Janet Stavinga
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Janet Stavinga is an Ottawa City Councillor. She represents the Goulbourn ward covering what was once the independent Goulbourn Township.
She was first a Goulbourn councillor and then was elected its mayor in 1997. She opposed the amalgamation of Goulbourn into the new city of Ottawa. At the time of the anticipated merger, Goulbourn had significant cash reserves from development charges, part of which was for a future sports complex. Controversy arose when she worked to empty those cash reserves by building the sports complex when the merger became inevitable. When Goulbourn was absorbed into Ottawa in 2000 she ran for Ottawa City Council against regional representative Betty Hill and councillor Steven Lewis.
On city council the most important issue that faced Stavinga was what to do with Munster's sewage. Munster has sewage lagoons and spray field treatment that arguably fails to meet provincial standards. Stavinga supported building an expensive pipeline to Ottawa's central treatment plant. Others felt it would be better to build a small local facility. The residents of Richmond in her ward, strongly opposed the pipeline, which would run under their area. A major concern of Richmond residents was a perceived danger to their water supply, as most of Richmond uses well water. The pipeline debate was a central issue in the Goulbourn ward in the 2003 Ottawa election with Michael O'Rourke opposing the pipeline. Despite the strong opposition from a part of the ward Stavinga was elected with a strong majority.
Stavinga is the only city councillor not running for re-election in the Ottawa municipal election, 2006. She endorsed Alex Munter for mayor.
In an article that wrongly named Stavinga's ward, the following was said about the Ward 6 councillor: RICHMOND, Councillor Janet Stavinga
Last term: B-
Stavinga, chair of the city's transportation committee, is struggling under the weight of the role. She's upsetting committee members, several of whom privately wish there was some way they could get off of the committee if only to avoid her annoying attempts at leadership.
They find her condescending with her school-marm speeches. There's no doubt she's a hard worker, but her overly dramatic speeches at council generally fail to sway her fellow councillors.
To her credit, there is likely no one who is as attentive during council as she is. She appears to be listening to delegations, staff and even her council colleagues.
C+ (http://www.rainerbloess.com/en/News_Clippings_29/items/17.html)
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| Preceded by Paul Bradley |
Mayors of Goulbourn Township 1997-2001 |
Succeeded by Position abolished |
| Preceded by None, ward amalgamated into Ottawa in 2000 |
City councillors from Goulbourn Ward 2001-2006 |
Succeeded by Shad Qadri (Stittsville-Kanata West Ward) |
