Ottawa – On Thursday, November 18th the City’s Community and Protective Services Committee recommended Council approve its portions of the Draft Budget for 2022, which represents a $1.4-billion total gross operating budget.
Emergency and Protective Services would commit $1.3 million to hire 14 new paramedics to address growing demand and purchase the emergency vehicles needed to support them. Another $310,000 would go towards 2.5 full-time equivalent positions to administer and enforce the new towing licensing regime, with the salaries offset by user fees. $760,000 would fund a dedicated team to continue work on the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan.
This budget would invest $17 million for Housing Services to develop more affordable and supportive housing, which includes approximately $15 million in capital and $2 million in development charge exemptions. In total, the City would commit $119 million towards Housing and Homelessness initiatives, including funding for rent supplements, support for agencies and supportive housing operations.
Gender and Race Equity, Inclusion, Indigenous Relations and Social Development Services’ budget would include $27 million in community funding for non-profit agencies to provide social services to residents in need and most at risk, and $125,000 to hire a new program manager for Indigenous Relations.
The budget makes a commitment to care for residents of the City’s Long-Term Care homes by adding resources for staff to deliver three hours of daily personal care per resident, along with $7.2 million to renovate the homes and to replace furniture and equipment, and $2.1 million to enhance air cooling capacity.
Children’s Services would provide $81.1 million in fee subsidies to ensure that families have access to affordable quality childcare.
The Community Bus Pass and Equipass programs would receive $415,000 and fares would remain frozen at 2018 rates.
Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services’ capital funding include $25.5 million to renew and enhance parks, recreation, and cultural facilities, $6.9 million to create new parks, and $1.8 million to improve accessibility in recreation and cultural facilities.
Parks Services would allocate $500,000 for the operation and maintenance of 8 to 10 new parks and $320 to support increased demand for splash pads.
Council will consider the Draft Budget on Wednesday, December 8.
Version française page 2
