December is the holiday season, but it’s also budget season at City Hall. For those who thought their comments on the draft budget went unheard, the December 11th budget debate showed that your voices make a difference. After a nine-hour meeting, the City of Ottawa’s budget passed with significant changes.
One major concern was the cost of transit, especially its disproportionate impact on seniors. A proposed 120% increase in the senior transit pass and no commitment to keep free Wednesdays and Sundays raised widespread concern. The Wednesday free day was eventually added back in and then Councillor Menard and I successfully advocated to retain free Sundays as well, and the senior transit fare was set to match the low-income EquiPass. Earlier proposals to limit this fare reduction to low-income seniors would have burdened those most in need with excessive paperwork who would have had to prove their income through.
While fares were a key issue, residents have emphasized the need for reliable transit service. OC Transpo must provide on-time service, particularly on routes like Route 11, often used by older adults. The north/south opening of Line 2 and 4 in January will give people the option to go all the way to the airport, and the opening will give us a taste of what we’ll see in Bay Ward when Stage 2 West is completed.
Other budget highlights include more funding for emergency services, adding an additional 23 paramedics, 22 firefighters. Affordable housing remains a priority, and as Chair of the Ottawa Community Housing Board, I will continue to advocate for nonprofit housing investments.
I also worked with Councillor Menard on a motion to enhance access to public washrooms citywide, with funding for better cleaning, extended hours, and new portable facilities. Thank you to the Gotta Go! Campaign for their ongoing advocacy. Access to public bathrooms is a fundamental service that supports vibrant communities and enhances quality of life.
The overall tax increase is still quite modest, particuarly in comparison to other municipalities, and given that we have seen low increases for many budget cycles. A concern of mine remains, due to the limited ways city’s can make money, is the massive deficit in our asset management budget. Key amenities like ice pads, gyms, meeting rooms, and community field houses are at risk due to this shortfall. Maintaining equitable access to recreational infrastructure is critical, especially within the Greenbelt. Addressing this deficit is essential to ensure communities continue to have access to these important amenities.
As I said in my budget remarks at Council, this is not a perfect process, but collaboration and listening to residents paid off.
Thank you to everyone who participated!
Another important moment during Council was the passing of my motion to direct staff to resume work on the rental replacement bylaw joint-departmental work plan item as soon as possible.
We know from the Pomeroy report that Ottawa’s housing loss is severe, with 31 affordable rental units lost for every new one built, and this emphasizing an urgent need for action.
In 2022, a report that was passed by Council directed staff to explore the feasibility of a rental replacement bylaw and other tenant protections, but progress was delayed due to provincial legislative changes and uncertainty.
Recent legislative developments, including the reinstatement of Section 4.2.3 in the City’s Official Plan and the introduction of Bill 150, have reopened opportunities for Ottawa to develop a rental replacement bylaw.
The recent file at the Planning and Housing Committee concerning Bank Street and Smart Living Properties highlights the ongoing need for a rental replacement bylaw. I brought forward this motion because we must refocus on creating a bylaw that protects and replaces affordable rental housing—one that directly addresses the housing emergency and the significant financial and human costs of tenant displacement. Establishing a clear policy should be a priority to avoid the need for case-by-case negotiations, like those required for the Memorandum of Understanding. These negotiations are complex, and without an official policy beyond the provincial framework, we will continue to face the challenges of demovictions in our city.
For more details on council and committee meetings visit the City of Ottawa’s Newsroom website:
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