Georges Bédard
Encyclopedia
Georges Bédard is a former member of Ottawa City Council
representing the ward of Rideau-Vanier
. This ward covers Lower Town
, Sandy Hill
, and Vanier
. Born and raised in the area Bédard currently lives in Sandy Hill he attended Carleton University
where he obtained a degree in political science. He first became involved in local politics in the successful effort to block the construction of the King Edward Expressway. He was first elected to city council at a young age in 1974 and served on the council until 1980. During this period he was best known for his efforts at preserving heritage structures. Upon leaving the council he became president of the Heritage Canada Foundation
. He is also among the founders of the Franco-Ontarian Festival, and of Ottawa's Pollution Probe. He later joined the federal civil service serving as a land claims negotiator. He also had a number of other duties including serving as president of Ottawa's Tulip Festival
. In the 2003 Ottawa election he returned to Ottawa's city council, replacing Madeleine Meilleur
who had become a member of the provincial legislature. Meilleur endorsed Bédard's return to city council and he elected with 42% of the vote with his closest rival getting 27%.
He was re-elected in the 2006 Ottawa election with 47% of the vote to his closest, Bruce McConville, 45%. This was the narrowest margin of victory of any of the incumbent councilors in the 2006 election. He lost the 2010 Ottawa election to Mathieu Fleury.
on creating any more special needs housing in Rideau-Vanier until zoning review is completed.
The review resulted in new zoning rules that limited the number of shelters per ward, allowed shelters in other parts of the city where they were not allowed before, and prohibited shelters and social services from residential zones.
. This meshed with Bédard's earlier study, which limited group homes to 10 persons or less and allowed them in all residential areas.
Bedard was also successful in preventing the opening of new nightclubs, bars and pubs in his ward, and has tried unsuccessfully to get some of the area's bus shelters removed, saying that drug dealers and panhandlers use them.
The proposed by-law is aimed specifically at the Byward Market
which is within Bédard's ward. The proposed by-law came under attack by the Ottawa Panhandlers Union, whose spokesman say the proposed by-law is unconstitutional. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association
also opposed the proposed by-law.
Ottawa City Council
The Ottawa City Council is the governing body of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is composed of 23 city councillors and the mayor. The mayor is elected at large, while each of the councillors represent wards throughout the city. Council members are elected to four year terms with the...
representing the ward of Rideau-Vanier
Rideau-Vanier Ward
Rideau-Vanier Ward is a ward in the city of Ottawa, Canada, designated as Ward 12 and represented on Ottawa City Council. It was originally created in 1994 as a Ward on Regional Council....
. This ward covers Lower Town
Lower Town
Lowertown is a district in the central area of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to the east of downtown. It is bounded roughly by Rideau Street to the south, Sussex Drive and Ottawa River to the north, the Rideau Canal to the west, and the Rideau River to the east...
, Sandy Hill
Sandy Hill
Sandy Hill is a bilingual neighbourhood in Ottawa, Ontario located just east of downtown. The neighbourhood is bordered on the west by the Rideau Canal and on the east by the Rideau River. To the north it stretches to Rideau Street and the Byward Market area while to the south it is bordered by...
, and Vanier
Vanier, Ontario
-External links:**...
. Born and raised in the area Bédard currently lives in Sandy Hill he attended Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
where he obtained a degree in political science. He first became involved in local politics in the successful effort to block the construction of the King Edward Expressway. He was first elected to city council at a young age in 1974 and served on the council until 1980. During this period he was best known for his efforts at preserving heritage structures. Upon leaving the council he became president of the Heritage Canada Foundation
Heritage Canada
The Heritage Canada Foundation , also known as Heritage Canada , is a registered charity with the mandate to encourage the protection and promotion of the built, natural, historic, and scenic heritage of Canada...
. He is also among the founders of the Franco-Ontarian Festival, and of Ottawa's Pollution Probe. He later joined the federal civil service serving as a land claims negotiator. He also had a number of other duties including serving as president of Ottawa's Tulip Festival
Tulip Festival (Ottawa)
The Canadian Tulip Festival is a tulip festival, held annually in May in Ottawa and Gatineau, Canada. The festival claims to be the world's largest tulip festival, displaying over one million tulips, with attendance of over 500,000 visitors annually...
. In the 2003 Ottawa election he returned to Ottawa's city council, replacing Madeleine Meilleur
Madeleine Meilleur
Madeleine Meilleur is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and is a cabinet minister in the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty.-Background:...
who had become a member of the provincial legislature. Meilleur endorsed Bédard's return to city council and he elected with 42% of the vote with his closest rival getting 27%.
He was re-elected in the 2006 Ottawa election with 47% of the vote to his closest, Bruce McConville, 45%. This was the narrowest margin of victory of any of the incumbent councilors in the 2006 election. He lost the 2010 Ottawa election to Mathieu Fleury.
Homelessness
In July, 2006 Bédard became vocal about the concentration of services offered to homeless people in Ottawa. Bédard has been critical of adding to the six shelters which are located in his Rideau-Vanier ward, arguing that concentrating homeless services in one spot ghettoizes the area and makes it harder for people to escape poverty and homelessness. City Council has passed Bédard's motion on having an interim moratoriumMoratorium (law)
A moratorium is a delay or suspension of an activity or a law. In a legal context, it may refer to the temporary suspension of a law to allow a legal challenge to be carried out....
on creating any more special needs housing in Rideau-Vanier until zoning review is completed.
The review resulted in new zoning rules that limited the number of shelters per ward, allowed shelters in other parts of the city where they were not allowed before, and prohibited shelters and social services from residential zones.
. This meshed with Bédard's earlier study, which limited group homes to 10 persons or less and allowed them in all residential areas.
Bedard was also successful in preventing the opening of new nightclubs, bars and pubs in his ward, and has tried unsuccessfully to get some of the area's bus shelters removed, saying that drug dealers and panhandlers use them.
Anti-noise by-law
In February 2010, Bédard proposed a by-law to city council which would allow the city to fine people $300 for engaging "in loud, boisterous, threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language" or becoming "a nuisance to the general public using the highway or to adjacent property owners".The proposed by-law is aimed specifically at the Byward Market
Byward Market
ByWard Market is a district in Lower Town located east of the government & business district, surrounding the market buildings and open-air market on George, York, ByWard and William Streets.The district is bordered on the west by Sussex Drive, on the...
which is within Bédard's ward. The proposed by-law came under attack by the Ottawa Panhandlers Union, whose spokesman say the proposed by-law is unconstitutional. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association or CCLA, is Canada's leading national organization devoted to the defence of civil liberties and constitutional rights, both inside and outside the courts. The organization's work focuses on constitutional litigation, law reform, advocating on civil...
also opposed the proposed by-law.