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A report that casts ahead to Ottawa 50-plus years from now contains some eye-opening scenarios.

One scenario painted in Ottawa Next: Beyond 2036 suggests Ottawa-Gatineau will be part of a “mega-region” with Toronto and Montreal in order to compete in the global market for talent and investment, aided by high-speed trains to Montreal in an hour and to Toronto in two hours.

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Another scenario comes right out of the plot of a near-future dystopian novel. The gap between rich and poor widens to the point where the rich live downtown in enclaves near a thriving entertainment district. Some have private security. Meanwhile, the poor live stuffed six to 10 in two- or three-bedroom apartments in neighbourhoods where substance abuse and crime are rife.

Yet another suggests that living indoors will be the new normal under climate change. While there are innovations in energy efficiency and green design, energy demand keeps increasing. Wastewater is filtered on-site in commercial, industrial and apartment buildings, and nuclear power is the main source of energy.