Mani Sharma
"Residents should have meaningful opportunities to help shape environmental decisions before major choices are made—not only after plans are largely complete. Public participation should be accessible, transparent, multilingual where appropriate, and available both online and in person.
I would support:
- Early public engagement on budgets, development proposals, transportation plans, and environmental policies.
- Neighbourhood-level climate and biodiversity planning.
- Small grants for community gardens, tree planting, habitat restoration, waste reduction, and environmental education.
- Stronger partnerships with schools, community associations, Indigenous organizations, conservation groups, and local businesses.
- Clear explanations of how public feedback changed a decision.
- Public dashboards tracking environmental targets and project outcomes.
- Special outreach to renters, youth, seniors, newcomers, low-income residents, people with disabilities, and communities that are often underrepresented.
Community participation works best when residents can see that their time and knowledge have a real influence on City decisions."
Marie-Ange Ahinful
"I would involve residents early through accessible public meetings, online options and multilingual outreach, with special efforts to include youth, seniors and underrepresented communities. The City should support local environmental projects and clearly report how public feedback influenced each decision."
Kevin Hua
"I think one of the ways the City can better connect and engage local communities is through local ecological community organisations like Friends of Stittsville Wetlands here in Stittsville who can act as intermediaries to promote community engagement and participation. Additionally, I'd like the City to go further to collaborate and support such organisations in their advocacy and programs they provide in information and engaging the public and providing services more commmunity-oriented issues or areas the City is unable to cover."
Chelsea Walton
"Community engagement needs to happen early enough that residents can actually influence a decision. Too often, people are asked for feedback after much of the direction has already been established.
I want to see more engagement happening directly in the communities and natural areas affected. If we are discussing a wetland, creek, park or woodland, there is value in meeting residents on site, walking the area together and hearing from the people who know it well. I would combine that kind of neighbourhood-level engagement with formal City consultation and partnerships with community associations, conservation authorities, Indigenous partners, environmental organizations, schools and youth.
Greater civic education is also important. Environmental and planning decisions can involve complicated policies, technical studies and different levels of government. Residents should be given information in plain language: what is being proposed, what the environmental impacts may be, what the City can control, and what parts of the decision they can still influence. We can also partner with conservation authorities and local environmental organizations to host community events, share information and expertise, and help residents better understand the natural areas in their own neighbourhoods and how they can help protect them.
Consultation also needs to be meaningful. I would push for clear reporting back after major consultations showing what we heard, what changed because of public feedback, and, when a community recommendation cannot be incorporated, an explanation of why.
Participation should extend beyond formal decision-making. I support creating more opportunities for residents to take part directly in tree planting, invasive-species removal, community gardens, park and creek clean-ups, habitat restoration and other stewardship activities. Partnering with schools and youth organizations can also help young people learn about the natural environment in their own community while contributing to its protection.
Throughout this campaign, I have tried to demonstrate the kind of engagement I would bring to Council: meeting people where they are, listening before making decisions, communicating honestly about what can and cannot be changed, and reporting back afterward. I would bring that same approach to environmental decision-making."
Theresa Qadri
"Ottawa should ensure that community participation is embedded throughout its ecological governance framework. By fostering collaboration, transparency, Indigenous partnership, and voluntary stewardship, the City can build broad public support for biodiversity conservation while respecting property rights and local priorities. Such an approach will strengthen environmental outcomes, improve public trust, and contribute to the successful achievement of Ottawa's long-term conservation and sustainability goals."
Sheetal Narwal
“Two ways. First, go to people instead of waiting for them to find a survey online. I'll bring City consultations to community events, schools and seniors' groups, in English and French. Second, close the loop. After every major decision, my office will publish in plain language what we heard, what changed because of it, and what didn't change and why. People stop participating when they never find out whether it mattered. I'll also keep organizing hands-on activities, like the Clean the Capital clean-ups I've led in Stittsville, because people who care for a place help decide its future.”