Georges Bédard

Georges Bédard(born in Ottawa, Ontario) is a 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 councillors in the 2006 election.

Homelessness

In late 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. City Council has passed Bédard's motion [ Ottawa City Council [http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2006/09-27/disposition65.htm] ] on having an interim moratorium on creating any more special needs housing in Rideau-Vanier until zoning review is completed. [ CFRA: [http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=1&nid=42647] ] Bédard is part of a downtown coalition which advocates a safer downtown Ottawa. Bédard has also spoken out against the OC Transpo bus shelters located on Rideau Street in front of the Rideau Centre. Bédard has said that the shelters are a haven for crack dealers and vagrants and has advocated that their walls be removed during the summer. [ Ottawa Sun: [http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/OttawaAndRegion/2006/09/18/1857556.html] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.georgesbedard.ca/home_e.shtml Official site]
* [http://ottawa.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/councillors/g_bedard_en.html City hall page]
* [http://www.votegeorgesbedard.ca/ Election 2006 website]