Dear residents,
I’m writing to you with an update on the City’s proposal for newcomer reception centres. It has been an extremely busy past few days for all of us on this matter. Over the past seven days, I have been speaking with residents and community leaders, answering many emails and phone calls. I know that many residents have concerns about this proposal and its impacts, and I also know that many residents are supportive of the initiative. I am listening carefully.
I am also talking with city staff and diving deeper into the staff report and documentation around the proposed Newcomer Reception Centre for Ward 9. I have learned a lot in a few short days, both about the process and the city’s recommendations. And it’s important for you to know, not all of what I’ve learned is to my liking. I have a lot of questions about the proposal and the way the decisions were arrived at. At the moment, there are a number of areas where I have insufficient information to properly assess the decision that was made. This concerns me.
However, I remain committed to this program, and for ensuring that the City of Ottawa upholds its reputation as a welcoming place for newcomers. I firmly believe that a properly planned and executed, dedicated Reception Centre is a critical piece in that important effort. For those of you who share this belief, I encourage you to attend the Rally for Refugees being organized on Sunday November 17th by Refugee 613, one of the main organizations partnering with the City of Ottawa, along with the United Way of East Ontario, Invest Ottawa, and other organizations. Just as there have been organized gatherings to show voices opposed to this initiative, it’s important to realize that there are also many voices in support of it
I believe we have a responsibility to make sure we are doing whatever we can to ensure the transition for newcomers arriving here is supportive and sustainable. When things are done well, we all benefit from that. So, my job, as always, is to ensure that staff are approaching this program with the rigour, transparency, and professionalism that we all deserve. I will not hesitate to ask tough questions and ensure that the best interests of Ward 9 and the City of Ottawa are top-of-mind throughout this process.
So, here are my next steps:
First, as I mentioned in numerous interviews and conversations over the last few days, I held a lengthy meeting with city staff today to seek clarification on several issues raised by the staff report. If we are going to proceed with these new centres, we need to be doing it with our eyes wide open and all of the information. We need to have confidence that the best sites have been selected and that the plan is viable. Based on the available information, there are several questions that required answers in order to provide confidence over this site selection. I will be reporting back on this meeting in my next update.
Second, we will soon be organizing an information session for residents. The session will be an opportunity to learn about the proposed centres, the role they will play in our efforts to welcome and integrate newcomers into our city, and the proposed process for moving forward. There will be an opportunity to share your views and ask questions. If this is going to be successful, we are going to need to be fully involved as a community.
As those of you who subscribe to my newsletter know, I have always been committed to being transparent about my positions. I have made staff aware that the process around this rushed announcement falls short of the standards I would expect for such an important initiative. The City needs to do better moving forward.
I appreciate your engagement and patience with this process. It will take time and attention to work through the next steps. I look forward to taking those steps with you.
Thanks,
Sean Devine
