009.
A number of initiatives and efforts have already been undertaken and implemented by the municipal administration in
the interest of protecting the environment.
The following are some of Gatineau’s achievements: the
strategic plan and its implementation, the land use plan and
regulations, the cultural policy, the family policy, the housing
policy, the four-year plan for parks and green spaces, and the
residual materials management plan.
2.2 The legislative context
The environment is a broad area, for which the federal,
provincial and municipal governments share responsibilities.
But beyond the legislative aspect, protecting the quality of
the environment is everyone’s responsibility, including residents
and businesses.
The federal government plays a major role in protecting the
environment, but this area essentially falls under provincial
jurisdiction. Provinces can, in turn, delegate, through legislation,
their powers and duties to the municipalities.
Thus, in Quebec, the following are the main pieces of legislation
that municipalities have to work with when it comes to the
environment: the Environment Quality Act, An Act respecting
land use planning and development and An Act respecting
the preservation of agricultural land and agricultural activities.
The Municipal Powers Act, the Cities and Towns Act and the
municipal charters set out the powers that the Province has
delegated to the municipalities.
The Government of Quebec implements its environmental
policies essentially through the adoption of government orientations that have to be integrated by municipalities into their
land use plans and by-laws touching on the environment.
The following diagram shows the regulatory context for land
use planning.
3. OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL
INITIATIVES
3.1 Objective
This overview is essentially a summary of the available information that was compiled through meetings with representatives
of Gatineau’s municipal modules and units.
The information is structured around the seven themes. The
legislative and regulatory contexts are provided for each one.
After that, each theme is developed into different components
containing the main municipal information and initiatives
related to the environment.
3.2 Water
The water theme can be divided into three components:
• The water we drink (distribution systems, production of
drinking water, well water, etc.).
• Wastewater (sewers, treatment, etc.).
• Runoff water (runoff, banks, shorelines, floodplains,
watersheds, surface contamination, etc.).
Clearly, all of these themes and components are interrelated,
and any attempt to slot them into categories will be flawed.
However, this approach has the advantage of helping to explain
the situation through simple concepts that can readily be used
as points of reference.
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3.2.1 The water we drink (distribution systems, production of drinking water, well water, etc.)
a) The regulatory context
The following diagram shows the different instruments that are applicable to this component.
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b) Highlights
• The Ottawa and Lièvre rivers supply Gatineau’s
drinking water.
• Ville de Gatineau is responsible for treating and distributing
drinking water to most of its population (in 2007 estimated
at around 250,000 inhabitants). Approximately 16,000
residents get their drinking water from private wells, which
is roughly 6% of the population.
• Four water treatment plants provide drinking water to the
entire territory. They can supply 253,950 m3 of water per
day. The plant in the Aylmer sector provides 15% of the
total capacity, and the plan is to expand it in the fall of 2007.
The plants in the Hull, Gatineau and Buckingham sectors
supply 34%, 42% and 9%, respectively, of Gatineau’s
drinking water.
• The water treatment plant in the Buckingham sector is
part of the RÉSEAU Environnement water excellence
program. In November 2006, 13 municipalities in Quebec
were registered with this program, including similar-sized
cities such as Laval and Trois-Rivières. This program’s
objectives and monitoring program are far more stringent
and binding than those established under the Regulation
respecting the quality of drinking water of the ministère
du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des
Parcs (MDDEP) du Québec, which are applied in the other
three plants.
• The RÉSEAU Environnement water excellence program
aims to provide the maximum protection against any
microbiological contamination by at all times maximizing
the use of the three barriers of sedimentation, filtration
and disinfection. The quality standard is higher than that
set under Quebec and even U.S. regulations. The
Buckingham sector plant is the first one to have qualified
under the excellence program, but the plan is to bring
every plant under it, one by one.
• In late 2006, Gatineau owned a drinking water distribution
network that extended over 1,095 km, 6,487 fire hydrants
and 9,274 valves.
• The number of watermain breaks has been falling since
2004. In 2006, approximately 200 were reported in
Gatineau.
• Gatineau has four reservoirs for the western part of the
city, with a total capacity of 53,990 m3 per day, and five
reservoirs serving the eastern part, with a total capacity
of 96,420 m3 per day. There are 14 booster stations at
different locations throughout the distribution system. The
plants serving the city’s different sectors are independent
from one another, except for the connection between the
Aylmer and Hull sectors’ systems.
• In 2005, Gatineau opted for an integrated decision support
system (IDSS). This system is used to manage detailed
databases, including water supply and sewer systems, as
well as the road network. All of the pertinent data, such
as construction details, and follow-up on repairs and
improvements, are compiled and georeferenced in the
form of an inventory in this database. The IDSS should
be operational in 2008.
• Gatineau is developing an infrastructure master plan for
drinking water, which would include the water supply
system, plants and reservoirs. This is the first master plan
for a water supply system that will integrate details on the
entire Gatineau network. This document should be
completed by February 2008, and will recommend the
actions required to accommodate the growth projected
over the three target horizons (current, 2016 and 2031).
• This master plan will also include an analysis of a water
balance report to target the main actions called for based
on the development projections and an estimate of the
costs related to the required investments.
• For the past 20 years, Gatineau has had its own laboratory,
which was ISO certified in 1996 and approved by the
MDDEP. Thanks to its qualified employees, it can perform
quality assurance analyses such as the ones stipulated under
the MDDEP’s Regulation respecting the quality of
drinking water.
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• The water supply system is leaking. It is estimated that
the implementation of a leak detection program could
reduce a portion ofthe amount of water treated by approximately 20%, which is the amount of water lost through
leaks in the water supply system. An analysis has to be done
to compare the cost of a leak detection and repair program
compared to investing in an expansion of existing drinking
water infrastructures (pipes, stations and plants), and the
impact of leaks on roads and sewers (possibility of
seepage, etc.).
• With respect to reducing the use of drinking water, Gatineau
is enforcing its by-law on watering. It bills owners of private
pools $25 a year, and has installed timers on playground
fountains. It invests $30,000 annually in a campaign to
encourage cutting back on water use during heat waves.
• New municipal facilities—such as the sports centre, the
new arena and new fire halls—will apply some of the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
certification standards when they are built. The LEED
assessment criteria include water consumption and
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wastewater reduction targets.
• Gatineau is currently implementing certain measures
during its system rehabilitation works. For instance, in
the case of contracts requiring the use of water (for instance
the flushing of systems for televised inspections or the
installation of anodes, or controlled drilling), the contractor
has to use raw water from the plants rather than water
from the fire hydrants. Also, major sod-laying contracts
require that contractors avoid laying sod in July and August
to minimize the watering requirements. Wherever possible,
sod is to be laid in late August and September.
• Gatineau has a 3-1-1 service for its residents. The information
is then used to create categories and analyze information
to produce statistics. For instance, the data collected with
this software between January 2006 and May 2007 includes
404 requests related to the by-law on watering (requests
for information or complaints). This information has to
be analyzed in conjunction with other sources of information, such as legal services, which recorded 47 statements
of offence under the by-law on watering.
3.2.2 Wastewater (sewers, treatment, etc.)
a) Regulatory context
b) Highlights
• Gatineau has approximately 837 km of sanitary sewers,
40 km of interceptors, 41 pumping stations and four
reservoirs throughout its territory.
• It also has approximately 159 km of combined sewers,
most of which are in the Hull sector (72 km). Gatineau
requires that all new subdivisions (residential, institutional,
commercial, industrial, etc.) have separate sewers. Waters
from sanitary and combined sewers are ultimately routed
to the wastewater treatment plants. No systematic separation of existing combined systems is being proposed
because of the costs associated with such an initiative.
• The sewer systems in the Gatineau, Hull and Aylmer
sectors have 96 overflow points, and the Masson-Angers
and Buckingham sectors have 18.
• Gatineau has two wastewater treatment plants. The one
in the Gatineau sector, which serves the Gatineau, Hull
and Aylmer sectors, has a capacity of 161,600 m3 per day,
and handled an average of 172,000 m3 of wastewater per
day in 2006. This plant has been using biological treatment
since 1982.
• The wastewater treatment plant in the Masson-Angers
sector, which serves the Masson-Angers and Buckingham
sectors, has a capacity of 13,300 m3 per day, but handled
an average of 14,800 m3 of wastewater per day in 2006.
This plant has been using an aerated pond for treatment
since 1997.
• The two wastewater treatment plants reached their useful
capacity in 2006. To identify options for addressing the
issue, Gatineau would like to develop a master plan for
wastewater infrastructures, including a portion of its
sewer systems, pumping stations and plants. This
planning document will recommend the measures that will
be needed to properly meet current demand and accommodate the longer term growth projections (2016 and 2031).
This project will be presented in the fall of 2007, and
results will be expected by late 2008. Major investments
will be needed to meet the growing demand (disinfection, expansion and retention ponds).
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3.2.3 Runoff water (runoff, banks, shorelines, floodplains, watersheds, surface contamination, etc.)
b) Highlights
• In the interest of preserving rivers and banks, Gatineau’s
land use plan defines a 15-metre riparian buffer strip along
rivers and wetlands within its territory. This 15-meter strip
is wider than the one required under the MDDEP policy,
which calls for a minimum of 10 metres.
• The complementary document to the land use plan and
the zoning by-laws incorporate the provisions that will
guide construction work and work in floodplains with a
high probability of flooding in high-risk zones (0-20 years)
and low-risk zones (20-100 years).
• Gatineau has acquired strips of land along the Gatineau
River in order to preserve these areas. On private property,
the stability of the banks is the owner’s responsibility.
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• Gatineau is involved in the work of two watershed
committees in its territory, the Comité du bassin versant
de la rivière du Lièvre (COBALI) and the Comité du bassin
versant de la rivière Gatineau (COMGA). These committees also have industrial and recreational-tourism representatives, as well as representatives of the ministère de
l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec
(MAPAQ) and of the ministère des Ressources naturelles et
de la Faune (MRNF) du Québec. The main mission of these
committees is to protect, improve and develop the water
resource in these watersheds, as well as the latter’s resources
and habitats, with a focus on sustainable development.
• Gatineau also supports the Ottawa Riverkeeper, an
organization dedicated to protecting the Ottawa River.
• Gatineau has three municipal beaches within its territory.
The beaches at the Moussette, des Cèdres, and LacBeauchamp parks are routinely monitored for water
quality. The waters are analyzed, and the results are
assessed against the MDDEP’s criteria. If these criteria
are met, swimming and water activities are given the
go-ahead. The waters are analyzed under the MDDEP’s
Environnement Plage program, and the ratings remain
posted on the beach to inform swimmers.
• Under the Agricultural Operations Regulation, it is prohibited
to give animals access to rivers and bodies of water and
their shorelines, except for crossing.
• Gatineau has four disposal sites for its snow clearing
operations: on Georges, Charles and Buteau streets, and
on boulevard Gréber. Anything in excess of the capacity
of these sites is taken to a privately-owned property
approved by the MDDEP. Runoff from the snow disposal
sites has to meet provincial regulatory requirements, which
Gatineau ensures through monitoring. A new short-term
snow disposal site is planned for boulevard Saint-René Est.
• There are approximately 770 km of storm sewers throughout
Gatineau. All new subdivision developers must meet the
retention criteria (zero runoff) in order to control the
amount of water that runs into the existing systems. As
well, any new institutional, commercial or industrial
building must retain water on its property to limit the
amount of runoff.
• On August 21, 2007 (CM-2007-893), the Municipal Council
decreed that Gatineau would ask all federal and provincial
authorities to set up, along with Quebec municipalities,
effective measures for controlling and reducing cyanobacteria, and would ask these authorities to legislate in order
to eliminate the different sources of water pollution,
in particular phosphates in detergents made and sold
in Canada.
3.3 Air
The air theme can be divided into two components:
• The air we breathe (contaminants, smog, etc.)
• Pollution (greenhouse gas (GHG), etc.)
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3.3.1 The air we breathe (contaminants, smog, etc.)
b) Highlights
• Gatineau has different programs to increase public
awareness about air quality: the project to plant 100,000 trees
between November 2005 and November 2009 will help
trap greenhouse gases (GHG); and, the public awareness
and participation program on alternative modes of transportation (Communauto, Société de transport de
l’Outaouais (STO), Semaine de la municipalité, Car Free
Day!, etc.).
• Seminars and training days are organized by Gatineau’s
transportation unit for the following groups: Municipal
Council, municipal employees, community groups and
the city’s economic partners.
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• Gatineau routinely informs its residents about air quality.
The Info-Smog program, a partnership between the
governments of Canada and Quebec, which was created
in Montréal, has now been extended to the Outaouais,
and is used to measure air quality daily based on ozone
concentrations. Public warnings are published when
poor air quality is projected.
3.3.2 Pollution (greenhouse gas (GHG), etc.)
b) Highlights
• Gatineau gave its backing to the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities, under certain conditions, for the 2002
ratification of the Kyoto protocol.
• Gatineau participated in the community component of the
One-Tonne Challenge, together with the Conseil régional
de l’environnement et du développement durable de
l’Outaouais (CREDDO).
• Gatineau has passed a by-law against idling. Under by-law
R-300-2006 on traffic and parking, cars that idle for more
than five minutes without a valid reason may be ticketed
and fined $30. The STO target is to have engines idle for
no more than one minute.
• Gatineau has taken advantage of the FleetSmart environmental management program. This program, run by
Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency
helps fleet operators reduce their operating costs by
increasing their energy efficiency. The Service des
opérations de terrain, through its Division de la gestion
de la flotte et des équipements, plans to table before the
Municipal Council before the end of 2007, a policy on the
more environmentally-friendly use of vehicles and their
replacement. The unit is aiming for more fuel-efficient
engines and smaller vehicles. For the past two years,
Gatineau has been buying hybrid cars. At this time, the
Division de la gestion de la flotte et des équipements has
four hybrid vehicles, and plans to acquire three more in
2008, subject to approval of the three-year capital plan by
the Municipal Council.
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• Gatineau has a total of seven hybrid vehicles for its different
units, and more have been ordered.
• The Division de la gestion de la flotte et des équipements
in the Service des opérations de terrain follows the
MDDEP’s Programme PIEVAL (Programme d’inspection
et d’entretien des véhicules automobiles lourds). The
Division included in its 2008 operating budget the purchase
of an opacimeter in order to control the emission of
pollutants by its heavy vehicles.
• Gatineau encourages the use of bicycles as an alternative
means of transportation. The city’s network of recreational
pathways is constantly expanding, with annual investments
averaging $400,000. Gatineau has taken advantage of the
La Route verte program (25% funded by the provincial
government). A formal partnership has been signed.
• Gatineau is continuing its efforts to promote public transportation (the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival and others use STO shuttles, etc.). In addition, Gatineau has signed
a partnership with Communauto to provide a vehicle for
certain employees in the Module d’urbanisme et du
développement durable. The Mayor, his press secretary
and two municipal councillors generally use Communauto
cars, walk, take the bus or car-pool. Gatineau earned the
prix Phénix de l’environnement 2007 in the sustainable
development category for this program.
• The STO has several routes and makes it easier to get
between Gatineau and Ottawa. The STO transports
approximately 30,000 passengers in peak periods. Since
a car averages 1.2 people, public transportation helps keep
25,000 cars a day off the road. The STO has introduced
hybrid (diesel /electric) buses as part of the Projet de
démonstration en transport urbain (PDTU). The supplier
estimates that these buses reduce fuel consumption by
33%, as well as GHG. Regular tests are conducted on oil
and exhaust fumes. These tests help keep the buses
running more efficiently and with less pollution.
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• The Rapibus program, a rapid transit system for the
Outaouais, will travel along the existing Québec-Gatineau
railway right-of-way, a 17 km-long two-way corridor reserved
exclusively for STO buses. According to STO projections,
Rapibus traffic will increase in its first year of operation,
and will carry some 3,000 more commuters a day through
this bus corridor alone. The Rapibus is one of the priorities
in Gatineau’s land use and development plan, and should
be operational by 2010.
• The STO offers different programs to encourage the use
of public transportation, including a special rate for Cégep
de l’Outaouais and Université du Québec en Outaouais
students, as well as a 10% discount for frequent users,
which the municipal government will top up with an
additional 10% discount for its employees.
3.4 Soil
The soil theme can be divided into two components:
• The soil that nourishes us (farmland, etc.).
• The soil on which we live (contaminated sites, floodplains,
constraint zones, etc.).
3.4.1 The soil that nourishes us (farmland)
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b) Highlights
• Close to 40% of the Gatineau territory is zoned agricultural.
In its 2003-2007 strategic plan, Gatineau has a strategic
direction entitled “Integrating the natural and built-up
environments.” Its objective is to ensure the sustainable
development of the natural and agricultural environment
through planning and development.
• In 2004, Gatineau adopted a strategy for developing its
farmland, aimed at protecting, continuing and developing
the farmland and introducing development strategies
adapted to the peri-urban environment.
• Gatineau has set up community gardens for its residents.
• In April 2002, Gatineau set up a comité consultatif agricole,
whose primary objective is to ensure the protection,
survival and development of farmland.
3.4.2 The soil on which we live (contaminated sites, floodplains, constraint zones, etc.)
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b) Highlights
3.5 Biodiversity
• According to the MDDEP inventory, Gatineau has
201 contaminated sites within its territory. Many of these
are rehabilitated. There were two entries for Gatineau in
August 2007 in the Répertoire des dépôts de sol et de
résidus industriels.
The biodiversity theme can be divided into two components:
• Preservation of species (wildlife, flora, etc.)
• Preservation of habitats (wetlands, woodlands, alvars,
habitats of threatened or vulnerable species, etc.)
• Gatineau has taken advantage of the provincial government’s Revi-Sol program for the management of contaminated soils. A new soil rehabilitation program is being
developed by the MDDEP (ClimatSol). It is expected to
include the planting of trees once the soil has been rehabilitated, with a focus on development and GHG reduction.
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3.5.1 Preservation of species (wildlife, flora, etc.)
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b) Highlights
• Gatineau started the characterization of the Boucher forest, which will be followed by the development of a management plan.
• Gatineau’s 2003-2007 strategic plan contains a number of
commitments that promote the integration of natural
habitats and development, including designing urban
subdivisions that foster the harmonious integration of
natural and built-up areas, ensuring the sustainable
development of the qualities of the natural environment,
and getting the Gatineau population involved in the
preservation and development of natural spaces so residents and stakeholders central to its development take
responsibility for enhancing the city’s green image and
develop the means to support the sustainable development of natural resources throughout the territory.
• Gatineau has its very own green fund (managed under
the policy entitled Utilisation et gestion du Fonds vert –
MTPE-2007-001). The Municipal Council will set the minimum amounts to be invested in the fund over a five-year
period. This green fund is to be used to support infrastructure projects within the territory, and will be dedicated to the development or re-development of natural
green spaces that need to be protected, by identifying
one or more priorities from among the following elements: protecting biodiversity, controlling erosion, developing recreational tourism, and planting or rehabilitating
rundown sites.
• The Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport administration is
preparing a wildlife management plan to ensure the safety of passengers and crews by reducing the risks associated with animals on and around the airport. The objectives of the management plan are as follows: identify and
review the different sources of information about local
wildlife, draw up a list of animals that constitute a risk
within and around the airport, prepare seasonal profiles
of the animals’ activities, prepare a risk assessment and
set an order of priorities for managing the wildlife.
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3.5.2 Preservation of habitats (wetlands, woodlands, alvars, habitats of threatened or vulnerable species, etc.)
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b) Highlights
• Gatineau launched its tree-planting program for the
spring 2006 Sommet des arbres. The goal of this project
was to plant 100,000 trees within the territory by 2009.
Parks, schoolyards, public grounds, retention basins,
shorelines and rights-of-way were all potential sites identified by the municipal administration. In August 2007,
Gatineau announced that 65,000 trees had been planted.
• Together with the City of Ottawa and the National Capital
Commission, Gatineau undertook the second phase of
the Ottawa River Integrated Development Plan. This plan
is consistent with the objective stated in its strategic plan
in terms of the development of green networks and river
corridors in order to foster social links both within the
urban villages and throughout the city.
• The land use plan identifies the agricultural sectors,
conservation areas, woodland and wetlands protection
and integration areas and environmental constraint areas,
including certain known contaminated sites and landfill
sites. In addition, the land use plan identifies preservation
areas where some sensitive species are not protected
under the Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species.
This mapping is useful for targeting sectors suitable for
urban subdivisions versus those that should be preserved
as natural areas. However, the inventory of wildlife and
flora in the different zones is not included in the plan.
• The planning by-laws contain special provisions for
protecting woodlands in development projects, and
include requirements to plant trees and vegetation when
developing properties.
• In its 2003-2007 strategic plan, Gatineau addresses the
protection and preservation of woodlands, wetlands and
marshes by specifying that it wants it to ensure the
sustainable development of the natural and agricultural
environment. The plan indicates that the biodiversity
of exceptional natural areas-such as the shorelines of
the three rivers-has to be preserved. In order to do this,
the priorities are on developing a good understanding
of the natural environment in order to help make better
decisions by completing the inventory of natural spaces
and sensitive areas, and by introducing management tools.
• Gatineau has officially endorsed the creation of the Refuge
faunique de la rivière des Outaouais, which was proposed
by the MRNF du Québec for the wetlands along the
Ottawa River.
• Gatineau has been characterizing the urban woodlands
throughout its territory. It has mapped them, along with the
rivers and potential wetlands, as well as the landslide risks.
3.6 Residual materials
This theme was already covered in consultation workshops
that led to the preparation of the Residual Materials Management
Plan (RMMP) and its implementation.
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3.6.1 Implementation of the Residual Materials Management Plan (RMMP)
The following diagram shows the different instruments that are applicable to this theme.
b) Highlights
• In 2006, Gatineau residents produced 104,858 tonnes
of residual materials, broken down as follows:
Categories
2006
Household waste
82,300 tonnes
Separate collection
17,211 tonnes
Green residues
2,062 tonnes
Cedar trimmings
1,000 tonnes*
Non-refillable container deposits
1,431 tonnes*
Bulk refuse
Not available
Textiles
Not available
Hazardous household waste
174 tonnes
Domestic compost
680 tonnes*
Total
104,858 tonnes
* Data not checked or based on a theoretical calculation.
22
• The objectives of Quebec’s Residual Materials Management
Policy 1998-2008 stipulate that RCMs and cities in Quebec
must reclaim a minimum of 65% of recyclable materials.
In total, for 2006, Gatineau reclaimed (recovered and
reclaimed) 33% of the residual materials produced.
• Because Gatieau has no landfill site, these materials are
shipped through the recovery and transhipment centre
(CRT) to the landfill site of the Régie intermunicipale
d’Argenteuil-Deux-Montagnes in Lachute.
• The CRT receives hazardous household waste (HHW).
• Gatineau’s RMMP contains 33 recommendations: at this
point, ten have been implemented, seven are being
implemented and the remainder should be implemented
by 2010, which is the deadline set in the plan.
• In October 2007, Gatineau intends to implement the
recycling program in some 15 different municipal buildings,
including its Maison de la culture.
• Gatineau is planning an awareness program for all municipal
employees, starting this fall.
• The distribution of 6,800 domestic composters and the
presence of equipment for handling green residues will
also help to reach the objective concerning putrescible
materials. Still in connection with composting, three studies
conducted to date have helped further the analysis on this
issue. The Municipal Council has commissioned a study
that will help determine the best approach. This study will
be tabled at the end of October, at which time the Municipal
Council will decide which approach it will choose.
• While rehabilitating the systems, a number of measures
were implemented: the use of trenchless technologies
wherever possible, in some cases, contractors are required
to recover old cast-iron pipes, and the asphalt is broken
down and reused as the underlayer for roads wherever
possible (with applicable granular corrections).
• Since 2005, with the cooperation of Le Consortium
Écho-Logique, a social economy business, materials have
been recovered at the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival
site for recycling.
3.7 Power
The power theme can be divided into two components:
• Alternatives to the electrical and natural gas grids
• Saving energy
3.7.1 Alternatives to the electrical and natural gas grids
The following diagram shows the different instruments that are applicable to these two components.
23
b) Highlights
• One of the guiding principles of Gatineau’s planning
program (500-2005) is development with a focus on alternatives to single-occupant cars. Moreover, the planning
program indicates that Gatineau will have to develop a
policy on promoting projects related to the production of
renewable energy. Renewable energy sources are the ones
that produce electricity or thermal power without depleting
our resources, including solar, wind, hydraulic and geothermal power, as well as those generated from biomass
and residual materials.
• Methane generated in the anaerobic digesters in the
Gatineau sector’s wastewater treatment plant is recovered
and used as a carburant for drying sludge, and the surplus
is shipped to furnaces. In total, 2,600,000 m3 of methane
were generated in 2006.
3.7.2 Saving energy
Same regulatory context as for alternatives to electrical and
natural gas grids (3.7.1 a) Regulatory context).
b) Highlights
• A new position was created in the Service de gestion des
édifices et de l’électricité for an energy management
technician. The incumbent’s role will be to prepare reports
on energy consumption, prepare grant applications to
different organizations to help reduce energy consumption
and prepare cost-benefit studies. The incumbent will also
assess current buildings and recommend energy saving
measures, such as the use of motion detectors and timers
for municipal buildings.
• The different municipal services promote energy saving
in their offices by requiring the use of lower energy
consumption equipment (multifunction machines), the
use of automatic sleep modes on employee workstations,
and asking staff to turn out the lights when they leave work.
• The emphasis on energy efficiency is particularly strong
in transportation. Gatineau has purchased several hybrid
vehicles in the past two years, and a SmartDriver in the
City course was offered to the different municipal units
to make them as fuel-efficient as possible.
24
• Incandescent light bulbs used in traffic lights around the
city will be replaced by LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) by
February 2008.
• LEED certified projects will encourage the use of renewable energy sources (solar or thermal), energy efficiency,
efficient heating, the use of locally-produced materials
and the reuse of surplus.
• Développement économique – CLD Gatineau supports
projects that implement recycling, energy efficiency and
sustainable development programs. The corporation is
currently supporting some 15 new start-up projects that
will provide new innovative environmentally-friendly
products or services. DE – CLDG works with Environment
Canada’s Enviroclub. Companies take part in workshops,
where they learn about tools that help them properly assess
the economic and environmental benefits associated with
their projects. The Enviroclub group provides concrete
benefits to companies: improved profitability and competitive position, improved environmental profile, improved
occupational health and safety for employees, and meeting
or beating the environmental requirements of clients and
regulatory agencies. Eligible projects include pollution
prevention and environmental management.
3.8 Quality of life
Quality of life can be divided into three components:
• Tranquility (noise, smells, etc.)
• Hygiene and health (pesticides, allergens, pests, infectious diseases, etc.)
• Harmonization of natural and built-up areas (greenbelts,
parks, recreational pathways, views, etc.)
3.8.1 Tranquility (noise, smells, etc.)
b) Highlights
• Gatineau has the following by-laws: the
Règlement sur le maintien de la paix publique
et du bon ordre (maintaining public peace and
order) (R-42-2003), the Règlement concernant
les nuisances (nuisances) (R-43-2003) and the
Règlement concernant le bruit sur le territoire
de la Ville de Gatineau (noise within Gatineau)
(R-44-2003).
25
3.8.2 Hygiene and health (pesticides, allergens, pests, infectious diseases, public health, etc.)
b) Highlights
• In 2003, the Code de gestion des pesticides (pesticide
management code) came into force for public lawns. Since
then, municipal horticulture services have been using
glyphosate-based formulas to control poison ivy and
biopesticides (herbicides soap, acetic acid) to maintain
plants and flowerbeds.
• Since 2006, the pesticides listed in the Code de gestion
des pesticides have been banned from private properties.
Golf courses must file a three-year plan for reducing the
use of pesticides.
• Gatineau has public consultation mechanisms (such as
the Commission consultative sur l’environnement et le
développement durable, and the Comité consultatif
d’urbanisme) and partners to control the over-use of
pesticides, the Coalition pour les alternatives aux pesticides
(CAP), watershed committees and the Table de concertation
agroalimentaire de l’Outaouais).
• Gatineau makes the public aware of the West Nile Virus
issue, and is a member of the regional committee for
monitoring the Virus. Since 1997, an aerial biopesticide
spreading program against mosquitoes has been in place
from boulevard de l’Hôpital to montée Mineault, between
autoroute 50 and the Ottawa River.
26
• Since 2005, Gatineau has been working with a general
intervention plan with a steering committee to combat
avian influenza. This plan involves a partnership with the
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Direction
de santé publique de l’Agence de la santé et des services
sociaux de l’Outaouais (DSPO), the Centre de santé et de
services sociaux de Gatineau (CSSSG), the STO and the
Organisation régionale de la sécurité civile (ORSC).
• Gatineau has an intervention plan for heat waves (including
practical advice). In regard to major industrial accidents,
in 2003, Gatineau prepared a vulnerability analysis that
outlines the main risks it might face. A comité mixte
municipalité-industriel (CMMI) was set up in 2004.
• Gatineau has a ragweed awareness program (identification,
information sessions for young people, press conferences,
clean-up campaigns, etc.). In addition, the Règlement
municipal concernant les nuisances (R-43-2003) provides
that owners, tenants and occupants of land on which
ragweed grows are required to remove it.
• Failure to do so is subject to a minimum fine of $200.
• The entire province is subject to the Tobacco Act, R.S.Q.,
c. T-0.01. This legislation prohibits the use of tobacco in
most public places and prohibits smoking in closed
workplaces. Gatineau has a policy, RH-SST-2007-13, on the
use of tobacco, which aims to foster a healthy and safe
workplace for its municipal employees and visitors to its
facilities. Smoking is prohibited in all municipal vehicles,
including rentals.
• Gatineau has an employee assistance program (EAP) for
smokers who want to quit.
3.8.3 Harmonization of natural and built-up areas (greenbelts, parks, recreational pathways, views, etc.)
27
b) Highlights
• The planning program recognizes that exceptional forest
ecosystems and sensitive areas with significant environmental value are reserved for conservation purposes.
• Gatineau requires an environmental assessment and
compliance with a by-law on implementation plans and
architectural integration for all development projects.
• For housing projects, Gatineau decides which land parcels
developers must transfer to it for recreational parks. These
parcels are equivalent to 10% of the project surface area.
In addition, developers must contribute $2 per square
metre to the development of these parks, and pay for the
construction of a retention basin. These basins ensure
the control of effluent flows into municipal systems.
• Annual funding of $1.5 million is included in the three-year
capital budget for the development of previously identified
orphan parks, and $400,000 is included for the construction
of recreational pathways.
• Natural spaces are integrated into the urban landscape by
adding artworks to the parks and recreational pathways.
• The planning program identifies ten greenbelts, which are
designed to create links with the urban parks, farmland
and natural spaces. These corridors are complemented by
recreational pathways throughout the city.
• Gatineau has more than 116 km of recreational pathways.
• Gatineau requires that developers contribute to the
recreational pathways when building major new roads.
28
• Gatineau’s housing policy orientations refer to the importance of promoting the protection and development of
natural spaces in new residential neighbourhoods. It
encourages higher density projects, while continuing to
respect each neighbourhood’s individual characteristics.
Residential intensification carries many benefits, including
the opportunity to grow old in your own neighbourhood
and access to more efficient public transportation.
• Gatineau’s family policy includes objectives aimed at
promoting the quality of the environment for the benefit
of families, particularly in connection with the preservation
of green spaces, noise reduction, access to rivers and
urban forestry.
• Partnerships have been set up with different not-for-profit
(NPO) organizations, such as Ducks Unlimited Canada.
• Gatineau’s goal is to plant 100,000 trees by 2009, and it is
more than halfway there.
• Gatineau has a partnership with the Association des
résidants de l’île de Hull (ARIH) and the Tree Canada
Foundation for planting trees along several downtown
streets.
4. CONCLUSION
The process of preparing this overview led to the following
conclusions:
• The environmental initiatives implemented by Gatineau
and its employees are not all listed and documented, which
complicates matters when it comes to drawing up a
complete overview.
• Many of the initiatives listed are still at the developmental
stage, and will only be launched over the next few months.
The uncertainty surrounding these projects precluded
including them in this first overview.
• Gatineau’s powers and responsibilities in relation to
environmental issues are relatively limited compared
to those of the federal and provincial governments.
• Several environmental measures introduced by Gatineau
are not a result of legal obligations. They stem from the
initiative of municipal employees and the Municipal Council.
• Many of the initiatives listed came about as a result of the
involvement of external stakeholders (residents’ groups,
non-governmental and government organizations, etc.).
The environment is an area of concern to the municipal
administration, which is why it wants to develop an environmental policy through public consultations with its residents.
Gatineau already has a number of consultative commissions,
including the Commission consultative sur l’environnement et
le développement durable, the Comité consultatif d’urbanisme
and the Commission Gatineau, Ville en santé which address
different environmental issues.
Gatineau recognizes that there are a number of challenges to
address, and that it will have to pursue its existing partnerships
and develop new ones in order to move forward with the
collective efforts made by residents, organizations and publicsector, para-public and private-sector organizations.
The next step will be to consult Gatineau residents and interested parties in order to elaborate on the information compiled
to date and set the priorities for consideration by the municipal
administration and the Municipal Council for the preparation
of the draft environmental policy.
• Certain themes include several initiatives (such as water),
while others do not (such as power).
29
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overview of gatineau`s environmental initiatives

Transcription

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