Regional Councillor candidate misrepresents cycling group in election brochure

For immediate release - Thursday, November 6, 1997

A candidate for regional councillor in Cumberland/Osgoode (R6) has issued an election brochure quoting Brett Delmage, President of Citizens for Safe Cycling (CfSC), without CfSC's permission, and has not responded to repeated requests to confirm that he has withdrawn the brochure or covered the quote, and printed a correction in community papers. CfSC is concerned that the inclusion of this quote will mislead voters about the candidate's accountability and his voting record on cycling issues.

CfSC sent two faxes to Councillor Robert van den Ham's office in the last week, informing him that neither CfSC nor Delmage was asked for permission to include this quote. This permission would not have been given, since CfSC does not endorse any candidates in municipal elections. Van den Ham has not responded to the faxes or to the telephone message left at his office.

Van den Ham issued an election brochure in October quoting Delmage as President of CfSC, saying "We wish more Regional Councillors were this accountable, and took the time to discuss the issues." This statement was made in June, when van den Ham moved a motion to reallocate $500,000 (approximately 10%) of Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Works funding which the Transportation Department had recommended be spent on cycling improvements. At that time, van den Ham called cycling transportation "a poor investment".

At CfSC's invitation, van den Ham attended a public rally to reinstate the cycling funds that he cut, at which he defended his anti-cycling motion and vote. He also took time to discuss his views with residents who attended the rally. It was from this action that the statement arose, although CfSC remained publicly critical of councillors who voted to cut the funding.

During last year's Regional budget review, van den Ham stated that "cycling as a mode of transportation in this region sucks. We have a multi-billion dollar infrastructure system to handle transit and cars. You put one bicycle on those things and it constrains everything...let's not change the whole regional road network to accommodate bicycles." He has also voted to cut funding for the region's cycling safety program and environmentally-friendly transportation program.

"Robert van den Ham's words and actions hardly show him to be a friend to cycling residents," Delmage said. "We are seriously concerned that he would imply that a group that works for better, safer cycling for all residents of this region endorses him, with his anti-cycling record. Van den ham's misrepresentation and failure to respond to our calls and letters raise serious questions about his accountability to the public."

Cycling is an increasingly popular mode of transportation in Ottawa-Carleton. Approximately one-half of residents ride a bicycle during the year and 160,000 trips are made by bicycle each day during the cycling season. In July Regional Council adopted a new official plan that directs a doubling of cycling trips and an increase in transit and walking trips to reduce the need for new and expanded regional roads, and their high costs to the taxpayer, environment, and quality of life in neighbourhoods.

- 30 -

For more information: Brett Delmage 722-4454

< Prev		Next >