An Ottawa city councillor is questioning the city's decision to fire two waste water managers the day before the city pleaded guilty to two charges under Ontario's Water Resources Act.

The City of Ottawa pleaded guilty Thursday to the charges, which relate to a huge spill of raw sewage into the Ottawa River in 2006. The 1.2-billion litre spill has been blamed for fouling the swimming area of an east-end beach.

Orleans Coun. Bob Monette said Dave McCartney, who was fired Wednesday from his position as the city's manager of waste water, was the person who first made the spill public.

The release of the information led to a public outcry, an investigation and government promises to clean up the Ottawa River.

"If it had not have been for Dave being honest that day, coming out and saying what had happened, we would probably not have $100 million [of new funding] put to sewer problems in the Ottawa River right now," Monette said.

McCartney's dismissal could encourage other staff to keep quiet instead of coming forward about mistakes made at the city, Monette said.

Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien said his council will spend $100 million to clean up the Ottawa River and that he hopes the court will give the city a light sentence.

Stuart Huxley, the city lawyer handling the court case, said Thursday's guilty plea demonstrated the city is taking responsibility for the spill.

City manager Kent Kirkpatrick dismissed suggestions Thursday that McCartney's dismissal and that of another employee could be an effort to save face with the province.

He said an investigation over the course of the summer revealed that things weren't done as they were supposed to be done, and discipline will be handed out when it is warranted.

Fired employee plans to sue

Another employee, Barrie King, was fired Wednesday from his job as City of Ottawa's program manager of waste water collection. He said he plans to sue the city over his dismissal.

The city also suspended an employee and reprimanded another over the spill Wednesday.

The city was charged by Ontario's Environment Ministry on July 31 with:

• Causing or permitting the discharge of sewage into the river that could "impair the quality of the water," contrary to Section 30 (1) of the Ontario Water Resources Act.
• Failing to notify the ministry of the spill when it was discovered, on Aug. 15, as required by Section 30 (2).

The charges are for contamination that took place between Aug. 4 and 15. For each of the offences, the city could face fines of $25,000 to $6 million for each day or partial day of the spill for a total of $325,000 to $78 million if it is convicted for all 12 days.

The spill, caused by a sewage gate that was jammed open after a storm, became public in May. A City of Ottawa worker was fired after it came to light that he failed to alert the Ministry of the Environment immediately about the spill as he was supposed to and as he claimed to have done. The ministry was officially notified in May 2007.