McNabb parents snubbed
Parents representing schools slated to be closed, including McNabb Park Public School, were left in the cold after a provincial education official cancelled meetings March 12.
Norbert Hartmann, assistant deputy minister of education, was in Ottawa to gather information on local school closures for the education minister. The results of his visit and who he talked to are unclear.
“They’ve got a shroud of secrecy and no one really knows what happened with that visit,” says Annie Deutsch, chair of the McNabb school council.
Hartmann reportedly cancelled meetings with politicians and parent groups after receiving telephone death threats.
“It was a little bit disappointing,” says Deutsch. “If all the other people got to see him, then surely some of the groups, if they were cleared, could also have gone to see him.”
Snow to stay on city streets
The City of Ottawa will not be removing any more snow despite the 22 centimetres of the white stuff that fell Mar. 21-22.
Willy Dunn, manager of road operations, says there will be some spot plowing but the snow is so wet that it is melting nicely.
The decision to avoid removing snow could save the city up to $1 million.
Ottawa has just exceeded the average annual snowfall by 14 centimetres with a total of 234 centimetres of snow this year.
Heritage homes saved
Two heritage properties on Albert Street will be used for affordable housing instead of being sold, as proposed by regional Coun. Diane Holmes.
Regional council approved a 15-year lease for $1 to City Living, a social housing program run by the city, beginning April 1.
494 Albert St. will continue as a women’s rooming house, while 504 Albert St. is a two-story heritage apartment building.
The properties, acquired in 1987 for a Transitway project, were no longer required in 1998.
— compiled by Andree Lau