Jim Watson takes aim at Ottawa 'city bashers' in annual speech

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson dubbed 2016 a "year of collaboration" in his annual state of the city speech on Wednesday, and used the occasion to bring residents up to date on several ongoing projects — and introduce a few new ones.

In the speech, which opened Wednesday's city council meeting — the first of the new year — Watson laid out the different partnerships he and the city are working on with governments, agencies and other groups across the city, the country and the world.

• Read the full speech here

On the heels of trade missions to India by the Ontario premier and opposition leader, Watson said he'll be part of a delegation to tout the city's tourism and high-tech industries, particularly clean technology.

"We have a very large and successful Indo-Canadian business community here in Ottawa and for a long time we focused on the Chinese market," he said after the council meeting.

"I was approached about a year and a half ago about opportunities in India, one of the largest countries, the largest democracy … There's clearly a lot of potential for business and economic growth for our businesses back here in Ottawa."

New roles for councillors

Watson said he's asked some city councillors to take on new or expanded roles this year.

Gloucester-South Nepean councillor Michael Qaqish will become the city's new liaison for refugee settlement.

"Challenges that the refugees are going to face both in the short term, in the first 12 months, and more importantly in the longer term, require some city attention," Watson said.

"I think Michael's ability to speak [Arabic] is important, it takes a little bit of the load off me to do some of the day-to-day liason ... to organize a formal welcome celebration and potentially to engage in fundraising to help those families who are going to need some help after the 12-month period is over."

Watson said the city has taken in more than 500 Syrian refugees, and a total of 1,200 to 1,400 refugees would be "reasonable" for a city of its size.

Innes councillor Jody Mitic, the city's sports commissioner, will take the lead as the city explores bidding for the 2021 Canada Summer Games, which Watson said could bring upgrades to "aging sports facilities," which he did not identify.

Kitchissippi councillor Jeff Leiper will also represent the city on the 2017 Juno Awards host committee.

Honouring Keeping, McLachlin

Watson proposed naming he Coventry Road pedestrian bridge over Highway 417 after former CTV Ottawa anchor Max Keeping, who died of cancer in October.

"Whether as a father, friend or public figure, Max was a true bridge builder and brought people from all walks of life together," Watson said in his speech.

"I think this would be a perfect fit to recognize a man who gave so much to our community."

Watson pointed out the bridge is in the vicinity of both the RCGT Park baseball stadium and CHEO, of which Keeping was a big supporter.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, who Watson called "a role model, a leader and a nation-builder" has also accepted an invitation to receive a key to the city on March 22.

McLachlin and Watson both spoke out publicly against the design and location of a proposed memorial to victims of communism, now on hold.

Progress updates

There were updates on other city projects:

• Representatives from the NHL visited Parliament Hill a few weeks ago to look at the feasibility of holding an outdoor game there in 2017. Whether the game is there or at Lansdowne Park, Watson said he wants as much advance notice as possible so it can be promoted along with other Ottawa 2017 events.
• Watson said the federal and provincial governments are "lined up" to support Stage 2 of the city's light rail plans and he wants "firm funding agreements" this year, with the procurement process set to begin in late 2016 or early 2017.
• City staff will be working with councillors to find appropriate spots for a "Canada 150 Grove" of 150 maple trees in each of the city's 23 wards, with planting to happen in 2017.
• The city's first 2017 event will be a "New Years Levee" at city call.
• Watson said he wants to secure funding from upper levels of government this year or next for a new pedestrian bridge over the Rideau Canal connecting Fifth Avenue and Clegg Street.
• A day after plans for a new central library branch were announced as part of both LeBreton Flats proposals, Watson said he wants to break ground by the end of the current council term in 2018.

Watson ended his speech with a shot at "certain newspapers" and people who want to "leapfrog cobblestone cities that are hundreds of years older than us," perhaps a reference to a recent Andrew Cohen column in the Ottawa Citizen calling Ottawa "the worst capital in the G7."

"City building will always beat city bashing," Watson said.

"We all love this city and we will do everything we can to make it an even better place to raise a family and grow a business … Let us take this path of optimism. The path of pride. The path to building the best city in the most blessed country in the world."