Media Releases

Unambitious Directions for Budget 2024

On September 5, Ottawa City Council’s Finance and Corporate Services Committee met to discuss the shape of the 2024 budget—also known as “budget directions.” This was the first formal, public step in deliberations for the budget, which will be tabled to Council on November 8. The directions were approved with votes in favour by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and 11 councillors after a presentation from city staff and public delegations.

Pollinator Garden Webinar

On August 29, we held a webinar on our pollinator garden program. We heard presentations on all three of our pollinator gardens, as well as a presentation on local pollinators.

We invite you to watch the recording below.

Le 29 août, nous avons tenu un webinaire sur notre programme de jardins pollinisateurs. Nous avons entendu des présentations sur nos trois jardins pollinisateurs, ainsi qu'une présentation sur les pollinisateurs locaux.

Nous vous invitons à regarder l'enregistrement ci-dessous.

Toronto Approved Multiples Everywhere; Ottawa Should Too

Toronto city council recently approved changes to the city’s zoning by-laws that will allow the new construction of two-, three- and four-unit multiplexes in all residential zones, which were not previously allowed in many parts of the city. Although the housing crisis will not be solved by any one policy or approach, Toronto’s example here is one to follow as the population continues to grow and the cost of living in major cities remains prohibitively high.

A new lease on life for an old growth forest

Step inside the Hampton Park Woods and you'll see what makes this place so special. Enormous sugar maples and American beeches, some more than 200 years old, tower over you. One of those beeches, plus a red maple and a twin black cherry, were also included in the NCC's 150 most Remarkable Trees of Canada's Capital. 

 

A bad case of the Transit Blues(fest)

Celebrating Canada Day in the nation’s capital is, for some, a sight to behold. This year, the evening fireworks show took place at LeBreton Flats, near Pimisi station. For those of us that are transit enjoyers, it represented an opportunity to celebrate the holiday in an accessible area. 

What do Ottawa City’s Term of Council Priorities Contain on Climate Change?

City Council recently approved its four pillars that will comprise the strategic priorities for this term, which lasts until 2026: affordable housing, safe, accessible transportation and mobility options, a prosperous and diversified economy, and creating a “green and resilient” city. While these priorities and their implications represent some worthwhile goals from the City, the presence of meaningful and proactive climate action is lacking. 

Ecology Ottawa takes action on Biodiversity, Food Security, and Local Ecological Action

OTTAWA | UNCEDED & UNSURRENDERED TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHINAABEG, 21 June 2023

Ecology Ottawa, in conjunction with the Peoples Official Plan coalition, sent a letter to the City of Ottawa calling on City Council to allow Ottawans to steward right of ways—the portion of City land between the roadway and residences or buildings. 

Ottawa set to sign Montréal Pledge on Biodiversity

The City of Ottawa looks likely to sign the Montréal Pledge on biodiversity. By signing this pledge, the City will make an important commitment to protecting biodiversity. However, along with the commitment, there needs to be accountability.

Monitoring Ottawa's air quality with Breathe Easy 2023

Through the week of June 5th, Ottawa experienced a significant decline in air quality due to the devastating wildfires raging in Quebec and Ontario. The smoke from these fires created hazardous air conditions in our city. Individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma were advised to avoid going outside and Ottawa residents were encouraged to refrain from outdoor physical activity. 

Community Stewardship in Action: An Inspiring Visit to the Champlain Park Gardens and Forest

About 25 people gathered on June 2 at the north end of Champlain Park for a unique opportunity: a tour of the gardens and forest planted and managed by the Champlain Park community. Among those participating were five city councillors and their staff, City employees from a variety of departments, and a few stray plant and ecology nerds (like myself).

User pay in Ottawa is an important part of ambitious action to become a low-waste, circular city

Ottawa faces a looming waste dilemma, and we need to take bold action. Fortunately, there are many intersecting solutions that we can - and should - choose to embrace. We at Ecology Ottawa support user pay to be adopted in Ottawa’s Solid Waste Master Plan, as one step that is part of an ambitious, concerted effort to reduce waste. User pay - or bag-and-tag, or pay-as-you-throw as this is sometimes called - is about reducing waste, not increasing cost for residents. Recycling and compost continue to be free for Ottawans, and there are many ways we can all reduce consumption and waste.

NIMBYism clashes with Ottawa housing goals

With a housing and homelessness emergency declared in Ottawa in 2020, it is no surprise that affordable housing was a major election issue last fall, with a campaign promise from Mayor Sutcliffe on creation of housing and a refreshed mandate for the Planning and Housing Committee that prioritizes housing affordability. However, when development applications for dense, car-lite residential buildings come to the Planning and Housing Committee, there is often a surprising amount of push-back.