Environment and Climate Change Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

19

Date:

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 3:30 P.m.

Location:

Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation

Present:

• Chair: Councillor Shawn Menard, 
• Vice-chair: Councillor Marty Carr, 
• Councillor David Brown, 
• Councillor Cathy Curry, 
• Councillor Sean Devine, 
• Councillor Laine Johnson, 
• Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, 
• Councillor Rawlson King, 
• Councillor Wilson Lo, 
• Councillor Matt Luloff, 
• and Councillor Tim Tierney 

Absent:

• Councillor David Hill 

---

1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; in camera meeting procedures; information items not subject to discussion; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and remote participation details.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on 24 September, 2025 in Environment and Climate Change Committee Report 19.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on September 15th, 2025, and the deadline to register to speak by email is 8:30 am on September 16th, 2025.

These “Summary Minutes” indicate the disposition of items and actions taken at the meeting. This document does not include all of the text that will be included in the full Minutes, such as the record of written and oral submissions. Recorded votes and dissents contained in the Summary Minutes are draft until the full Minutes of the meeting are confirmed by the Committee. The draft of the full Minutes (for confirmation) will be published with the agenda for the next regular Committee meeting and, once confirmed, will replace this document.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

ECCC Minutes 18 - Tuesday, June 17, 2025

• Carried

4.

Communications

4.1

Responses to Inquiries

4.1.1

ECCC-2025-01 - Invasive Plants

With the will of Committee, the Response to inquiry was lifted for discussion and delegations. 

The following members of the public spoke before the Committee and provided comments:

• Erica Shardlow, CafesOttawa*
• Janet Mason, Chair, Ottawa Stewardship Council*
• Elizabeth L. Robson Gordon*
• Mireille Trent, OSEAN
• Michelle St-Germain*

[    * Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions and presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

The following Direction of staff was also provided:

• DIRECTION TO STAFF (Vice Carr on behalf of Councillor Hill)

  
  That staff be directed to review further targeted funding opportunities to empower community associations/organizations to remove invasive species in public parks and walking paths, such as a pilot modeled off of the Outdoor Rink program, and that staff provide an update to the ECCC on outcomes of this review prior to the 2027 budget."

4.2

Other communications received

4.2.1

Memo - Five Year Tree Canopy Update (2017 – 2022)

4.2.2

Memo - Tree Equity Score Analysis and Results

5.

Office of the City Clerk

5.1

Status Update – ECCC – Inquiries and Motions for the Period Ending 4 September 2025

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0103 - City-wide

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee receive this report for in-formation.

  Received

6.

Public Works Department

6.1

Solid Waste Services Parks Waste Collection and Diversion Strategy

File No. ACS2025-PWD-SWS-0006 – City-wide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend that Council:

  1. Approve the Solid Waste Services Parks Waste Collection & Diversion Strategy and high-level implementation plan as outlined within this report; and
  2. Delegate authority to the Director, Solid Waste Services to further evaluate and determine waste collection service level requirements, on a park-by-park basis, for any parks either not classified or that do not meet the criteria for waste diversion services as outlined in this strategy; and
  3. Direct staff to report back annually to Council with a Parks Waste Collection and Diversion Strategy Implementation Plan Update as part of the annual Solid Waste Master Plan update during the 2027-2030 Term of Council.
  Carried

6.2

Update on the Provincial Blue Box Program Transition to Individual Producer Responsibility

File No. ACS2025-PWD-SWS-0005    City-wide

Shelley McDonald, Director, Solid Waste Service, Public Works Department (PW) and Andrea Gay Farley, Program Manager, Program Planning, PW provided a presentation.  A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

The following members of the public spoke before the Committee and provided comments:

• Emma Bainbridge, CAFES Ottawa*

[    * Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions and presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

The following also responded to questions: 

• Shelley McDonald, Director, Solid Waste Service, Public Works Department (PW)
• Andrea Gay Farley, Program Manager, Program Planning, PW

Following discussion and questions of staff, the Committee carried the report as presented with two directions to staff.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend that Council:

  1. Receive an update on the Provincial Blue Box Program transition to Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR) starting January 1, 2026 and delegate the authority to the General Manager of Public Works to finalize any required agreements as further described in this report;
  2. Delegate authority to the General Manager of Public Works to implement a revised Yellow Bag Program for Small Businesses that includes, an annual registration process starting in 2026 and to negotiate and execute any required agreements to provide recycling services to small Industrial, Commercial and Institutional locations as further described in this report; and,
  3. Delegate authority to the General Manager of Public Works, in consultation with Legal Services, to make amendments to the Solid Waste Services By-law No. 2024-453 that will arise from the transition to the Provincial Blue Box Program under Full Individual Producer Responsibility starting January 1, 2026 as further described in this report.
  Carried
• DIRECTION TO STAFF (Chair S. Menard)

  That staff be directed to explore potential partnerships with local School Boards on the Yellow Bag Program and Recycling. 
• DIRECTION TO STAFF (Chair S. Menard)

  That Staff explore the possibility of in-house collection for new multi-residential buildings, until the province can provide sufficient recycling service.

7.

Strategic Initiatives Department

7.1

Tree Planting Strategy Update

File No. ACS2025-SI-CCR-0008    City-wide

Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, Director, Climate Change and Resilience, Strategic Initiatives (SI), Andrea Lanthier-Seymour, Associate Director, Parks Maintenance and Forestry Services, Public Works Department (PW), Tracey-Lee Schwets, Program Manager, Forest Management, PW, and Martha Copestake, Senior Forester Planning, SI, provided a presentation.

 A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.
The following members of the public spoke before the Committee and provided comments:

• William van Geest
• Pamela O’Donnell, CAFES Ottawa*
• Mireille Trent, OSEAN*
• Monica Brewer

[    * Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions and presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

The following also responded to questions: 

• Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, Director, Climate Change and Resilience, Strategic Initiatives (SI), 
• Tracey-Lee Schwets, Program Manager, Forest Management, PW 
• Martha Copestake, Senior Forester Planning (SI)
• Nick Stow, Program Manager, Natural Systems, SI

Following discussion and questions of staff, the Committee carried the report as presented with the following Direction to staff: 
 

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend that Council receive the Tree Planting Strategy Update Report for information. 

  Carried
• DIRECTION TO STAFF (Councillor L. Johnson)

  That staff be directed to explore the feasibility of tree compensation within the same ward where the trees were removed while adhering to the City's Tree Planting Strategy, and report back during the next Tree Planting Strategy Update. 

7.2

Climate Change Master Plan Progress Update and GHG Inventories

File No. ACS2025-SI-CCR-0009    City-wide

Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, Director, Climate Change and Resilience, Strategic Initiatives (SI) and Emma Leroux, Program Manager, Pilots, Governance & Reporting, SI provided a presentation.  A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

The following members of the public spoke before the Committee and provided comments:

•   William van Geest
•  Emma Bainbridge, CafesOttawa*
•  Richard van der Jagt*
• Alex McDonald, Ottawa ACORN representative 
• Mireille Trent, Ottawa South Eco-Action Network (OSEAN)*
• Raymond Leury, Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa (EVCO)*
• Art Hunter*
• Nicky Trudell

[    * Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions and presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

The following also responded to questions: 

• Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, Director, Climate Change and Resilience, Strategic Initiatives (SI), 
• Jennifer Brown, Project Manager, Environmental Programs, SI

Following discussion and questions of staff, the Committee received the report as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee and Council receive this report for information.

  Carried

7.3

Response to Audit of Climate Change Master Plan Report

File No. ACS-2025-SI-CCR-0007    City-wide

Debbie Stewart, General Manager, Strategic Initiatives (SI) and Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, Director, Climate Change and Resilience, SI, provided a presentation.  A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

Councillor Lo introduced a motion during the delegations. 

The following members of the public spoke before the Committee and provided comments:

•  William van Geest
• Angela Keller-Herzog, Executive Director, CafesOttawa,

[    * Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions and presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

The following written submissions were received by, and are filed with, the Office of the City Clerk, and distributed to Committee Members:

• Email dated 14 September 2025 from Pamela Jordan

The following also responded to questions: 

• Debbie Steward, General Manager, Strategic Initiatives
• Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, Director, Climate Change and Resilience, Strategic Initiatives (SI), 

During questions to staff, Councillor Lo agreed to withdraw his motion and work with staff on a motion that would rise to council. 

Following discussion and questions of staff, the Committee carried the report as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend Council approve the Climate Change Master Plan prioritization framework, including the definition of the City’s role in climate change community action, as outlined in this report.

  Carried as amended
• Motion No. ECCC 2025-19-01
  Moved by W. Lo

  WHEREAS Council approved the Climate Change Master Plan (CCMP) in January 2020, which included setting short-, medium-, and long-term emissions reduction targets and eight priority actions; and

  WHEREAS the audit of the CCMP includes recommendations to clarify the City’s role in community climate action and establish a prioritisation framework, the latter of which requires clear and unambiguous guidance; and

  WHEREAS an effective CCMP for the City of Ottawa must be grounded within the jurisdiction and practical reality of municipal government; and

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, to maximise the City’s investments, the 2027 refresh of the CCMP exclude all issues, items, and language unrelated to and/or outside the jurisdiction and practical realities of municipal government, except in the context of partnerships with the provincial and federal governments and relevant third parties.

  Withdrawn

7.4

Independent Electricity Service Operator (IESO) Long Term 2 (LT2) Procurement – Requests for Municipal Support Confirmation

File No. ACS2025-SI-CCR-0006    Kanata North (Ward 4)

The following members of the public spoke before the Committee and provided comments:

• Angela Keller-Herzog, Executive Director, CafesOttawa*

 

[    * Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions and presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

The following also responded to questions:

• Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, Director, Climate Change and Resilience, Strategic Initiatives (SI),

 

Following discussion and questions of staff, the Committee carried the report as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend that Council grant a Municipal Support Confirmation (MSC), for the purposes of satisfying the mandatory requirements under Section 4.2(c) of the LT2(e-1) RFP, which does not supersede any applicable permits or approvals under applicable Laws and Regulations that may be required for a Long-Term Energy Project, to:  

  1. A proposed solar energy generation project, known as Kanata Solar I, and located at 375 March Valley Road and 940 Klondike Road in Ward 4 – Kanata North as shown in Document 1 and as summarized in Document 2;

  2. A proposed solar energy generation project, known as Kanata Solar II, and located at 915 Klondike Road in Ward 4 – Kanata North as shown in Document 3 and as summarized in Document 4.

  ​That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend that Council:  

  ​3. Approve that any Municipal Support Confirmation granted by Council for a project that is unsuccessful in one provincial procurement window may be used in subsequent procurements, provided there are no substantive changes proposed to the project (i.e. location, size, etc.);

  4. Direct staff to develop a policy framework for energy project Municipal Host Agreements for Council consideration in Q1 2026.

  Carried

8.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

9.

Information Previously Distributed

9.1

2024 Use of Delegated Authority in Public Works

File No. ACS2025-PWD-GEN-0001

10.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

• Moved by T. Kavanagh

  WHEREAS the City’s Tree Dedication Program, formally known as the Commemorative Tree Program, represents an important community service; and
  WHEREAS the program is highly valued by Ottawa residents looking for sustainable and meaningful ways of recognizing loved ones and commemorating milestones; and
  WHEREAS there has been significant concern from Ottawa residents regarding the revised Tree Dedication Program, approved by Council in June 2024; and
  WHEREAS the new program has removed the option of adding a person’s name at the physical location of the tree, instead providing a numbered tag; and
  WHEREAS the use of a numbered tag in place of a name can be insulting to populations who have experienced prisoner of war camps, or other wartime actions that reduced people to numbers;
  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend that Council approve the following: 

  1. That the Parks Maintenance and Forestry Services, Public Works Department investigate and report back on potential ways to incorporate some personalization for the Personal Dedications Program for in memoriam dedications as part of the Tree Dedication Program.  
  2. This review can include a municipal scan and updated applicant fees to reflect the cost of a plaque or larger tag, the administration of the program, ongoing maintenance, and watering
  3. That Parks Maintenance and Forestry Services, Public Works Department, present options (including updated applicant fees) for the Personal Dedications Program to the Environment and Climate Change Committee and Ottawa City Council by the end of Q2 of 2026. 

   

11.

Inquiries

There were no Inquiries.

12.

Other Business

There was no other business.

13.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

October 21st, 2025

The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 pm