October 1, 2025, Newsletter

COUNCILLOR’S MESSAGE 

When the City is stuck  

Last Wednesday, as I was leaving City Hall to head home, I did as I often do when pulling out of the parking garage, which is to enter my address in my GPS to see what’s the fastest way home.  

Not too long ago, my drive home was 20 minutes. Over the past year, it’s become progressively worse, creeping longer and longer.  On this particular Wednesday, my GPS indicated that my drive home would be a painstakingly long 49 minutes. But that wasn’t the shocking part. What astonished me was that to get home by bike would be 63 minutes.  

Yes, indeed, folks. My sixteen-kilometer commute home would only be 14 minutes longer by cycling. That’s how bad congestion has become in Ottawa. And this was just a typical Wednesday. There wasn’t any major event. There wasn’t any major accident, or protest, or rainy conditions. It was just Wednesday.  

If there’s a small handful of issues I repeat over and over in this newsletter, it’s that it is getting progressively harder to move around in Ottawa. Either because we’re too dependent on cars, or because our transit is unreliable, or because our new transit systems are years behind schedule.  

And I know that it’s hypocritical of me to complain about traffic, because I’m part of that traffic. My Honda Civic is one of those cars clogging up the route home. And I am eagerly waiting for LRT Stage 2 West expansion to open so that I can take Bus Route 82 down Greenbank to the new Pinecrest Station, for a quick ride downtown. But that project is also delayed.  

I’m putting this in the newsletter because I want to remind anyone reading this – whether you live in Ward 9, or whether you read my newsletter even if I’m not your Councillor – to make this an issue in next year’s municipal elections. Ask every candidate looking to be your Councillor (including me): “What did you do / what are you going to do to get Ottawa moving again?” Ask anyone running for Mayor the same thing.  

Here are just a few things I’m working on:  

• Last week Mayor Sutcliffe joined Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette to announce the arrival of Communauto FLEX, a new form of car-share for the National Capital Region. I’ve been working behind-the-scenes on this since last October, when I started meeting with representatives from Communauto and Gatineau's Regional Council on the Environment & Sustainable Development, with the aim of launching a Communauto FLEX pilot project in Ottawa. After many months of back-and-forth with City of Ottawa staff and the Mayor’s Office, we’ve now got our pilot project that will allow Communauto to launch an initial fleet of 30 FLEX vehicles, parked on-street, that can, for the first time, be picked up in one FLEX zone and dropped off in another. In other words, users won’t have to bring the FLEX car back to where they got it. Users will even enjoy cross-border travel between Ottawa and Gatineau. This exciting new addition to our cities provides another transportation option for residents who choose not to own their own car.  

• In addition to working on car-share improvements, I’ve also been working with city staff and Council colleagues on exploring a bike-share system for Ottawa. Did you know that there are 116 cities in North America that have a bike-share system? Having used bike-share systems in Montreal and Toronto, I know that these will help reduce vehicle congestion inside the Greenbelt. Stay tuned for some exciting developments coming hopefully in October. 

• As I continue to work on the Baseline-Merivale Secondary Plan, I am urging our city planners to focus on high-density, transit-oriented development. We can build a “Heart of Nepean” that has all kinds of “missing middle” mid-rise apartment buildings filled with different-sized units for different sizes of families, with high-order transit options all around.   

• I am continuing to advocate for the long-term development of the Beachburg Rail Corridor as the “missing link” for what could be a true “ring railroad” for Ottawa. Over the past few weeks, I have had several meetings with various “people of influence”. During every meeting, heads nod, and interest grows. This will certainly be a long-term effort, but I am committed to getting Ottawa back on track!    

Like I said: make this an election issue. Traffic congestion is the kind of thing that creeps up slowly, worsening a little bit at a time. At first, it’s frustrating. Eventually, it’s paralyzing. It costs cities billions of dollars in lost productivity, and increased fuel. It takes a toll on people’s mental and physical health. It reduces time spent with friends and family, or relaxing. And the environmental toll is immense.  

Don’t let Ottawa get stuck.  

Premier Doug Ford and speeding 

On the issue of Premier Ford’s reckless, irresponsible, and fact-deficient announcement last week to cancel the use of Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras across Ontario, I’m not going to repeat the concerns and arguments of the many critics of Ford’s dangerous and potentially deadly decision. Across Ontario, thoughtful, responsible citizens and stakeholders are shocked and dismayed at Ford’s complete disregard for public safety. And make no mistake about it: the people who disagree with Ford on this issue are in the majority. By a long shot. This is going to hurt Premier Ford politically. And it should hurt him. His actions could get a lot of people seriously hurt, if not killed.  

I have already spoken with several of my City Council colleagues, and on Monday I had a meeting with Ottawa’s Director of Traffic Services, who had just come out of a meeting with her own counterparts from across Ontario. They are all frustrated and left without any certainty on how to proceed with project plans and budgets. Later this week, Ottawa’s Director of Traffic Services will be releasing a memo to City Council outlining the many consequences and ramifications of the elimination of Automated Speed Enforcement.  

Not only will this most certainly result in higher speeds in areas where these cameras have produced significant speed reductions, but the loss in revenue will lead to several consequences. Here are just some examples:  

• I had planned to bring a Motion seeking to increase the amount of funding generated by Automated Speed Enforcement dedicated to safety improvements around schools.  

• Ottawa Police will lose some of the funding they received from Automated Speed Enforcement cameras which funded some of their own traffic safety work.  

• The annual budget that each councillor gets to spend on Temporary Traffic Calming measures (like the flashing signs, or the speed bumps that Premier Ford seems to like so much) will now be cut by 50%.  

If you share my concerns and frustration, then I urge you to write to your Member of Provincial Parliament. Here in Ward 9, those would be MPP Tyler Watt ([email protected]) and MPP Chandra Pasma ([email protected]). But, of course, I know that they’re in agreement with me. A better approach would be to send your complaint to George Darouze, the MPP for Carleton and a member of the government caucus. His email address is [email protected]. From what I can see, he’s fully on board with removing these cameras. For MPP Darouze, it’s an affordability issue, after all. 

I’ll leave you with three things:  

• This will impact residents in Ward 9. The Automated Speed Enforcement camera that we had installed last year on Merivale Road between MacFarlane Road and Brookdale Avenue issued the 3rd highest number of tickets across all of Ottawa so far this year. This is easily one of the most dangerous locations in Ward 9 when it comes to speeding and vulnerable road users, affecting local residents and families attending St. Monica’s School. And since analysis of speeding tickets from 2024 and 2025 shows a consistent decrease in tickets issued in 2025, which proves these cameras work, we will now lose that safety measure at an area where we need it most.  

• The first graphic below is a data analysis by a resident of Ottawa showing an apparent, consistent decrease in measured speed at all of Ottawa’s 60 Automated Speed Enforcement Camera locations since the program first started in 2020. 

• The second graphic below is a simple, but effective way of demonstrating just how much increased speed results in more serious injuries and death when it comes to collisions.  

Speed kills, Premier. That’s just basic physics. Here’s another physics lesson, courtesy of Sir Isaac Newton, which applies equally to politics: for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction.   

FEATURE 

Official Opening of the Trend Arlington Community Pavilion 

Last night's Official Opening of the Trend Arlington Community Pavilion was a special experience for me, and for my own community of Trend Arlington. It's an event that was seven years in the making, and I had a few surprises in store for the hometown crowd.  

On September 21, 2018, the tornado hit our community. One month after that event, I held a ceremony in Bruce Pit where the tornado struck. For that ceremony, I had a bagpipe band hidden in the woods. They led my surprised community on a procession through our storm-battered neighborhood. 

For last night's event, I got the same bagpipe band, Ottawa Caledonian Pipes & Drums, to once again lead a procession through my community to an audience that was just as pleasantly surprised as they were seven years ago. But this time, the procession was led by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. 

Our new Pavilion is as beautiful and strong as the community that it was built for, and it was my honor to speak to the residents of Trend Arlington, including my own family, and to have Mayor Sutcliffe and other special guests speak be there with us. 

Before I was Councillor, and at the time of the tornado, I was President of the Trend Arlington Community Association. It was great to see my successors, Lydia Pion and Patrick Fiori, get their own recognition for their work in getting the Pavilion and the public art ReWilding completed. 

Thank you, Mayor Sutcliffe, MPP Tyler Watt, Councillors Laura Dudas & David Hill, former Councillor Keith Egli, Shannon Bruce from United Way East Ontario, TACA, Ottawa Caledonian, public artist Jennifer Anne Kelly, poet Gina Radic, performer Barb O'Connor, and my team for such a great event! 

CITY WORKS 

Merivale emergency sewer repairs  

The City will begin an emergency repair to a sanitary sewer on Merivale Road, with work starting later this week. This urgent work has been expedited due to the severity of the issue and the need to complete it before colder weather. 

While this work will no doubt cause inconveniences, and notices to affected residents and businesses may be coming fast than is normally required, our office is looking to avoid any of the recent watermain breaks that have caused significant damage in Kanata and Orleans.  

In the graphic below, work is happening at the intersection of Merivale Rd. And Burris Ln. (the blue section) and then work will proceed northwards on Merivale Rd. Towards Baseline Rd. (the orange section). 

Here is an overview of the timeline for construction and traffic closures:  

• Traffic control and road closures will begin on Thursday, October 2nd.  
• The intersection of Merivale Rd. / Burris Ln. Will be closed Friday, October 3rd through to Tuesday, October 7th. The construction team is aiming to re-pave the affected road segments on Tuesday.   
• Due to the urgency of the work, these repairs will require overnight work, as well as granting exemptions to the Noise By-Law. 
• One of the affected watermains will be shut off Saturday, October 4th between 1:00am – 7:00am.
  

Residents and travelers will experience traffic impacts at the intersection and should follow posted detours. Portable message boards will be installed, and nearby businesses have been notified. 

Conover Street construction 

We are pleased to share that the newly constructed raised pedestrian crossing on Conover Street is now almost complete and awaiting final paint finishings and some landscaping work, which we expect to be done over the coming week and a half. We thank residents for their patience throughout the extended construction process.  

Update on Temporary Traffic Calming 

The Councillor recently toured the ward to inspect the temporary traffic calming measures that have been implemented. Despite some concerns with a few of the new items, we are generally satisfied with the new installations. However, several significant items remain outstanding. Staff have confirmed that some new measures, requested in the spring, have yet to be implemented. The Councillor will continue to work with City staff to ensure that poorly installed measures are adjusted, and that incomplete items are done as soon as possible, and to identify ways to prevent similar delays during next year’s program. 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT  

Public Info Session: Budget 2026 

City budget season is here again, and City Council faces another tough challenge: balancing a wide range of community needs while staying within the budget directions set by the Mayor and Council last month. As in previous years, Councillors Theresa Kavanagh (Ward 7), Laine Johnson (Ward 8), and Sean Devine (Ward 9) are teaming up to host a joint online public information session to discuss Budget 2026 and hear from residents. 

• Date: Wednesday, October 15 
• Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM 
• Location: Online 

This is your chance to learn more about the budget process, ask questions, and share your priorities. So be sure to register to attend! 

Help Shape Ottawa’s Cultural Future

In 2025, the City of Ottawa launched its first city-wide Municipal Culture Plan since 2012, to better support our diverse communities. Led by Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services, the plan will be co-created with residents and community groups to:  

• Redefine Culture: Reflect how residents live and experience culture.  
• Set a Vision: Guide cultural support and participation over the next five years.  
• Build an Action Plan: Create achievable steps with measurable outcomes.  
• Map Resources: Develop a public inventory of cultural spaces, artists, and groups.  

The culture team is engaging 10,000 residents through activities including a short (2–5 min) or long (approx. 10 min) survey to understand what culture means to you. This process will help identify critical needs, such as those around spaces and places.  

To access the survey, please click here.  

For more information on cultural planning, please visit Ottawa's next culture plan | Engage Ottawa or email [email protected]   

Public Info Session: West Hunt Club Road intersection improvements 

Our office invites you to attend a drop-in public information session / open house on Monday, October 20th between 6:00pm - 8:00pm, to discuss the proposed intersection modification project for West Hunt Club Road. Preliminary design drawings will be on display for your review and City of Ottawa staff will be present to answer questions and receive comments. There will not be a formal presentation at this open house. Please attend at your leisure. More information about the project can be found on the City of Ottawa's website.  

• What: The project involves intersection, and other improvements at the West Hunt Club Road at Greenbank Road and West Hunt Club Road at Knoxdale Road intersections. 

• Why: The objective of this project is to increase vehicular capacity through the corridor and reduce queue times for existing and future traffic demands, as well as to improve pedestrian and cycling facilities. 

• When: Construction is planned for summer 2026 to fall 2027 subject to coordination with the ongoing construction at the Baseline Road and Greenbank Road intersection. Construction may be deferred until 2027. 

• Where: The project area includes West Hunt Club Road, from 750 metres west of Greenbank Road to 300 metres east of Knoxdale Road. 

• Who: The engineering firm, Robinson Consultants, has been retained by the City of Ottawa to develop design drawings for this project. 

This public information session will be held Monday, October 20th, between 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the Nepean Sportsplex (Richmond Room). To enter use Entrance 4 at the rear of the building. 

Public Info Session: Fisher Ave. & Normandy Dr. intersection improvements 

This is just an advance notice to let residents know of an upcoming Public Info Session for the upcoming Fisher Avenue & Normandy Drive intersection improvement, to take place on the evening of Thursday, November 20th at the Carleton Heights Community Centre. The map below shows which road segments are being worked on for this project (marked in the red line). We’ll share more details on this project and the Public Info Session later in October.  

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY  

Respiratory Disease Update 

We have arrived at the end of September with respiratory disease levels remaining well-below the seasonal averages for the last few years. For now, Ottawa’s levels remain relatively low. That’s good news but it’s important to be aware that levels of COVID are rising in some communities and it remains a good plan to take some precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy: open some windows, run an air filter, and wear a quality mask when sharing the air in confined spaces. 

Do you have questions about parenting?  

Ottawa Public Health has you covered. Learn more about the variety of services to make it easier for your child to grow up healthy in Ottawa.  

• Connect with a registered nurse from Health811 for free, secure, and confidential health advice. Service is available 24/7 in English and French, with translation support also offered in other languages. Call 8-1-1 or visit Health811.ontario.ca.  

• Connect with a Community Navigator from 2-1-1 for information about community programs and resources across Eastern Ontario. Helpline service is available 24/7 and in many different languages. Call 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca.  

• Connect with other parents on the Parenting in Ottawa Facebook page.  

• You can also update your child's immunization record using either the Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) Tool or the CANImmunize App.  

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT 

Construction at 780 Baseline/1350 Fisher 

Our office continues to dialogue regularly with City of Ottawa staff as well as the project manager for Theberge Homes on various issues arising from the construction at 780 Baseline/1350 Fisher. Councillor Devine and his team have been at the construction site multiple times to inspect current conditions and investigate complaints, and the Councillor and the developer (Joey Theberge) have a good dialogue about identifying problems and finding solutions.  

Two of the most pressing concerns have been irresponsible conduct from construction crews using / abusing residents’ private property without permission, as well as the proposed truck route options for the 4-month site excavation.  

On the matter of crews neglecting private property, we have been very direct with the project manager, and we expect that this isolated incident has been contained.  

On the matter of the truck route for the excavation period, while we are still in the process of discussing various options, the end result is that any route chosen will different kinds of inconvenience and potential hazard, as well as have different impact on traffic congestion. The route for trucks departing the site is not an issue of contention. Those trucks will depart the site onto Fisher Avenue, turning north onto Fisher, and then connecting to Baseline Road. 

What’s being addressed is the route for the empty trucks returning to the site, not the filled trucks departing the site. Since the issue of contention is the route for the empty trucks, the impact on pavement conditions is less of a concern, as the trucks’ weight is far less when empty.  

The developer and his project manager will be in attendance at the October 7th Annual General Meeting of the Fisher Heights & Area Community Association, along with Councillor Devine.  

Final Draft of Ottawa’s New Zoning By-law now available 

The City of Ottawa has released the final draft of its new Zoning By-law, incorporating public feedback from the Draft 2 consultation and Council direction. This document will guide future development across the city. 

Here are the key changes between Draft 2 and Draft 3 for Ward 9: 

• A maximum height of 11 metres is permitted in all N1 and N2 Zones. 

• Not a change, but the new Neighbourhood Unserviced (NU) zones remain in place in Draft 3. 

• Revisions to boundaries on the Zoning Map in the Greenbelt Transect to reflect designations in the Official Plan. 

• Existing height suffixes are retained for the Hub on Baseline Road pending Baseline-Merivale Secondary Plan. 

• Carleton Heights Secondary Plan continues to apply and has been more fully implemented in the final draft of the new Zoning By-law. 

Key Dates: 

• Joint Committee Review: Wednesday, December 17 
• Council Approval: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 

Public Engagement Opportunities: 

• In-Person Open Houses 
  • Tuesday, September 23, 6:00–8:30 PM 
    • EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive 
    • No registration required 

• • Monday, September 29, 6:00–8:30 PM 
    • Ottawa Conference and Event Centre, 200 Coventry Road 
    • No registration required 

• Virtual City-wide Open Houses 
  • Wednesday, September 17, 6:00–8:00 PM 
  • Thursday, September 25, 6:00–8:00 PM 
  • Register for virtual sessions 

For more details, visit Engage Ottawa. Questions or comments? Contact the project team at [email protected] or use the public comment form. 

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS 

Homes for Holidays – Supporting Hospice Care Ottawa 

Homes for the Holidays, presented by the Taggart Parkes Foundation, will take place from November 14 to 16, 2025, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. This time-honoured tradition is a three-day home tour and holiday pop-up experience, supporting Hospice Care Ottawa. Now in its 23rd year, Homes for the Holidays invites guests to explore Ottawa-area homes adorned with breathtaking seasonal décor by talented local designers and florists. Find out more here.  

NROCRC’s Early On program 

Knox United Fish Fry