Mani Sharma
"Ottawa should not expand its urban boundary as a default response to growth. New housing should first be directed toward existing serviced areas, including vacant lots, underused commercial properties, station areas, and appropriate opportunities for gentle density and mid-rise development.
This approach can reduce infrastructure costs, protect farmland and natural areas, support public transit, and create more walkable communities. Intensification must nevertheless be planned carefully, with sufficient schools, parks, trees, stormwater capacity, roads, transit, and community services.
Where expansion is proposed, the City should require a transparent public-interest test that accounts for long-term infrastructure costs, climate impacts, transportation emissions, agricultural land, biodiversity, water systems, and the ability to provide reliable transit. Growth decisions should be based on complete communities rather than short-term development pressure."
Marie-Ange Ahinful
"I do not support unnecessary expansion of Ottawa’s urban boundary. The City should prioritize responsible development within the existing boundary, where infrastructure and services already exist, while protecting farmland, natural areas and taxpayers from the long-term cost of urban sprawl."
Kevin Hua
"I am generally opposed to expanding the urban boundary including the Tewin development as urban sprawl strains our existing infrastructure and services and is costly for residents. I would prefer to focus on intensification and utilising existing land within the urban boundary to meet our housing and growth needs."
Chelsea Walton
"We should make better use of the land already available within Ottawa’s urban boundary before considering further expansion and sprawl.
That will require some intensification, but it needs to be thoughtful and supported by the infrastructure and services needed for growing communities. In Stittsville, that means accommodating more housing and higher densities in appropriate areas, including along Hazeldean Road, while continuing to invest in transportation, parks, recreation and other services.
At the same time, we need to protect the farmland, wetlands and natural areas surrounding our communities. Continuing to expand outward comes with long-term infrastructure costs and puts additional pressure on these important lands.
My focus would be on accommodating growth within our existing urban area first, while planning that growth in a way that creates complete, well-served communities."
Theresa Qadri
"Expanding Ottawa's urban boundary is a delicate issue that requires balance. We do not want to pack people in like sardines, but we also need to ensure families have access to safe, livable neighbourhoods with parks, schools, green space, and the services they need. I support a balanced approach that prioritizes thoughtful development within existing urban areas while remaining open to targeted boundary expansion when it is necessary to meet housing needs and maintain quality of life. Growth should be carefully planned to protect taxpayers, preserve important agricultural and natural lands where possible, and create complete communities where families can thrive.
My planning priorities would include:
- Building complete communities with schools, childcare spaces, parks, recreation facilities, healthcare services, and local businesses integrated from the start.
- Ensuring a mix of housing options, including single-family homes, townhomes, and appropriately located multi-unit housing to meet the needs of families, seniors, and young professionals.
- Investing in transportation infrastructure, including roads, public transit, cycling networks, and pedestrian connections so growth does not outpace capacity.
- Protecting environmentally sensitive areas, greenspaces, and productive agricultural land wherever possible.
- Supporting public safety through well-designed neighbourhoods with adequate lighting, community spaces, and access to emergency services.
- Managing growth responsibly to ensure infrastructure and service costs remain sustainable for taxpayers.
Ultimately, growth should be guided by common sense. Ottawa needs communities where families can afford to put down roots, children can play safely, seniors can age in place, and residents can enjoy a high quality of life. The focus should be on achieving the right balance between housing affordability, environmental stewardship, responsible growth, and strong, family-friendly neighbourhoods."
Sheetal Narwal
“Finish what we've already approved before we pave anything new. Stittsville has grown for a decade while parks, roads and transit arrived years behind the houses. Adding more land at the edge before we deliver the services for the neighbourhoods we already have just makes that gap bigger. I'll be honest about one thing: the Province requires Ottawa to update its growth projections in 2027, and that vote will fall to the next council. When it comes, my test will be clear. Is the land inside the boundary being used well? Are wetlands and greenspace protected? Is the infrastructure for existing neighbourhoods funded and on schedule? If the answer is no, the answer to expansion is no.”