COUNCILLOR’S MESSAGE
When empathy is in short supply
The recent news that Ottawa will be investing in a series of “sprung structures” to house asylum seekers has generated a lot of attention. The city has proposed the accelerated construction of two new structures, each of which could temporarily house approximately 300 persons. It’s part of the city’s strategy to respond to an increasing number of asylum seekers arriving in our city, which puts unsustainable pressure on our existing homeless shelter system.
The City of Ottawa proposed tentative locations for these sprung structures: in Barrhaven, Orleans, and Alta Vista. None of the sites have been finalized. And while many critics of these sites have raised concerns about the construction method of these new facilities, claiming that these kinds of tents do not offer appropriate housing for asylum seekers, it feels more likely that the true concern is over the location.
I can understand why some critics might question why the city would build a temporary structure over a permanent one. But I’ve spoken with City of Ottawa officials who have clarified that the proposed locations are municipally owned sites that will be used for other purposes eventually, and so it would not be practical to build something permanent.
Besides, for anyone who is concerned that “sprung structures” do not offer a dignified housing option to an asylum seeker, please watch this video which will show you that these are well-built, modern structures that can certainly provide appropriate interim housing while we continue to work towards more sustainable, permanent, and affordable solutions.
But these technical matters are not why I’m writing about this today. You’ll notice that the heading for this segment is “When empathy is in short supply”. And so, I’d like to address the emotional response to this important housing issue.
Empathy is the action of understanding, or at least trying to understand and be aware of the feelings and experiences of others.
Try to imagine what asylum seekers are running away from: war, persecution, oppression. Imagine yourself in their circumstances. And then consider the relative comfort of our own living conditions, our own freedoms, here in Ottawa, here in Canada.
Empathy is also essential to a properly functioning democracy. Democracy itself is a system of government that enables the peaceful and legal management of political differences. We accomplish this through our ability to listen to and understand the different positions of others. Without empathy, differences lead to conflict, and quite often violent conflict.
I want to share with you content from an email that I got from a resident about the “sprung structures” for asylum seekers. I truly wish that more residents had this level of empathy:
“Yesterday evening CTV news aired a segment regarding the proposed housing for asylum seekers. They named several different neighourhoods, including Barrhaven. Apparently, the councillors for Barrhaven feel that their neighbourhoods are not a good location for this type of housing. It is kind of odd because Barrhaven is full of resources.
You would have to be living under a rock to not recognize that Ottawa has a housing shortage, a lot of people living on the streets and a drug problem. I am not faced with these realities daily in the beautiful neighbourhood that I am fortunate to live in. But I wanted to tell you my thoughts as a resident in Ward 9.
The City of Ottawa should be looking at the fastest option to house people, regardless of the location. That should be the main criteria. I would not object to housing like this in Ward 9 if that was the best option.”
In these situations, I’m reminded of the famous quote from Gandhi, which said that “the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” The foundational principles of many religions encourage being charitable and compassionate to those in need.
As we look at an immediate horizon filled with challenges and uncertainties, my hope is that we all develop a deeper sense of empathy for those facing struggles that we have been fortunate enough to have avoided.
What do we learn from Toronto’s budget?
It is no secret that many municipalities, including our own, have been struggling under the weight of strained budgets and an increasing need for funds across all municipal service areas. In established neighbourhoods like Ward 9, our infrastructure is aging and in need of updating. There is an urgent need for more affordable housing solutions. Our transit system is under constant pressure and has many challenges maintaining adequate service levels at a price that Ottawans can reasonably afford and be expected to pay. A year ago, Toronto was in an even more challenging position than our city was. But today, the Toronto fiscal situation is looking very different, indeed. After the first four months of 2023, Toronto was on track to register a nearly $900 million annual spending deficit. But, thanks to some additional funding from the province and a bold, one-time increase in the property tax rate the city is now registering a modest budget surplus. That’s a remarkable turnaround and a testament to the importance of bold political leadership from Toronto City Council. Here in Ottawa, we have been struggling along under minimal, austere tax increases that have not even kept pace with inflation. If we want to dig out from under the many financial challenges we are facing, our Council may need to step up and show the same kind of determined leadership Toronto has shown.
Update from City Hall
OC Transpo
Yesterday OC Transpo made a surprise announcement that it was planning to cut service levels in half for LRT Line 1 during non-peak hours, effective August 26. This means that, as of that date, between 9:00am – 3:00pm, LRT trains on Line 1 would run every 10 minutes instead of every 5 minutes.
Council had not been made aware of this proposed change prior to the announcement. The Chair of Transit Commission had not been made aware of this proposed change. I’ve heard that the Mayor himself had not been made aware. This was an operational decision made by OC Transpo. There will, no doubt, be significant discussion among Councillors over this decision in the coming days and weeks.
Everyone knows that OC Transpo is facing significant budget deficits, and that ridership levels are lower than expected. But there is a very real and legitimate concern that these kinds of service cuts will only make those matters worse. If you haven’t already heard of the concept of the “death spiral” that public transit is facing, just Google the words “public transit death spiral” and you’ll quickly get the picture: chronic underfunding and de-prioritization of public transit investment leads to lower ridership, which leads to further under-funding and service cuts, and so on.
To cut LRT Line 1 service in half just when students are heading back to school in September, just when federal workers are mandated to be in the office more frequently, is a wrongly motivated and short-sighted decision, at best. At worst, it’s a decision made with awareness of what it can lead to, which is more and more passengers simply giving up on using transit. I’m concerned that, once again, OC Transpo may be paying more attention to their performance metrics than they are to the rider’s experience.
At the very least, if OC Transpo is aiming to match supply with demand, then it could hold off on decisions over service levels until mid-October, for example, to gauge ridership levels once students and federal workers have established their ridership patterns.
This is fresh news, since I and my fellow Council colleagues only learned of this yesterday. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it in the next issue.
Infrastructure & Housing
As we’re in the summer months, there’s not much activity at City Hall in terms of Council meetings or Committee meetings. But I’ve been using this time to advance some key projects and initiatives. In my next issue I hope to provide an update on my “Summer of Infrastructure”, but for this issue I wanted to catch you up on the efforts I’ve been making to advance our city’s housing concerns.
Thanks to several months of meetings and advocacy from my office, I’m looking forward to making some exciting announcements soon about the following:
- An innovative “attainable home ownership” project taking place in Ward 9, on a piece of municipally owned surplus land;
- A project that originated from my office working with a local non-profit on a new housing finance model to get affordable homes built faster and at lower cost; and
- An initiative to support the promotion of single egress stairway low-rise buildings in Ottawa, which would allow for a wider variety of “missing middle” housing in our city
Hope to see some Ward 9 residents on August 14th
In case you don’t read all the way to the bottom of the newsletter, please check out the segment in “Community News & Events” about my cover band playing at the NCC Summer Zone on August 14th. It’d be nice to see some Ward 9 faces out in the crowd as we play live music on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway on a lovely summer evening.
CITY WORKS
Hydro Ottawa: critical investment is needed
When Hydro Ottawa presented their Annual Report to City Council back in June, Hydro Ottawa CEO Bryce Conrad painted a very clear picture of the urgent and historic level of investment needed in electrical infrastructure and power generation needed for our city to meet its growing demand for electrical power. In June of th8is year, Hydro Ottawa presented their Annual Report to Ottawa City Council. "The level of capital to support the electrification plans we have in place is going to exceed anything we've ever seen before," said Conrad.
We wanted to mention this here, so that Ward 9 residents continue to be aware not only of the financial pressures that the city and its residents will soon have to consider, but also to let you know what Councillor Devine is doing to work collaboratively with Hydro Ottawa. Here are some of the initiatives that Councillor Devine is seeking to advance:
- Taking advantage of Hydro Ottawa’s offer to do energy retrofits of municipal facilities (possibly including the Nepean Sportsplex), to make these buildings much more energy efficient;
- Incentivizing the installation of solar panels on industrial / commercial rooftops, possibly through property tax discounts to participating businesses, to maximize power generation. Councillor Devine is meeting with leaders at Dymon Storage, who have been doing significant installations on all their Ottawa-based warehouses;
- Piloting a community-based battery backup system, where Hydro Ottawa would position battery storage units in vulnerable areas (e.g. Fisher Heights, Parkwood Hills, Merivale Gardens) for use in case of localized power outages.
Planned power outage
On July 30th (today), Hydro Ottawa will be replacing one of its electrical poles, which will result in a planned power outage. This work will impact approximately 80 customers on Ashburn Drive, Ness Street and Wigan Drive. The outage is planned from 9:00am – 3:00pm. In case of postponement, the work will take place July 31st.
Residents may notice increased construction presence throughout the day. Traffic control and lane reductions will be implemented to ensure that roads and sidewalks remain safe for residents and staff. Construction activities will occur on the Hydro Ottawa easement in rear backyards - a legal right of access for Hydro Ottawa to install and maintain its electrical distribution system.
All affected customers are contacted by phone, text or email - depending on the communication preferences indicated on their account - and informed by a written notice delivered to their door, if applicable.
Preventing basement flooding
Last August, Ottawa experienced historic rainfall, which led to basement flooding across the city. And Toronto experienced a similarly devastating event, even more widespread and costly. While people will continue to debate the cause of these events, we should not debate the value of being prepared for how to prevent damage to homes and property from extreme rainfall.
Prior to any storm, there are actions that residents can take to protect their homes and help mitigate the impact of significant rainfall events, and the potential of flooding on your property. Some of these include:
- Install protective plumbing devices, such as backwater valves to protect against basement flooding caused by increased flows in City sewers.
- Maintain your protective plumbing devices frequently. This is extremely important to ensure that they function as intended when you need them the most.
- Seal window wells and any cracks in floors, walls, and/or your foundation.
- Direct downspouts from eavestroughs away from your foundation (minimum of 1.2 metres) or to a rain barrel
- Clean out your eavestroughs regularly to avoid blockages
- Disconnect downspouts from the sewer system or foundation drains
- Clear debris from the catch basin on your property (driveway or rear yard).
By taking these preventative measures and staying informed, Ottawa residents can significantly reduce the risk of flood damage to their homes. For comprehensive flood-related information, including infographics, tips and additional resources, visit ottawa.ca/flooding or ottawa.ca/rain. For information on rebates for backwater valves and other protective plumbing devices, visit ottawa.ca/rppp.
Consultation: Residential Protective Plumbing
The city is proposing changes to the residential protective plumbing program—the program that aids homeowners who are having issues with water backing up into their home’s wastewater systems. Under the current program, the funding can be challenging to access, with a number of strict qualifying criteria. The proposed changes will make the funds more accessible and, hopefully, make it easier for homeowners to acquire the protection they need from increasingly common, heavy stormwater events in the city. To participate in the consultation, head for Engage Ottawa and check out all the information there.
Workforce Development Training
The Ottawa Community Benefits Network, in partnership with the Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec Building Trades Council, is pleased to provide tenants in community housing with an introduction to the skilled trades and the opportunity to gain industry recognized certifications in the construction sector.
The OCBN will be hosting information sessions in person and virtually. Information on this program and to express interest can be found at www.ottawacommunitybenefits.ca/workforce
Please contact [email protected] for more information.
MacFarlane Road traffic calming project: update
The MacFarlane Road Neighborhood Traffic Calming Project is finally ready to start construction later this year. Our office has been told that the project is expected to kick off in the second week of September and is aiming for completion by the end of October. For a review of the approved plans and safety implementation that are part of the design, we invite you to review them on our visit the City of Ottawa’s website.
Craig Henry Drive traffic calming project: update
In our last newsletter, we informed residents that our office was collaborating with city staff to better understand the project status of the speed cushions on Craig Henry Drive. The contractor that was hired for this project has missed multiple deadlines, and the City has issued a warning to the contractor to complete the work ASAP or face consequences. To clarify any confusion, the white painted chevrons were applied to areas where the speed cushions had been removed because the contractor was responsible for the cushions, while the City was responsible for the markings. The City wanted to ensure that the paint remained visible, as the white chevrons still provide safety benefits even if a speed cushion is missing. Since that newsletter, we have also received reports of OC Transpo buses veering onto medians, causing some damage. The Councillor has spoken with OC Transpo staff to ensure this issue does not recur. We hope to have this frequently delayed project wrapped up soon.
Merivale Garden noise issues: update
Residents of Merivale Gardens will be pleased to hear that the joint effort between Councillor Devine and the Merivale Gardens Community Association was effective in finally getting a positive result from the NCC in addressing the concern expressed by many residents about dangerous levels of noise emanating from “bird banger” air cannons located on the research farms off Woodroffe Avenue.
After much lobbying from the Councillor and the community, the NCC was finally able to get their tenant farmer to make changes to their equipment. The tenant farmer will be using a different method of bird deterrent this year as an alternative to the cannons, and they will also move their crop fields much further west (away from Woodroffe and closer to Greenbank). These changes should positively impact the noise experienced by Merivale Garden residents.
Pinhey Forest fire protection: update
Our office continues to work with the NCC and Ottawa Fire Services to address fire safety concerns arising from the large volume of tree debris inside Pinhey Forest, which poses potential hazards to residents of Merivale Gardens and Grenfell Glen. We are awaiting news from the NCC about their timeline for removal of this tree debris, which should occur in the next 3 – 6 months, as we’ve been told. In the meantime, our office requested that the NCC install “no fires allowed” signs at all public entrances to Pinhey Forest along Slack Road and Pineland Avenue. We took a drive through the area last week and were happy to see at least 8 of these signs installed at every trail entrance or parking lot.
Trend-Arlington Park Pavilion Construction: update
Residents of Trend-Arlington will soon notice construction commencing along Bellman Drive, for the Trend-Arlington Park Pavilion project. This is a very exciting project that will see a new 40’ x 50’ multi-purpose shade structure, where the community raised funds after the 2018 tornado (back when Councillor Devine was president of the local community association). Construction of this project is scheduled to begin immediately, with substantial completion by December 31, 2024, and final completion at some point in Summer 2025.
Ward 9 park renewals: update
Our office wanted to provide a brief update on two park play structure renewal projects that are scheduled for the Fisher Heights area:
- Parthia Park will see its play structure renewal project start in mid-August, with work expected to take about a month. This work was supposed to have started earlier but was delayed because of the manufacturing of the play equipment.
- Fisher Heights Park will see its play structure take place after Labour Day and is expected to take 8 – 10 weeks from start to completion.
It was our office’s request that the two projects not occur simultaneously, so that residents in the area can still have a park to use while the other one is closed for construction.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Pop-Up Office Hours in Tanglewood
On Thursday, August 8th, we’ll be setting up our lovely community engagement tent inside Tanglewood Park for Ward 9 Pop-Up Office Hours! We’ll be in the park from 4:00pm – 6:30pm, and then we’ll be sticking around for the 7:00pm performance of MacBeth by Ottawa’s own a Company of Fools. To find out more about our Pop-Up Office Hours and to RSVP, please visit our website.
Potato Rescue Project
Last weekend our office was proud to partner with Foodsharing Ottawa on their amazing Potato Rescue Project. Foodsharing Ottawa is a local non-profit that helps address the issues of food insecurity and food waste. Their latest initiative saw the delivery of 42,000 pounds of potatoes delivered to Ottawa from a farm in Manitoba. Our office partnered with Foodharing Ottawa by arranging for Erb Canada to sponsor the event with a 52’ climate-controlled trailer, and our office also covered the costs of renting a City of Ottawa parking lot for our staging ground. Over two days, Councillor Devine joined over 40 volunteers to sort potatoes into small boxes and assist with distributing them to food banks and other service organizations all across Ottawa. Special thanks go out to The Erb Group and their Ottawa division for supplying the trailer, and to The Farmlink Project for the coordination of this global initiative to prevent food waste. We can’t wait to do it all again!
Older Adult Summit: update
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to our survey regarding the Ward 9 Older Adult Summit. We were thrilled to have almost 150 responses to our survey! Your valuable input is instrumental in helping us shape an event that truly meets the needs and interests of our community.
Your feedback has provided us with essential insights and ideas that will contribute to making the Summit both successful and relevant. We are grateful for your engagement and enthusiasm as we continue with our preparations.
Stay tuned for more updates and details about the event. We look forward to seeing you at the Ward 9 Older Adult Summit on October 1st!
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
Wastewater surveillance continues... for now
The crucial wastewater monitoring system in Ottawa has been given a temporary reprieve. Despite the Province withdrawing funding for monitoring programs as of July 31, the University of Ottawa lab that performs the testing has secured funding for a limited time which will allow the monitoring to continue, for now. That is great news, as Ottawa Public Health has come to rely on the system for tracking the prevalence of various communicable diseases in the city. Now, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health, Vera Etches, is continuing to push for more long-term funding of the program to ensure that it remains available in the months and years to come. We will keep you updated on any new developments in that effort to make the program viable, long-term.
Respiratory Disease Update
The continuation of wastewater testing is good news, particularly with the recent resurgence of COVID-19 in the community. After several months of low levels, the wastewater is showing a steady and significant increase in the number of cases in the community. COVID is much more contagious than the flu and we can experience increases even during the warmer weather when people are socializing outside more. So, as you go about your social activities in the coming weeks, be aware that there are more contagious people out there right now than there has been and take some basic precautions: masking in crowds, good filtration indoors, and open those windows to get some fresh air circulating inside.
Youth activity in Tanglewood
Several residents in Tanglewood have reached out to our office expressing concern about aggressive activity involving local youth in the Woodfield Drive / Medhurst Park area. Our office will be seeking to organize a community meeting, along with the Ottawa Police Service and possibly the Nepean Rideau Osgoode Community Resource Centre, to address resident concerns and help advance some positive outcomes.
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
780 Baseline
This spring, City Council approved the re-zoning application for 780 Baseline. While work has not yet begun on the site, it is expected to get underway early next year. The developer, Theberge Homes, has agreed to hold an information session this fall to communicate its plans to local residents and set some expectations around the construction activity on site. Stay tuned for more details on that session.
9 Gurdwara
There is an application to add an entrance to this property in the industrial park, off Prince of Wales Drive. Councillor Devine has been in touch with the owner and has had a discussion with city staff about the change. Our office will continue to monitor the situation and will keep you informed of what happens with the application and any next steps that emerge from the process.
1545 Woodroffe
Residents in Tanglewood and Manordale will be happy to learn that there has been some progress made on the long-delayed development of the Esso station / Circle K convenience store at the intersection of Woodroffe Avenue and Medhurst Drive. Thanks to the proactive and persistent involvement of several community members, the long-abandoned Tim Horton’s restaurant on the site has finally been scheduled for demolition.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
Councillor Devine at the NCC Summer Zone
On August 14th at 6:00pm, Councillor Devine and his band The Suburban Legends will be performing at the outdoor stage as part of the NCC’s Summer Zone, which is the pedestrianized segment of Queen Elizabeth Drive between Somerset Street and Catherine Street that’s been closed off to cars. Along with the live music, Parkways for People will be providing free ice cream. So come join us for a summertime concert in one of the city’s most exciting new spaces.
Movie in the Park: "Encanto" – August 10th!
Join us for a magical evening under the stars at Tanglewood Park! On August 10th, Sequoia Church will be screening the enchanting film Encanto. Bring your family, friends, and a cozy blanket for a delightful night of outdoor cinema.
Event Details:
- Date: August 10, 2024
- Time: 7 pm
- Location: Tanglewood Park, 30 Woodfield Drive
Come early to grab a great spot and enjoy the pre-show activities! We look forward to sharing this enchanting film with you all in the beautiful setting of Tanglewood Park.
See you there for a night of fun and magic!
Shakespeare in the Park: performances in Ward 9
We are thrilled to announce that a Company of Fools will be bringing their innovative and entertaining performance of Shakespeare’s MacBeth to Ward 9 this August! Known for their Torchlight Shakespeare in the Park series, a Company of Fools presents 90-minute adaptations of Shakespeare’s classics, blending text with physical theatre techniques like slap-stick, mask, and puppetry.
Upcoming Shows in Nepean:
- August 8th in Tanglewood Park at 7pm
- August 20th in Fisher Heights Park at 7pm
What to Expect:
- Bring your family and friends: the shows are designed for all ages—kids and pets are welcome!
- Bring bug spray, a lawn chair, or a blanket for the grass
- Bring some cash: this theatre company relies heavily on donations from their audience (suggested donation of $20 per household)
NROCRC drop-in events