Environment and Climate Change Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

20

Date:

Tuesday, October 21, 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 David Hill, 
• Councillor Laine Johnson, 
• Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, 
• Councillor Rawlson King, 
• Councillor Wilson Lo, 
• Councillor Matt Luloff, 
• and Councillor Tim Tierney 

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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 12 November 2025 in Environment and Climate Change Committee Report 20.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on Monday, 20 October 2025, and the deadline to register to speak by email is 8:30 am on Tuesday, 21 October 2025.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

ECCC Minutes 19 - Tuesday, 16 September 2025

• Carried

4.

Responses to Inquiries

4.1

OCC-2025-04 - Overland Flooding - Fisher Ave / Kingston Ave and Experimental Farm

5.

Public Works Department

5.1

Solid Waste Master Plan 2025 Annual Update

File No. ACS2025-PWD-SWS-0007 – City-wide

Shelley McDonald, Director, Solid Waste Service, Public Works Department (PW) and Rachael Jones, Program Manager, Long Term 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:

• James Scott MacKillop

[    * 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)
• Rachael Jones, Program Manager, Long Term Planning, PW
• Kayla Woods, Program Manager, Bylaw Enforcement Service, Emergency and Protective Services (EPS)

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:

  1. Receive the Solid Waste Master Plan 2025 Annual Update for information, including progress on high-priority Action Suites, outlined in this report and further detailed in Document 1 – Progress Update on Year One Actions;
  2. Receive a detailed update on the Three-item Garbage Limit (Solid Waste Master Plan Action Suite 4: Enhanced Source Separation of Waste), outlined in Document 2 – Update on the Three-item Garbage Limit and Agriculture Exemption Program;
  3. Approve the extension of the Agriculture Exemption Program to 2027, outlined in this report and further detailed in Document 2 – Update on the Three-item Garbage Limit and Agriculture Exemption Program; and,
  4. Receive the results of the 2023/2024 Four-Season Waste Audit, which will inform future planning and performance measurement, for information.
  Carried

6.

Strategic Initiatives Department

6.1

Climate Ready Ottawa Strategy

File No. ACS2025-SI-CCR-0011 – City-wide

Debbie Stewart, General Manager, Strategic Initiatives (SI), Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, Director, Climate Change and Resiliency (SI) and Julia Robinson, Program Manager, Climate Adaptation (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:

• Mackenze Blackburn
• Angela Keller-Herzog, Executive Director, CAFES
• William van Geest,  Executive Director, Ecology Ottawa
• Jaqueline Wilson, Canadian Environmental Law Association
• Robb Barnes, Climate Program Director, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)
• Sharon Katz, ACORN
• 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: 

• Debbie Stewart, General Manager, Strategic Initiatives (SI)
• Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, Director, Climate Change and Resiliency (SI) 
• Julia Robinson, Program Manager, Climate Adaptation (SI)
• Susan Johns, Director, Asset Management Services, Infrastructure and Water Services Department (IWS)
• Nick Stow, Program Manager, Natural Systems (SI)
• Ryan Perrault, General Manager, Emergency and Protective Services Department 

Following discussion and questions of staff, the Committee carried the Motion (Motion No. ECCC-20-01) with Councillor D. Hill dissenting then the Committee Carried the report as amended with 2 Directions to staff. 

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend that Council:

  1. Approve the Climate Ready Ottawa Strategy and Five-year Plan as outlined in this report and Documents 1 and 2; and,
  2. Delegate the authority to the General Manager, Strategic Initiatives, and the Director, Climate Change and Resiliency Service, individually, to approve, amend, execute, and extend agreements related to Climate Ready Ottawa within the Strategic Initiatives Department as further described in this report. 
  Carried as amended
• Motion No. ECCC 2025-21-01
  Moved by M. Carr

  WHEREAS Climate Ready Ottawa identifies extreme heat as a top climate risk and emphasizes protecting heat-vulnerable populations from heat-related illness and mortality;

  WHEREAS interest holders including the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA), the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and ACORN have advocated for measures to combat extreme heat, including expanding existing programs to support vulnerable individuals;

  WHEREAS the Climate Ready Ottawa five-year action plan includes a Cooling Strategy that calls for expanding public cooling features, supporting heat-vulnerable populations, and piloting innovative approaches, partnerships and policy tools to integrate cooling into housing and reduce heat risks for residents without access to air conditioning;

  WHEREAS the Extreme Heat Inquiry Response provided to City Council on October 8, noted the City of Ottawa currently provides financial help with the cost of air conditioners through Ontario Works Discretionary Benefits for social assistance recipients and the 100% municipally funded Essential Health and Social Supports Program (EHSS) for low-income residents not receiving social assistance;

  WHEREAS the City of Toronto recently launched the Air Conditioning Assistance Program providing 500 air conditioning units, including delivery and installation, at no cost to low-income older adults; 

  WHEREAS existing programs target certain heat-vulnerable populations, further research and data are needed to determine whether additional at-risk groups could benefit from financial support to purchase air conditioners as a means of reducing heat-related illness and mortality;

  WHEREAS additional research under the proposed Climate Ready Ottawa Cooling Strategy is needed to identify key barriers and recommend solutions to support the greatest needs;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, pending budget approval, staff in 2026 provide one-time funding under the Climate Ready Ottawa strategy to expand targeted promotion, education, and access to air conditioners for low-income residents, through existing programs such as the Emergency Health and Social Supports (EHSS) program operated by the Community and Social Services Department.

  THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That staff, under the Climate Ready Ottawa Cooling Strategy, explore expanded access to air conditioners to heat-vulnerable populations at the greatest risk, informed by additional research, and bring forward recommended next steps in 2027.

  Carried with Councillor D. Hill dissenting.

  Carried
• DIRECTION TO STAFF (Councillor Johnson)

  Climate Ready Ottawa highlights the vital role of mature trees in providing cooling, stormwater management, ecological and health benefits. It also highlights the risks to the City’s tree canopy from drought, disease, high winds and ice storms, and the risks to people and property from trees damaged in extreme weather.  

  Maintenance of privately-owned trees is the responsibility of the homeowner. However, low-income homeowners, especially older adults and people with disabilities, with mature trees on their properties may struggle to maintain them. If these trees are not properly cared for, they risk being removed, which would reduce the tree canopy and diminish its associated environmental and health benefits.

  The five-year priorities for Climate Ready Ottawa focus on enhancing preventative tree maintenance for City trees, as well as support to homeowners to reduce the risks of flooding and extreme heat, as guided by the climate risk assessments. However, there may be benefits to exploring a program that supports low-income property owners in tree maintenance. This could be modelled on other targeted homeowner support programs, like the Snow Go Assist program that provides financial assistance to eligible low-income older adults or persons with disabilities to help with their snow removal costs.

  Staff in Public Works with support from Strategic Initiatives and Community and Social Services departments shall therefore be directed to explore a targeted private tree maintenance support program to provide assistance to eligible low-income older adults or persons with disabilities to the work plan for the next management period of the Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) scheduled to be presented to Committee and Council as a part of the UFMP Update in Q2 2027.
• DIRECTION TO STAFF (Councillor Devine)

  The federal government has pledged to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Concurrently, the City of Ottawa is advancing its "Climate Ready Ottawa" strategy to address the growing risks posed by climate change and has stated its intention to seek opportunities for additional sources of funding from upper levels of government. Given the increasing recognition of climate resilience as a national security imperative and given Ottawa’s strategic position and inherent security risks as the nation’s capital, there may be strategic opportunities to align municipal climate adaptation initiatives with federal defense priorities. This could include identifying potential funding streams, partnership models, and policy frameworks that support municipal climate adaptation as a form of defense investment.

  That staff be directed to explore:

  1. Whether Climate Ready Ottawa aligns with the goals of the federal government’s Defense Climate and Sustainability Strategy (DCSS);
  2. Explore opportunities to collaborate where Ottawa's overall resiliency supports defense objectives given Ottawa is the Nation’s Capital; and,
  3. Explore opportunities for funding or shared funding on common priorities.

7.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

8.

Motions of Which Notice has been Previously Given

8.1

Motion – Councillor T. Kavanagh - Tree Dedication

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0114 - City-wide

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

• Motion

  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.
  Carried

9.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

There were no Notices of Motion.

10.

Inquiries

10.1

Yellow Bag pouches

Inquiry ECCC-2025-03

What are the current numbers of yellow bag pouches (each has 4 Ottawa branded bags) that the city is selling in city facilities and what is the number that are being sold in retail stores as the tipping fees are included?

Currently they are required if people are over the 3 items that they put out, and it would be good to monitor this on a quarterly or semi-annual basis on a dashboard like OC Transpo does as well.  

The requirement for the bags started January 3 2025 and data until September shows:

Approximately 5,000 pouches (4 bags per pouch) have been sold from City facilities 

Approximately 24,000 pouches have been sold to businesses for distribution (currently not tracked if businesses have sold them)

11.

Other Business

There was no other business.

12.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

Tuesday, 18 November, 2025.

The meeting adjourned at 12:44 am.