Ottawa City Council will be determining the budget for 2024 this fall, as they do every fall. A city’s budget is crucial to its operations and the lives of its constituents: the budget represents in very real terms a city’s priorities. In a time of concurrent crises, it is important that real investments are made to protect our environment and our community.
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.
The “Eyesore” Problem in Ottawa Housing Discourse
One day before the September 6 Planning and Housing Committee meeting (recording here), Councillor Ariel Troster (Somerset Ward) posted on X (formerly Twitter) discussing the demographic trends at these meetings. “The people who come to city committees to speak against new housing development are overwhelmingly older and own their homes. The people who speak in support are generally younger. And they rent.” This message aptly predicted several public delegations at the meeting the very next day, in a discussion of different zoning amendments for the creation of dense, residential high-rise buildings.
The Vacant Unit Tax is also Good Environmental Policy
On August 23, Ottawa City Council voted to maintain the city’s fledgling Vacant Unit Tax (VUT). This tax has the goal of encouraging “homeowners to maintain, occupy or rent their properties, thereby increasing the housing supply.” As such, the VUT can address the affordable housing crisis (a housing emergency declared by City Council in 2020) that Ottawa faces, by adding pressure on individuals to rent out their vacant homes.
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 visionner 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.
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).