Ottawa – The Choosing our Future initiative, launched in 2009, is moving along and the three partners are now embarking on the next step in the process, which will focus on defining strategies and options to achieve the project’s long-term sustainability principles and goals.

Top officials from the National Capital Commission (NCC), City of Gatineau and City of Ottawa received an update on the project’s progress and key achievements at a tripartite meeting on February 11, 2010.

Choosing Our Future is a joint planning initiative, with the aim of helping Canada’s Capital Region face the challenges of the 21^st century by integrating the three central concepts of sustainability, resiliency and liveability into all facets of planning, design and governance.

“Through this initiative, we are preparing our region to take advantage of future opportunities and building the capacity to ward off potential challenges long before they become serious issues,” said Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien. “I look forward to implementing plans that will leave the National Capital Region in a better position for generations to come.”

The initiative recognizes the environmental, cultural, social, and economic impacts of past decisions on the National Capital Region, and the project aims to ensure the Region’s well being for future generations of residents.

At its core, six principles guide the formulation of plans for the future of the Region: long-term thinking; local and global vision; one planet; integration of systems; diversity and creativity; and, learning and cooperation.

“Choosing Our Future will inform the NCC’s long-term plans including the imminent review of our Plan for Canada’s Capital, the lead federal planning policy document for the National Capital Region,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC. “The Choosing our Future initiative will help to harmonize our long-term planning on both sides of the river and make the Region a model of sustainability for all Canadians.”

A progress report, which included six principles and 12 goals, was received by the cities and NCC. This report outlined their long-term vision for the Region in a number of different areas, including: health and quality of life; economic prosperity; cultural diversity and vitality; biodiversity and ecosystem health; governance; housing; transportation; and local food production.

“Over the long term, as our planning becomes more strategic, our decisions regarding expansion and growth will become more focused and better correspond to our overall vision. The principles and objectives currently in place will allow for the creation of urban environments on a human scale, which will respect our environment, and build communities that can develop harmoniously and coherently,” added Gatineau Mayor Marc Bureau.

In order to achieve these goals and to ensure the environmental, cultural, social and economic sustainability of the Region for the next 100 years, the Choosing Our Future initiative will result in an integrated set of three long-range plans: a Community Sustainability Plan; a Risk Mitigation and Prevention Plan; and a Community Energy Plan.

For more information on the Choosing our Future project, and to learn more about how to become involved, visit choosingourfuture.ca.