The next meeting of Agriculture & Rural Affairs is being held on Thursday, May 3rd at Ben Franklin Place. As usual, our meetings begin at 10:00am in the old Nepean Council Chambers. Agenda items include:

• South Nation Conservation Authority Board Appointment
• Zoning By-Law Amendment: 4837 Albion Road
• Zoning Amendment: Storefront Industry
• Zoning Amendment: Live Music & Performance Venues
• Omnibus Zoning Amendments
• Site Alternation By-Law Follow-Up

The main item on this agenda is the zoning amendment for 4837 Albion Road. This application is several years in the making as it pertains to the Rideau Carleton Raceway site paving the way for the addition of a nine-storey hotel on the site of the soon to be Hard Rock Casino Ottawa. The application also permits an increase to 55 gaming tables from the currently allowed 35. The overall development project will see an investment of over $300M into the rural south site including a live theatre.

The storefront industry amendment is something that I spoke of in this column previously. The intent is to support small-scale businesses that would include micro-brewers/distillers, food processors and craft makers. These permissions would be added to commercial and mixed-use zones. The Omnibus amendment features some minor changes to properties across the City. In Rideau-Goulbourn, this report will see a minor zoning change to 5970 Dwyer Hill Road and add “medical facility” as a permitted use in the VM2 zone in the core of Manotick.

The Site Alteration By-Law item is a revisiting of the item approved by ARAC last month. Staff were directed to make some changes to how Section 10 of the by-law is applied in the rural area and to clarify the agricultural exemption.

For more information on this agenda, please visit Ottawa.ca or subscribe to our e-Newsletter.

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

The Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is now accepting applications for summer student positions. Please note that these jobs are still pending approval, expected in mid to late April, under the Canada Summer Jobs program.

To be eligible under the program, students must:

• be between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the start of employment;
• have been registered as a full-time student during the preceding academic year;
• intend to return to school on a full-time basis during the next academic year;
• be a student in a secondary, post-secondary, CEGEP (Quebec only), vocational or technical program;
• be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act* and;
• be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial / territorial legislation and regulations

The positions are:

• Hotline and Administrative Assistant (two positions)
• Construction and Facility Maintenance (two positions)
• Volunteer Coordinator (one position)
• Donor Relations and Communications Assistant (one position)
• Event Coordinator (one position)

To apply, send your resume; covering letter, including your availability and eligibility under the Canada Summer Jobs program; and two references by email to [email protected]. Only complete applications will be accepted. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Presto Pass Availability

Presto card services will be rolling out to retailers across Ottawa. Transit customers will be able to purchase monthly passes, load funds, check their balance, and set age-based discounts at 66 Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws and Real Canadian Superstore locations in Ottawa. The new retail locations are currently being rolled out in a phased approach, with all stores expected to have Presto services available by the end of May. For an up-to-date listing of locations, visit octranspo.com or prestocard.ca.

The addition of 66 new outlets will make it easier for transit riders to make Presto transactions. They include 51 Shoppers Drug Mart, 12 Loblaws and three Real Canadian Superstore locations. When customers put funds on their Presto card at one of the retailer locations, the balance will be available immediately.

First-time Community Pass and EquiPass customers must have their discounts set at one of the four OC Transpo Customer Service Centres. Once set, these customers can then load a monthly pass or funds at any of the locations across Ottawa or online.

Transit customers will continue to be able to use the four OC Transpo Customer Service Centres, three ServiceOttawa Client Service Centres, and ticket machines at Carling, Carleton, Mooney’s Bay, and Greenboro stations to purchase their Presto products. Presto cardholders are also able to load funds and check their balance online at prestocard.ca.

Presto cards purchased at Shoppers, Loblaws and Superstore locations will have a new black design. However, whether cards are black or green, they will still function exactly the same way.

For more information, please visit octranspo.com or prestocard.ca.

Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence

The Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence program supports and recognizes the dedication, hard work and innovation of local agri-food businesses and individuals who are adding value to existing products, helping create jobs and contributing to economic growth.

Submit your application by 11:59 p.m. on May 25, 2018 to be eligible for a chance to win one of the following awards:

• Premier's Award - one $75,000 award available
• Minister's Award - one $50,000 award available
• Leaders in Innovation Award - three $25,000 awards available
• Provincial award - 45 $5,000 awards available

Program applications are reviewed by two independent panels consisting of agri-food industry representatives from across the province. Review the application checklist to ensure you have completed all steps correctly. For more information about the awards and the application process, please review the program guidebook.

If you have any questions or would like a hard copy of the application form, please contact the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or [email protected].

Manotick Miler

Please note that the Manotick Miler is on again this weekend. There will be road closures throughout Sunday morning. These closures will affect Manotick Main Street, Century Road, First Line Road. Please plan your route accordingly should you be travelling anywhere on Sunday morning.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.