Ariel Troster
Happy New Year! I hope you were able to get some downtime and the ability to connect with friends and loved ones over the last couple of weeks.
I am back from a family trip and gearing up for a busy few weeks at City Hall and in the community. While things have been relatively quiet since I last wrote to you, I wanted to update you on a few key issues.
Alternative response pilot
At the end of December, it was announced that the Centretown and Somerset West Community Health Centres were chosen to lead the upcoming safer alternative response pilot that will soon be coming to Centretown. When the program launches, Centretown residents will be able to call 211 if we find a neighbour in distress, who may be experiences an overdose or suffering from a mental health episode. The new service will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will provide quick response times within the Centretown catchment.
I will provide more updates as the program comes together, but I am absolutely thrilled that CCHC and SWCHC were chosen. Both organizations have deep connections in the community and a strong background in harm reduction, and are part of a network of clinics providing primary care in Ottawa. Thanks to the Ottawa Guiding Council on Mental Health and Addictions for all of the hard work that is going in to envisioning and launching this crucial new service.
The right to protest
On another topic, I have received hundreds of emails from residents concerned about bylaw tickets that were handed out to protesters at recent anti-war demonstrations for using a megaphone on city streets. I have attended many other authorized and unauthorized rallies in Ottawa over the last 20 years, virtually all of which used megaphones.
I unequivocally support the right to protest and reject any comparison to the convoy in the winter of 2022. Equating peaceful, recurring, local protests on humanitarian issues with the invasive, destructive, incessant behaviour of the convoy minimizes the real and lasting harm done to downtown communities two years ago, as well as diminishing the work of the organizers of the current protests.
Many in Ottawa are grieving the loss of loved ones in Israel and Palestine and the emotion and distress of these events should be approached with empathy and flexibility. Neither I nor council have the authority to direct past or future enforcement activity, but I sincerely hope they will reconsider this approach. You can read my full statement on this issue on my website at arieltroster.com
Thanks to all of you for your patience as city crews clean up after our first winter storms of the year. As always, please email us at ariel.troster@ottawa.ca if you spot any locations that remain troublesome or need assistance reaching city staff.
Ariel Troster is the city councillor for Somerset Ward, which includes Centretown.