COUNCILLOR’S MESSAGE
Ottawa’s financial outlook
This is going to be a one-item edition of the Councillor’s Message for this issue of the Ward 9 Newsletter, as I’m currently on vacation. But it’s been hard to switch off the work-brain when it comes to the ongoing concern over our city’s financial outlook. With the 2025 budget process starting shortly, I felt that it was imperative to continue discussing this matter with residents.
In the August 13th issue of my newsletter, I wrote about Mayor Sutcliffe’s “Fair Deal for Ottawa” campaign. One core element of the mayor’s appeal for fair treatment is over the issue of PILTs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) from the federal government, arguing that it’s unfair that the federal government gets to assess the values of its own properties, frequently at lower values that the MPAC assessment, which lowers the revenues collected by the city. There was a very interesting thread on X(Twitter) showing the lengthy history of Ottawa’s dispute with the federal government over these discrepancies. Clearly, this is not a new battle.
At next week’s City Council meeting on September 4th, Council will get a full briefing and update on the mayor’s campaign. This will be the first time that Council will discuss the matter publicly, and I look forward to asking questions about progress so far, as well as the campaign’s underlying assumptions.
While I hope that Mayor Sutcliffe’s efforts will see Ottawa receive greater levels of funding from the provincial and federal governments, especially when it comes to transit operating funds, I remain concerned that we, as a city, need to take more accountability for our own choices when it comes to addressing Ottawa’s financial challenges.
Last week I attended the annual conference for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), which was held in Ottawa this year. The main issue of concern for municipal officials and elected representatives from across Ontario was that municipalities need more funding from the province. With a provincial election likely to be called within the year, and with the leaders of the Ontario NDP and Ontario Liberals promising AMO Conference attendees to provide more money to municipalities should they win, I remain cautiously optimistic that Premier Ford’s government will deliver something positive.
One key area where our city is in urgent need of greater support from the upper levels of government is new operating revenues for transit. As the Mayor stated in his “Fair Deal for Ottawa” campaign, we might soon not be able to afford to operate the transit system that we are currently expanding. This concerns every single Ottawa resident, even if you never use transit. We cannot achieve our housing targets, our economic growth targets, or our greenhouse gas emission targets without an expanded and reliable public transit system that sees far greater ridership levels. Even if you never plan to take any mode of transport other than your car, fixing transit concerns you. With Ottawa’s rapid population growth, vehicle congestion and road maintenance costs will only get worse unless we provide other viable modes of mass transportation.
While on holiday this week I’ve been reading “This is the End of the Line: Reconstructing transit operating funding in Canada”, an important and comprehensive report from a transportation planning consultant firm called Leading Mobility. Their report assesses the transit operation challenges facing Canada’s largest cities and recommends critical new revenue tools to help each city address its funding gaps. I look forward to discussing the report’s recommendations with city staff and my Council colleagues soon.
And when you consider the scale of the challenges that we’re facing, whether for transit or any of our other funding gaps, no one should be under the impression that the solutions are going to be easy, or painless. You can’t propose “new revenue tools” without understanding that the revenue must come from somewhere.
Speaking of matters that aren’t easy, we need to have a difficult, responsible discussion about property taxes in the City of Ottawa. In his public remarks over the past few weeks, Mayor Sutcliffe has suggested that an “historic” increase in property taxes might be one possible outcome of not being successful with his “Fair Deal for Ottawa” campaign. But as critics have suggested, Ottawa needs to get its own fiscal house in order, too. Our city would be in an entirely different financial position if Ottawa property taxes had increased in the same manner that other Canadian cities have raised their rates.
As shown in the graph above, produced by an Ottawa resident (and used with permission), Ottawa’s cumulative residential property tax rate has increased far less than other Canadian cities (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton) over the past 10 years. And this is despite Ontario municipalities bear more responsibilities than municipalities in other provinces. This resident has calculated that if Ottawa’s property tax rate had increased at the average thar these other cities’ rates had increased, that would have resulted in $900 million more in the last 5 years alone. Imagine how different the city would look and function if we had gone a different way.
Year after year, Ottawa City Council makes decisions that threaten the city’s long-term financial outlook. More than a decade’s worth of austerity budgets based on low, arbitrarily set tax rates. Dangerously depleted reserves. A culture of development that props up costly suburban sprawl. Excessively costly projects like Lansdowne 2.0 or Tewin that lack community support. Failed procurement deals on long-overdue, massively-overbudget, and routinely out-of-service LRT projects. If we’re going to pass a bucket to the federal and provincial governments and insist that they help bail us out of this mess, let’s make sure we don’t hand over a bucket with holes in it.
CITY WORKS
Speeding on Viewmount Drive
Our office has received reports of speeding concerns along Viewmount Drive, as well as issues related to the Chesterton and Viewmount intersection. In response, we have launched a traffic area study to evaluate the situation and consider potential solutions. Our office remains committed to enhancing safety in the area and will keep you updated on any progress.
Transit Update - Seasonal Service Changes
The following is a list of OC Transpo service changes for Fall 2024:
- Starting Monday, August 26, O-Train Line 1 will run every 10 minutes from approximately 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm on weekdays. Peak period and weekend service remain unchanged.
- The Trillium Line will not be operational for the first day of classes at Carleton University, as testing and trial runs are still ongoing for the new north-south light rail transit line.
- Line 2 Buses: More frequent service to Carleton University, with peak times every 10 minutes and every 12 minutes during midday and evening.
- Routes 7 & 25: Returning to regular, non-summer schedules to accommodate increased ridership.
- School-specific routes will resume with adjustments based on ridership and consultations with school boards. Octranspo.com has detailed changes to school routes.
- Redblacks Games: Special 450-series buses will be available, with fares included in event tickets.
- CityFolk, Army Run, Panda Game: Supplemental transit service will be announced closer to event dates.
- Labour Day (Sept 2): Sunday schedule for both bus and O-Train services.
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sept 30): Weekday schedule.
- Thanksgiving (Oct 14): Sunday schedule.
- Remembrance Day (Nov 11): Weekday schedule.
For real-time updates and schedule information, visit octranspo.com, or use the Transit app. You can also contact the OC Transpo Customer Service Centre at 613-560-5000.
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Project for Conover Street
Readers of the newsletter may already be aware of the upcoming construction related to the Neighborhood Traffic Calming project on Conover Street. Our office was reassured when public consultation for this project last year concluded that 63% of 231 respondents stated that they were “very or somewhat comfortable with the proposed plan”.
Construction of the speed humps is expected to begin in late Fall, likely around October or November 2024, with exact dates to be confirmed once the contractor's schedule is finalized. In addition, the installation of a raised Pedestrian Cross-Over (PXO) at the multi-use pathway crossing on Conover Street is awaiting final approval from Hydro One. If the PXO cannot be completed this year due to time constraints, construction will be rescheduled for Spring 2025. Further updates will be provided as they become available. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.
Traffic Congestion at Manordale Public School
Last year Councillor Devine was involved in discussions with various stakeholders to address traffic safety concerns at Manordale Public School. We met with leadership at Manordale Public School, representatives from the local community association, and the local school trustee. Our office did several onsite visits during student drop-off and pickup times. We observed many safety issues resulting from vehicle congestion on Carola Street, with multiple parking and turning illegally, often in close conflict with student pedestrians.
The proposed solution was to turn Carola Street into a one-way street and restrict parking to one side. This would allow school buses to continue their normal route, but would restrict drivers, therefore eliminating the dangerous and illegal driving conditions. While the proposed change would also restrict the movement of a small number of homeowners on Carola Street, that impact would be minimal.
This proposal was presented to City of Ottawa Traffic Services staff, who then advised that we try a less-restrictive solution first. The image below illustrates that less-intrusive solution.
Briefly, there will be three “no stopping” signs and one “no U-turn” sign installed on the west side of Carola Street. The image above indicates the proposed location for those new signs. With these new restrictions, vehicles will be prohibited from stopping between 7:30am – 9:30am and between 2:30pm – 4:30pm, covering both student drop-off and pick-up times. Having “no stopping” restrictions is more severe than “no parking” restrictions.
It is our goal to have these new restrictions in place for the start of school.
For these proposed changes to be effective, there will need to be ongoing communication between the school and parents and increased commitment to responsible driving from road users. Our office will be prepared to request enforcement from By-Law. We will also be doing another onsite assessment in October to see if conditions have improved. If this solution has not been effective, we will then start the petition process to change Carola Street into a one-way road.
General Burns Park Garbage
Our office was pleased to hear some positive responses out of General Burns Park, which is one of the Ward locations that was selected for new waste, recycling and organics receptacles, as part of the city’s ongoing Waste Diversion in Parks program. We look forward to seeing this new system become the standard across the entire city!
Cleaning the Capital – Fall 2024
Registration is now open for the fall Cleaning the Capital campaign!
Nothing is more spectacular than the fall colours in and around Ottawa. This September, help make those views in your community even more enjoyable by registering for Cleaning the Capital. Thanks to nearly 42,000 participants, the spring campaign was a big success with 1,034 projects registered and approximately 33,000 kilograms of waste collected.
Registration is now open until Tuesday, October 1 and can easily be done online. You can choose from a variety of public spaces to help clean up, such as community parks, roadsides, and shorelines.
Here are some important dates for the fall campaign:
- Thursday, August 15: Registration opens
- Sunday, September 15 to Tuesday, October 15: Fall Cleaning the Capital campaign
- Tuesday, October 1: Registration closes
- Friday, November 1: Deadline to submit your online cleanup report
Starter cleanup kits are available upon request. To learn more about the campaign or register your project, visit ottawa.ca/clean.
Grenfell Crescent Re-Paving & Culvert Renewal
We want to inform you about the upcoming construction on Grenfell Crescent. The project is focused on resurfacing Grenfell Crescent from Woodroffe Avenue to Pratt Avenue, with work scheduled to begin next week, now that the necessary culvert is available. The City Department responsible for the resurfacing should have delivered flyers with more detailed information to residents this week in preparation for the work.
Mandatory Multi-Residential Organics Diversion Notice
The City of Ottawa is transitioning to a mandatory organics program for all multi-unit residential properties starting this fall. Buildings with six units or more that receive waste collection services from the City of Ottawa will transition to the organics program with help from Solid Waste Services staff from the fall of 2024 to the winter of 2028. As such, a mandatory multi-residential organics notice was issued to multi-residential property owners on August 19th.
The Province of Ontario’s Food and Organic Waste Policy Statement provides direction to multi-residential properties to increase waste reduction and resource recovery of food and organic waste. The Provincial target for multi-residential properties is 50% waste reduction and recovery of food and organic waste by 2025. The Province of Ontario is committed to phasing out food and organic waste from landfills by 2030.
For additional information regarding the green bin onboarding process, please send an email to [email protected].
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Older Adults Summit
Join us on October 1 for our Ward 9 Older Adults Summit, being held in on Canada's National Seniors Day. From 12:30pm - 4:30pm in Halls A & B at the Nepean Sportsplex, Councillor Sean Devine will host an eclectic afternoon of programming, information resources, and networking. The day's events will include information booths, panel discussions and keynote speakers, focused on three themes:
- Housing Solutions
- Public Safety
- Health & Wellness
More info on programming will be coming soon! Admission is free.
Have your say on Draft Budget 2025
Budget 2025 is right around the corner, and the city wants to hear from you! Tell us what budget priorities matter to you by visiting the Engage Ottawa Draft Budget 2025 page, and then complete a short poll. The poll is open until Friday, September 13 and the results will be posted on Engage Ottawa.
Once the poll closes, there will be other opportunities to get involved with Draft Budget 2025, Keep your eyes peeled for information about Councillor-led sessions in the Fall, and you can always email us to let us know about your budget priorities. It’s your city, and your budget, so have your say!
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
Mpox in Ottawa
Ottawa Public Health is following up with two individuals who recently tested positive for mpox in the city. There have been no confirmed cases of mpox in Ottawa since October 2022. As it appears the infections were acquired locally, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is suggesting eligible residents at risk of contracting mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) complete a two-dose vaccination series of Imvamune® as soon as possible.
It’s important to know that, while most people affected by mpox are men who have sex with men, anyone can contract mpox. You can visit OPH’s website to find out who is eligible to receive a two-dose series of the vaccine and to book an appointment to receive it.
Respiratory disease update
The Respiratory Dashboard shows the levels of COVID-19 circulating in Ottawa are increasing once again. Ottawa Public Health is recommending using your layers of protection—like wearing a well-fitted mask when needed & avoiding gatherings if you're sick—to help limit the spread. With summer coming to an end, kids heading back to school, and more people heading back into the office, it’s important to be cautious. Protect your health and those around you with simple precautions like opening windows, running air filters, and wearing a mask when you are gathered with others.
Active Transportation Start of School Year
It's almost September: Pack your lunch, backpack, and make a plan for getting to school!
It takes 10 minutes (on average) to walk 800m – that’s about two or more blocks from your school. Walking and wheeling builds sustainable lifelong habits, gets you out in the fresh air, and can take a shorter amount of time than you think.
The number of kids (5-17 years) in Canada meeting national physical activity guidelines has improved but we’re still far from where we need to be. Only 39% met the recommended 60 minutes of moderate activity per day and 1-2 hours of light activity per day. Including walking, cycling, or scooting to school in your family’s routine can help you get closer to meeting these targets!
There are lots of ways to make your trip to school more active, including bike busses, walking with a buddy, or parking a block or two away and then walking. Check out the Walk-A-Block map for OCDSB and OCSB schools, or download them directly from CECCE and CEPEO.
Walk and wheel to school when you can - it will make a world of difference!
Find out more about how School Active Transportation works.
September is Prostate Cancer Month
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has proclaimed September 2024 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in Ottawa.
Prostate Cancer is the #1 cancer in men, and one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. As such, all men over 50 should have a PSA test done on a regular basis.
Men and their families can contact the Prostate Cancer Support Ottawa to learn more about prostate cancer or to seek help and support if diagnosed with prostate cancer.
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
9 Gurdwara
The owner of this property has applied to add a new entrance on Prince of Wales Blvd. between Rideau Heights Dr. and West Hunt Club Rd. Right now, the only access to the property is off Gurdwara Rd. This application for a zoning bylaw amendment goes to Planning and Housing Committee tomorrow, August 28. To learn more about this application, full documentation can be viewed on the city’s development applications portal.
1545 Woodroffe
Residents in the Tanglewood-Hillsdale area will be happy to learn that there is finally some progress on the development at 1545 Woodroffe, which is the gas station / Circle K / car wash. There had been a Tim Hortons at this site until the 2018 tornado caused so much damage that the restaurant has been shuttered and vacant ever since. The abandoned Tim Hortons has been a long-standing eyesore to the community, and there are safety concerns about the vacant building being used for illegal or dangerous activity.
Thanks to the combined efforts of our office, along with the Tanglewood-Hillsdale Community Association, the Manordale-Woodvale Community Association, and especially the persistent efforts of local Tanglewood resident Brenda Rothwell, the owner of the site has agreed to demolish the abandoned Tim Hortons restaurant, with work expected to take place in October.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
Upcoming Community Corn Roasts and Picnics!
Get ready to enjoy some delicious food and great company at our upcoming community events! Here’s what’s happening in the Ward 9 neighborhood:
- Tanglewood Community Corn Roast - September 4, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
- Glens Community Picnic - September 7, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Merivale Gardens Corn Roast - September 7, 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Manordale Woodvale Corn Roast - September 7, 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Mark your calendars, bring your family and friends, and make the most of these delightful community gatherings!
Concert on the QED
Councillor Devine and his cover band The Suburban Legends were very happy to have played a summertime outdoor concert on August 14, as part of the NCC’s Summer Zone of programming on the temporarily closed section of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway. While the city and its residents continue to have a public debate about the future use of the QED, it was exciting to see just how transformative it was to see this road as a public space. As the city continues to wrestle with the transportation and public realm needs of a growing city that aims to concentrate more and more people in our downtown core, it’s helpful to throw some creativity into how we look at the options for a better and more livable future.
Community Evening at Inverness Park: Elections, Information, and a Movie Night!
Join Nepean Rideau Osgoode Community Resource Centre (NROCRC) for an engaging and fun-filled evening at Inverness Park on September 6, starting at 7:00pm. There will be information booths about municipal elections and community issues, plus a movie under the stars! Bring your own blanket, water and snacks. Free popcorn provided!
Information Booths:
Starting at 7:00 pm, come explore the information booths set up by the NROCRC. Whether you're curious about the municipal election, have questions about local issues, or want to get involved in community initiatives, NROCRC’s knowledgeable representatives will be on hand to provide answers and resources. This is a fantastic chance to engage with local leaders and gain valuable insights into the future of our community.
Movie Screening:
After visiting the information booths, stick around for a delightful movie night, where they will be screening the family favorite “Rumble”. The film will begin at dusk, around 7:45pm. Bring your own blanket, water, and snacks to create a cozy and comfortable movie-watching experience. Plus, we’ll be serving up free popcorn to add a bit of extra fun to your evening!
This event is designed to combine civic engagement with community enjoyment, so gather your friends and family, and come out for a memorable evening at the park.
Youth Tech Training
The Youth Safe Space Canada has a new program focused on Youth TECH training! The Youth TECH Training program is designed specifically for Black youth aged 15-25 and will run from September to December 2024. This program, which is being implemented in partnership with NROCRC, aims to equip young people with valuable tech skills and opportunities.
Breakfast Matters
The Ottawa Network for Education’s (ONFE) is launching its second annual #BreakfastMatters fundraising campaign! Their goal this year is to raise $30,000 to kick-start the School Breakfast Program, ensuring that students have a nutritious meal to begin their school day.
To reach this ambitious goal, they are rallying support from across the community through social media, email outreach, and local TV features. Here are several community partners joining in this effort:
Senators Community Foundation Donation Match
From now until October 1st, every donation made to the Breakfast Matters campaign will be matched by the Senators Community Foundation, doubling the impact of your gift!
Zak’s Diner “Flipping for a Cause” – Saturday, September 21st
Don’t miss out on the chance to support in a delicious way on Saturday, September 21st at Zak’s Diner. $2 from every pancake order will be donated to the program. Plus, enjoy a 50/50 draw every hour at all five Zak’s locations throughout the day!
Place d'Orléans Shopping Centre
From September 1st to 15th, Place d'Orléans will match gift card purchases up to a maximum of $5,000.
Nepean Horticultural Society Plant Sale
Make exercise fun with Square Dancing
