Pour cette page en français, cliquez ici.

 

Welcome to the Council Watch webpage! 

Council Watch is a volunteer-powered group coordinated by Ecology Ottawa that 

  • Identifies issues of ecological significance before Ottawa City Council
  • Recommends actions for Ecology Ottawa and/or the Ottawa community to take on these issues
  • Shares information on ecological issues with the general public

Our goals with these activities are to increase the public’s awareness of ecological issues that come before Council, to empower the public with information to take ecological action, and to hold City Council accountable for their decisions.

Currently, we’re a group of around 20 volunteers. Apart from meetings of the entire City Council, we also monitor activities of the following committees/commissions: Environment and Climate Change, Transportation, Planning and Housing, Transit, and Agriculture and Rural Affairs. (See here for a complete list of committees.) We also monitor media and other reports of council activity. Our newest initiative is our Watch Party program. Please join us!

We also develop resources for learning about Council and engaging with it:

If you’d like to join us, find out more about the group, or send feedback, please contact the group’s current coordinator, William van Geest. We welcome a variety of participation, including watching meetings, writing reports, policy analysis, producing media, keeping records, translating, or webpage support.

In the meantime, if you’d like to watch City Council on your own time, here are few resources to get you started:

Ottawa’s Climate Change Master Plan: A Progress Update

Ottawa’s Climate Change Master Plan: A Progress Update

You've heard of the City of Ottawa's Climate Change Master Plan, and you know it's approaching the end of its horizon; but how are we doing on its eight priorities, and what else did the latest Progress Update reveal? Our Council Watcher Karolina Galuszka's got you covered.

Ottawa’s GHG Inventory: How are we doing?

Ottawa’s GHG Inventory: How are we doing?

So, what exactly is Ottawa's Greenhouse Gas Inventory? Our Council Watch Intern Karolina Galuszka breaks it down – and provides some analysis – in our latest Council Watch report. 

Environment and Climate Change Committee: What’s on the Agenda on September 16?

Environment and Climate Change Committee: What’s on the Agenda on September 16?

City Council's Environment and Climate Change Committee meets on September 16 to discuss some critical topics, including some reporting we've waited literally years for. We discuss here a few of these: the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the Climate Change Master Plan Update, the City's response to the CCMP Audit, and the Tree-Planting Strategy.

Protect vulnerable road users in Ottawa!

Protect vulnerable road users in Ottawa!

It’s been a terrible last few weeks in Ottawa for people outside of cars. A woman in her 70s was killed while biking in Manotick, a woman in her 20s was killed by a pickup driver downtown, two children—one biking in Barrhaven, the other scooting in Stittsville—were struck by drivers, a woman was struck walking in the Byward Market—and there are many more. This is atrocious. Our city is not safe for basic mobility. 

Keep Ottawa Incinerator-Free!

Keep Ottawa Incinerator-Free!

Ottawa City Council is considering dealing with its waste residuals by incinerating them. This is a bad, bad idea. Currently, residuals in Ottawa go to the Trail Road landfill. Since the Trail facility is getting full, Council asked staff in December 2023 to explore future options for residuals management. The result of this exploration, a feasibility study, comes to Environment and Climate Change Committee on June 17.

Ask Your Councillor for a Spring Budget Consultation!

Ask Your Councillor for a Spring Budget Consultation!

Did you know that councillors can now hold consultations on the City’s 2026 budget in the spring? At the Council discussions for the 2025 budget last December, Councillor Shawn Menard presented a direction to staff asking for this. Read more for how to take advantage of this opportunity and make your voice heard!

Ecological concerns with Stittsville quarry expansion proposal

Ecological concerns with Stittsville quarry expansion proposal

One of our EcoYouth Council members, Maggie Hanna, submitted a letter to the City concerning a quarry expansion proposed in the Stittsville area. As Maggie outlines, there are a number of serious environmental concerns associated with this proposal. We hope that these concerns are resolved before any further action is taken on this proposal.

Mid-term Governance Review: Ottawa organizations urge greater public engagement

Mid-term Governance Review: Ottawa organizations urge greater public engagement

Ottawa organizations today sent a letter to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and members of City Council on the Mid-term Governance Review. While the Review claims to seek transparency and valorize public input, it offers no formal opportunity for public input and is being rushed through Council. Please read our letter.

Ask Council to approve a land purchase for environmental conservation!

Ask Council to approve a land purchase for environmental conservation!

City of Ottawa staff have identified an excellent opportunity to advance ecology in Ottawa: the purchase of a 223-acre forested parcel near Fitzroy Harbour. The hitch? It may not make it through City Council. Read on for details—and what you can do.

Take action

Council Watch
Add Your Name
Make a Donation

Connect with us

Make a donation

Email:
Phone: 613 860 5353
Address:
123 Slater St, Floor 6
Ottawa, ON K1P 5H2