Dear editor,

As someone who has been on Ottawa city council for almost 20 years, Peter Hume has overseen the complete crumbling of Ottawa’s major infrastructure.

While I was president of the Queenswood Heights Community Association in 2006, I remember Mr. Hume making light of the fact that hundreds of my neighbours’ homes had been flooded following a major rain storm.

Mr. Hume arrogantly said, “Welcome to the City of Ottawa.”

Now, Mr. Hume has the gall to personally attack local elected officials for raising their concerns about an important community issue. Jim Watson and Gordon O’Connor were right to point out their legitimate concerns over billions of litres of raw sewage flowing into the Ottawa River. We elect people to speak up and defend us, not to turn a blind eye for two decades.

Sewage spilling into the Ottawa River, suburban homes flooding during storm events, sports stadiums falling apart, Swiss cheese roads full of potholes – none of these problems are new. Where has Peter Hume been?

Shame on Mr. Hume! Shame on him for his lack of vision, shame on him for his lack of action and shame on him for throwing mud instead of getting down to business.

Stephen Blais
Orléans