Ottawa City Council

Minutes

Meeting #:
66
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Andrew S. Haydon Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation
Present:
  • Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, 
  • Councillor Matt Luloff, 
  • Councillor David Hill, 
  • Councillor Cathy Curry, 
  • Councillor Clarke Kelly, 
  • Councillor Glen Gower, 
  • Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, 
  • Councillor Laine Johnson, 
  • Councillor Sean Devine, 
  • Councillor Jessica Bradley, 
  • Councillor Tim Tierney, 
  • Councillor Stéphanie Plante, 
  • Councillor Rawlson King, 
  • Councillor Ariel Troster, 
  • Councillor Jeff Leiper, 
  • Councillor Riley Brockington, 
  • Councillor Shawn Menard, 
  • Councillor Marty Carr, 
  • Councillor Catherine Kitts, 
  • Councillor Isabelle Skalski, 
  • Councillor David Brown, 
  • Councillor Steve Desroches, 
  • Councillor Allan Hubley, 
  • and Councillor Wilson Lo 
Absent:
  • Councillor Laura Dudas 

The Council of the City of Ottawa met at Andrew S. Haydon Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Mayor, Mark Sutcliffe, presided over the meeting from Council Chambers with some Members attending in person and the remaining Members participating remotely by Zoom.

Mayor Sutcliffe led Council in a moment of reflection. 

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; notices regarding minutes; and remote participation details.


Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Councillor S. Desroches

The National Anthem was performed by the Mino Mikan Elementary School Choir.

All Members of Council were present except Councillor L. Dudas.

Councillor L. Dudas advised that she would be absent from the City Council meeting of 8 October 2025.

  • Motion No.2025-66-01
    Moved byS. Desroches
    Seconded byA. Troster

    That the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation report entitled “Appointment of Auditor – Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC)”, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Report 28, Community Services Committee Report 18, Environment and Climate Change Committee Report 19A, Joint Finance and Corporate Services Committee and Planning and Housing Committee Report 3, Planning and Housing Committee Report 54, Public Works and Infrastructure Committee Report 21 and the report from the City Clerk entitled “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of September 24, 2025” be received and considered; and

    That Council receive and consider Built Heritage Committee Report 26 pursuant to Subsection 35(7) of the Procedure By-law.

    Carried

File No. ACS2025-OCC-OCH-0003 - City-wide

  • Report Recommendation(s)

    That Council:

    1. Appoint KPMG LLP as the external auditor of Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) for an initial three-year term (2025–2027), with the option to extend for two additional one-year terms (2028 and 2029), as recommended by the OCHC Board of Directors.
    2. Request that the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to sign a written resolution on behalf of the City of Ottawa, as the shareholder of Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC), setting forth the resolutions approved by City Council.
    Carried

File No. ACS2025-IWS-WL-0014 - Orléans South-Navan (Ward 19)

  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council adopt the engineer’s report prepared by Robinson Consultants Inc., entitled Engineer’s report for the McKinnons Creek Municipal Drain, and give first and second readings to the By-law attached as Document 3 in accordance with Sections 42 and 45 of the Drainage Act of Ontario.

    Carried with dissent from Councillor Kitts.

    Carried (24 to 1)

File No. ACS2025-PDB-PS-0062 - City-wide

  • Planning and Housing Committee and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council: 

    1.  Approve the On-site Signs Procedure for Development Application, attached as Document 1; and
    2. Delegate Authority to the Director, Planning Services, to update and amend the procedure as required. 
    Carried

File No. ACS2025-SI-CCR-0010 – West-Carleton-March (Ward 5), Rideau-Jock (Ward 21)

  • Committee recommendation(s) as amended

    That Council:

    1. 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 Dunrobin Solar Project, and located at 3492, 3540, and 3582 Dunrobin Road as well as two adjacent unaddressed properties known as Parcels numbered 045640001 and 45660156 in Ward 5 – West Carleton-March as shown in Document 7 and as summarized in Document 8;
      2. A proposed solar energy generation project, known as Carp Airport Solar Project, and located at 1500 Thomas Argue Road in Ward 5 – West Carleton-March as shown in Document 9 and as summarized in Document 10.
    2. Approve that staff, in the event these projects proceed, be directed to:
      1. Request that the proposed Dunrobin Solar Project and Carp Airport Solar Project proponents be encouraged to enter into a host municipality responsibility agreement with the City of Ottawa, consistent with other host municipality responsibility agreements previously entered into by the City,  through which the proponent would provide an amount of at least $1000 per megawatt per year with the goal to achieve a higher amount if possible, for a period of not less than 20 years. The finalization and execution of such agreement shall be ap-proved by Council, with recommendations to be provided as to the allocation and disbursements of such funds; and,
      2. Provide City Council with an update on the status of the request to the proponents by way of memorandum within three months following the issuance of a contract by the Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO) for the Dunrobin Solar Project and Carp Airport Solar Project, and to bring forward for committee and Council approval any draft host municipality responsibility agreements negotiated with the proponents.
    Carried

Rising from the Built Heritage Committee Meeting of 6 October 2025.

File No. ACS2025-PDB-RHU-0036 - Rideau-Vanier (Ward 12)

  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council:

    1. Withdraw the Notice of Intention to Designate 251 Besserer Street and not proceed with the designation process under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act at this time; and
    2. Direct staff to continue consultation with the property owner, with the assistance of Global Affairs Canada, with the goal of resolving their concerns around the impacts of designation on the property.

    Carried with dissent from Councillor Leiper.

    Carried (24 to 1)

File No. ACS2025-CSS-GEN-012 – City-wide

  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council:

    1. Delegate the Director of Housing and Homelessness Services, in the capacity as Service Manager, the authority to approve the refinancing of Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) projects in the Public Housing portfolio, described in this report, provided the amount to service the debt on the refinanced Public Housing projects does not result in an increase to the current subsidy payable and the outcome is revenue-neutral to the City of Ottawa, as described in this report.
    2. Provide the authority for OCHC to secure a lender through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) under Mortgage Loan Insurance Select program for the refinancing of Ottawa Community Housing Corporation projects in the Public Housing portfolio, described in this report, provided the amount to service the debt on the refinanced Public Housing projects does not result in an increase to the current subsidy payable and the outcome is revenue-neutral to the City of Ottawa, as described in this report.
    3. Delegate the authority to the City’s Chief Financial Officer Treasurer to execute the term of a loan guarantee to the lender, if required.
    4. Require Ottawa Community Housing Corporation to redirect up to $6 million of the annual benchmarked capital reserve funding they receive from the City in 2026 – 2028 to service the debt on the refinanced Public Housing projects described in this report.
    5. Require Ottawa Community Housing Corporation to direct proceeds of the mortgage refinancing towards capital repairs of housing projects subject to the Housing Services Act, 2011. 
    6. Receive for information purposes the update on Ottawa Community Housing Corporation’s $165.6 million loan for capital repair funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Co-Investment Fund.
    Carried

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0089 – Rideau-Vanier (Ward 12)

  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council approve:

    1. That Emond Park in Vanier located at the corner of Emond Street and Deschamps Avenue be named after Mary Papatsie, to honour the Inuit community in Vanier, to honour her life and death, and to honour the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls;
    2. That Emond Steet will keep the same name;
    3. That the cost of changing the park sign to reflect the new name come from the Ward 12 Cash in Lieu of Parkland account;
    4. That any costs for the installation of a plaque come from eligible sources;
    5. That any plaque erected in the park also acknowledge that the land is unceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory, as per the wishes of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation Consultative Culture Circle and the 
      Host Nation. 
    Carried

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0090 – City-wide

  • Committee Recommendation(s), as amended

    That Council direct Community and Social Services Department staff as follows:

    1. That staff provide a written summary of the current response to addressing encampments, particularly as it relates to the response in Ward 12;
    2. That staff complete an analysis of encampment response, including dismantles, across the City and utilize the data to identify gaps which will be used to inform resource needs and prioritization by Q4 2025;
    3. That following the analysis by staff, staff will meet with impacted Ward Councillors to review the findings, and will report their findings to Committee.
    Carried

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

Motion No. 2025-66-02 was introduced at the outset of discussions on this item and was carried alongside the Committee recommendations as presented. 

  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.);
    3. Direct staff to develop a policy framework for energy project Municipal Host Agreements for Council consideration in Q1 2026.
    Carried
  • Motion No.2025-66-02
    Moved byM. Carr
    Seconded byJ. Bradley

    That the Rules of Procedure be waived to allow consideration of this motion pertaining to three proposed rooftop solar generation projects, not included in the staff report, in order for the project proponent to respond to Window 1 of the LT2 procurement process to the IESO by the October 16, 2025 deadline.

    WHEREAS Moose Power, a Canadian renewable energy company, is seeking a Municipal Support Confirmation (MSC) for three proposed rooftop solar generation projects to be located at 2340 St. Laurent Boulevard (Ward 10 – Gloucester-Southgate) and 1250 and 1280 Humber Place (Ward 18 – Alta Vista), respectively; and

    WHEREAS the three projects would be placed on the rooftops of three privately owned buildings and, together, would generate approximately 3.4 megawatts of energy to supply energy to the electrical grid; and

    WHEREAS a Municipal Support Confirmation (MSC) is 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 that may be required; and

    WHEREAS Section 25.31 of the Electricity Act provides that photovoltaic technology mounted on the roof or wall of a building, given they are built in accordance with Building Code, are exempt from most municipal by-laws, including zoning by-laws set out under the Planning Act (exceptions being by-laws to prevent the destruction of trees, protect groundwater and protect properties of cultural heritage value or interest); and

    WHEREAS rooftop solar technologies can take advantage of large, underutilized spaces on existing developed sites while also protecting Ottawa’s long-term energy security and stimulating investment in the local economy; and

    WHEREAS locally generated energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions while building resilience to fluctuating energy availability and costs, all of which contributes to the City’s climate, energy and economic development goals; and

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council grant Moose Power the necessary Municipal Support Confirmation (MSC) required by October 16, 2025 for the current Window-1 of the LT2 RFP; and  

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Council delegate authority to the General Manager of Strategic Initiatives to review and approve MSCs for future rooftop solar projects that meet the following criteria:

    • Are submitting a proposal under the Independent Electricity System Operator Long-Term 2 (LT2) Procurement;
    • Have pre-consulted with the local distribution company having jurisdiction over the site in question (i.e. Hydro Ottawa or Hydro One);
    • Have pre-consulted with the local Ward Councillor;
    • Have committed to public notice and community consultation requirements in accordance with the City’s LT2 Process Protocol and the Ward Councillor;

    AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT staff ensure all delegated approvals conform to applicable planning policies and guidelines.

    Carried

File No. ACS2025-SI-SPO-0002 - City-wide

Motion No. 2025-66-08 was proposed as a direction to staff. Councillor Hill requested that the direction be treated as a motion pursuant to Subsection 33(10) of the Procedure By-law.

  • Committee Recommendation(s), as amended

    That Council:

    1. Receive the Housing Innovation Task Force’s report, attached as Document 1, for information.
    2. Approve the Housing Acceleration Plan, attached as Document 2, and described in this report.
    3. Approve the following recommendations to enable the implementation of the Housing Acceleration Plan:
      1. That, Action 21 be amended to reduce Community Benefit Charges (CBCs) from 4% to 2% of the land value cost for a period of 5 years from the date of application approval. Within Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs), CBCs shall be further reduced to 1% of land value cost. Funds that have already been collected shall be recalculated to 2% (or 1% within MTSAs) with remaining funds to be returned to the applicant.
      2. Authorize staff to return the funds collected to date under the Community Benefits Charge By-law as follows:
        1. That projects already approved shall be eligible for a discounted rate until either December 31, 2028 or 5 years from when the proponent received approval, whichever is later; and
        2. That the Community Benefit Charges By-law be amended as soon as practicable to bring these changes into force; and
        3. That the intake for discount-eligible projects shall sunset on December 31, 2028, meaning that projects approved after that date will be ineligible for the discount; and
        4. That staff report back to Council on a revised capital project list by the end of Q4 2025; and
        5. That staff be directed to provide information to Council in Q4 2026 assessing the efficacy of the CBC discounted rate, offering Council the opportunity to review or amend the policy and overall CBC strategy.
      3. Direct Staff that the payment of municipal development charges is due by the issuance of the first occupancy permit, limited to residential occupancies, and on an interest-free basis for 18-months or until the Provincial Bill 17 regulations are implemented, whichever occurs first; and
        1. That City staff be directed to bring forward a Report to Council with recommended amendments to reduce development charges if the City receives funding from higher orders of government, up to a 100% elimination on development charges; and
        2. That any reduction in Development Charges be conditional on a funding commitment equivalent to the reduction from higher orders of government so that the municipality remains fully whole with no reduction of investment into items on the City’s Development Charge Background Study; and
        3. That staff be directed to work directly with the Mayor’s office to engage with Federal and Provincial partners on the above resolutions.
      4. Direct staff to review options to extend exemptions currently in place for developments of up to 10 units and report back to Planning and Housing Committee with proposed recommendations to amend the Site Plan Control By-law No. 2014-256, as described in this report.
      5. Defer the Building Code fee scheduled increases specific to Residential Occupancies, to be included in the 2026 Draft Operating Budget.
      6. Direct staff in the Planning, Development and Building Services, to amend the criteria for eligibility under the Reimbursement Program for Development-Related Fees for Charitable or Non-Profit Organizations, to include site plan planning and building permit fees for non-profit affordable housing projects, and delegate the implementation of these fee waivers to staff.
      7. Direct staff to review and implement pre-set building designs, developed and in use by others in Ontario, to allow for expedited building permits.
      8. Update the Parkland First Policy, Delegation of Authority By-law and Parkland Dedication By-law to transfer authority from Recreation, Cultural and Facilities Services Department to the Planning, Development and Building Services Department to reflect staff changes and authorities outlined in this report.  
      9. Under section 3 (4) of By-law 2022-280 (Parkland Dedication) Council will waive the requirement for parkland dedication for a period of 18 months for “Office building conversion to residential apartments” and “small or adaptive developments”.
      10. Despite section 3 (5) and 4 (3) of Bylaw 2022-280 (Parkland Dedication) Council will temporarily allow for the collection of Cash-in-Lieu of Parkland changes at occupancy, for 18-months, rather than building permit or subdivision approval.
      11. Despite section 4 (4), Table 1, of Bylaw 2022-280 (Parkland Dedication) Council will temporarily allow Cash-in-Lieu of Parkland charges to be reduced to 5 per cent for 18-months for all projects less than 20 units in plans of subdivision prior to 2001 within the greenbelt.
      12. Undertake a review of the delegated authority and Terms of Reference for the Committee of Adjustment and report back to Council by Q4, 2026
      13. Develop a strategy to undertake a comprehensive review of Secondary Plans and report back to Council by end of Q1 2026
      14. Undertake a comprehensive review of the Urban Design guidelines and report back to Council by end of Q4 2026
      15. Undertake a review of the Development Application Study Policy (Information and Materials for Planning Applications (By-Law No. 2023-297) and report back to Council by end of Q1 2026
      16. That the local ward councillor be made fully aware and consulted when properties that are the subject of actions, such as those contemplated in action 29, 38, 42 and similar preparatory actions contained in the Housing Acceleration Plan are undertaken.
      17. That staff provide information on the Bloomberg methodology to Council by end of Q4 2025, with more fulsome reporting on the effectiveness of the financial measures in May 2026 at the time of reporting back to Council on implementation and that staff provide the full results and measurement framework for the Housing Acceleration Plan concurrent to the report back in May 2026.
        1. That a report detailing the performance of each metric against the measurement framework be brought back for deliberation at a Joint Meeting of Finance and Corporate Services and Planning and Housing Committee in Q2 2027.
      18. That, as part of the implementation of Action Item 29 of the Housing Acceleration Plan, staff be directed to expedite the work to identify additional municipally-owned parcels in the next phase of the Municipal Land Strategy, in consultation with the Mayor’s Office, that are suitable for affordable housing development, including supportive housing, or for mixed-use, mixed-income developments that include affordable housing; and
        1. That staff also identify any associated funding opportunities and provide an assessment of site-specific constraints to ensure the viability of the proposed parcels for development; and
        2. That the identified parcels be prioritized based on the availability of servicing infrastructure, location within appropriate transects (with a preference for sites inside the Greenbelt), proximity to existing or planned transit service, and alignment with the Official Plan and applicable secondary plans; and
        3. That a shortlist of candidate parcels identified through the next round of the Municipal Land Strategy be brought forward to Council for information no later than the end of Q4 2025.
      19. That, as part of Housing Acceleration Plan action Item 37, in Document 2 of the Report, staff be directed to review the City's Official Plan and related policies to ensure there are no unintended barriers to affordable housing; and
        1. That, if unintended barriers are identified, staff return to Council with suggested amendments to strengthen the availability of affordable housing.
        2. That the appropriate City housing dashboards be updated to provide readily available information pertaining to the affordable housing sector, considering inclusion of data sets such as:
          • The stock of affordable units, including a breakdown based on the number of bedrooms associated with those units
          • The number of affordable units created from all public sources
          • The amount of investment into affordable housing from all public sources
          • The timelines associated with affordable housing development
          • The current dollar amount that is deemed “affordable”
          • Centralized waitlist length and estimated average wait time
          • The overall state and health of the affordable housing sector
        3. That this information be updated regularly to ensure that housing affordability is transparently tracked and fully prioritized.
    4. Direct the Mayor, on behalf of the City of Ottawa, write letters to the Federal and Provincial governments, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to share a copy of this report and highlight the calls for support identified for both levels of government as outlined, including: sustainable and predictable funding for infrastructure, affordable housing, and transit, the transfer of land at no or low cost for residential development, improved environmental approval timelines, the removal of all interprovincial labour mobility restrictions, increased options for developing a local workforce of skilled trades
    5. Direct staff to continue to engage the Housing Innovation Task Force throughout the implementation of the Housing Acceleration Plan.
    6. Direct staff to report back on progress, assess the comprehensiveness of the Housing Acceleration Plan against current conditions, and propose updates as needed by May 2026.
    7. Declare its intention to become a more housing-friendly City; and
      1. That the General Manager of Planning, Development, and Building Services ensure that every effort is made to accomplish this goal; and
      2. That the General Manager of Planning, Development, and Building Services is provided with support to work across departments to accomplish this goal; and
      3. That when new employees are onboarded, they are given as part of their orientation training a briefing on what their role is with respect to advancing service excellence and accomplishing this goal; and
      4. That the General Manager of Planning, Development, and Building Services report back to Council on the City’s progress in evolving the development approvals process and culture; and
      5. That staff be directed to refine and enhance the Housing Approval Dashboard where appropriate to compare Ottawa’s progress toward becoming a more housing-friendly city against a benchmark of the City’s 2024 performance on key performance indicators; and
      6. That staff be directed to create a landing page and communications products that promote Ottawa’s Housing Action Plan so that employees and the public can be made aware of the City’s strategic direction on housing and track the City’s progress.
    8. Direct that as part of the City’s Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan, staff develop a comprehensive downtown revitalization toolkit to enable a vibrant downtown economy; and
      1. That this toolkit explore and consider the following actions:
        • That the office-to-residential conversion incentive program be extended beyond the pilot program set to expire in November 2025, and included conversions to such other uses as hotel, commercial, cultural, entertainment or institutional.
        • The development of a process to review and approve conversions with consideration given to expedited permitting, technical support, and any other measures that would more quickly bring existing vacant or converted buildings into use.
        • The implementation of a Municipal Service Corporation model as currently being explored by the Province, Local Improvement Charges, or other financial instruments that would enable development charges to be spread over time or rolled into taxes or levies.
        •  An expansion of the Centretown Façade Improvement Grant Pilot Program or similar type program focused on public realm enhancements (such as lighting, signage, accessibility upgrades, patios, greenery, etc.) to the broader downtown transect, including the ByWard Market, in support of the 200th Anniversary.
        • Any other relevant measures or actions.
      2. That in developing this toolkit, City staff work with Councillors representing wards in the downtown area to engage in consultations with local communities to ensure that the toolkit is well-designed to meet local needs; and
      3. That staff report back to Council on a proposal for the toolkit as part of the Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan reporting in Q1 2026.
    9. Direct that the City continue to focus on seniors as a priority group in the updated 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan 2025-2035; and
      1. That staff be directed to work with the Housing and Homelessness Leadership Table to address low-income seniors’ housing needs in the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan workplan; and
      2. That staff report back to Council on seniors’ specific metrics (as available) as part of the annual 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan progress report; and
      3. That staff engage with senior levels of government to outline needs for low-income seniors housing including new development, housing benefits and other ancillary housing stability supports; and
      4. That Community and Social Services continue to align efforts to support seniors though the Older Adult Plan and the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan; and
      5. That, as part of Action 1 of the Housing Acceleration Plan, staff continue to review site specific options to allow for zoning conditions, if not already permitted, for residential developments that are oriented to serve the needs of seniors.

    Carried as amended with dissent from Councillor Menard on Recommendation 3 a. and b.

    Carried as amended
  • Amendment:
    Motion No.2025-66-03
    Moved byR. Brockington
    Seconded byT. Tierney

    That the following be added as an additional recommendation:

    That a copy of the Council-approved recommendations, as well as a copy of Removing Barriers, Opening Doors (Recommendations Report of the Ottawa Housing Innovation Task Force – August 2025), be forwarded to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario as well as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. 

    Carried
  • Amendment:
    Motion No.2025-66-04
    Moved byS. Devine
    Seconded byL. Johnson

    WHEREAS the City of Ottawa is in both a climate crisis and a housing crisis; and

    WHEREAS addressing these concurrent crises requires urgency and creativity in policy making; and

    WHEREAS some developers have proposed Low-Impact Development (LID) as a way to more efficiently and environmentally-responsibly make use of land as per the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan; and

    WHEREAS the Province has directed municipalities to advance LID where feasible and when doing so is consistent with good planning practices; and

    WHEREAS some current City policies may limit the evidence-based benefits of certain LID systems, including the use of permeable pavement solutions as part of an overall stormwater management system, by limiting credit for these and other systems of infiltration from being used to downsize end-of-pipe stormwater management infrastructure; and

    WHEREAS it is possible for a better approach that recognizes fully the benefits of LIDs considering a full lifecycle assessment consistent with asset management policy; and

    WHEREAS being proactive in this respect could improve the roll out of LIDs and other environmentally responsible, pro-housing solutions.

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, engage with the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to press for the Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Guidance Manual to be completed, which has been up for public consultation since January 27, 2022 to help inform a municipal approach to this issue; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in absence of provincial guidance, staff develop technical guidance which enables LIDs such as permeable pavement and/or other LID features to be used in a development application in a manner that could enable the downsizing of end-of-pipe stormwater infrastructure subject to site conditions; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as part of Recommendation 3o (review of the Development Application Study Policy) staff take a risk-based approach that allows staff to more quickly vet and accept, where possible, novel LIDs in future development applications; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these objectives be added as a new action item into the Housing Acceleration Plan under Objective 1.a (e.g. “Facilitate the integration of innovative Low-Impact Development (LID) approaches in housing projects”), with a goal for medium-term implementation; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff return to Council with a memo on their progress on these items during Q2 of 2026.

    Carried
  • Amendment:
    Motion No.2025-66-05
    Moved byS. Devine
    Seconded byL. Johnson

    WHEREAS the City of Ottawa’s current Site Plan Control By-law exempts residential buildings with 10 or fewer dwelling units from requiring a site plan application; and

    WHEREAS this exemption was designed to streamline approvals for small-scale development, but acts as a regulatory barrier to modest intensification projects that exceed 10 units, such as 12-unit, 3-storey buildings; and

    WHEREAS the current exemption threshold is misaligned with the scale of development envisioned in the New Zoning By-law and the objectives of the Housing Acceleration Plan, which seeks to accelerate approvals, unlock urban intensification, and support diverse housing forms; and

    WHEREAS Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, amended Section 41 of the Planning Act in 2022 to limit Site Plan Control Areas to residential developments that contain 11 or more dwelling units; and

    WHEREAS Section 4 of the City of Ottawa’s Site Plan Control By-Law (No. 2014-256) reflects the changes in the Planning Act and exempts Site Plan Control for residential developments that contain a maximum of 10 dwelling units; and

    WHEREAS Recommendation 3d, and corresponding Action #2 of the Housing Acceleration Plan, recommends that the City review options to extend exemptions currently in place for developments that contain a maximum of 10 residential dwelling units; and

    WHEREAS staff have assessed an immediate increase of the Site Plan Control exemption to 12 dwelling units could be accommodated through a building permit review with minimal risks.

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Site Plan Control By-Law (No. 2014-256) be amended to increase the exemption to a maximum of 12 residential dwelling units; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the wording of Recommendation 3d and Action #2 be amended accordingly.

    Carried with dissent from Councillor Kitts.

    Carried
  • Amendment:
    Motion No.2025-66-06
    Moved byA. Troster
    Seconded byT. Tierney

    WHEREAS Recommendations 3a of Report ACS2025-SI-SPO-0002 was amended at joint committee by removing the recommended suspension of the Community Benefit Charge (CBC) By-Law and replacing it instead with a reduction in the applicable charge; and

    WHEREAS Recommendation 3b of Report ACS2025-SI-SPO-0002 proposed a refund of all fees collected under the CBC By-Law; and

    WHEREAS Recommendation 3b was also revised at joint committee to align with the reduction of the CBC By-law in lieu of the suspension and complete refund; and

    WHEREAS the development applications where CBC fees were collected have progressed beyond the approval and building permit phases; and

    WHEREAS the intent of the suspension was to incentivize new applications as well as the advancement of development applications subject to the CBC which had not yet advanced beyond the approval and building permit phases.

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that recommendation 3b be deleted to remove any return of funds collected to date under the Community Benefits Charge and replaced with the following:

    3b.    That staff:

    1. Report back to Council on a revised capital project list by the end of Q4 2025; and
    2. Be directed to provide information to Council in Q4 2026 assessing the efficacy of the CBC discounted rate, offering Council the opportunity to review or amend the policy and overall CBC strategy. 
    Carried
  • Amendment:
    Motion No.2025-66-07
    Moved byS. Plante
    Seconded byM. Carr

    WHEREAS Report ACS2025-SI-SPO-0002 was amended to include Recommendation 8, which provides direction for staff to develop a comprehensive downtown revitalization toolkit to enable a vibrant downtown economy; and

    WHEREAS all communities, including downtown, benefit from a diverse range of housing typologies, including three-bedroom units; and

    WHEREAS more of this diversity in both type and volume will help meet the needs of families who live, or whom want to remain or relocate to the downtown core; and

    WHEREAS according to City of Ottawa commissioned study in 2023, units with three or more bedrooms account for only 4% of purpose-built rental units constructed since 2000; and

    WHEREAS the same study indicated one of the key factors in limiting the market for three-bedroom units was cost compared to alternative options; and

    WHEREAS it is not possible to provide relief for development charges for three-bedroom units as there is no specific rate category for a three-bedroom unit and the applied rate is the current development charge rate for a 2+ unit inside the greenbelt of $31,071; and

    WHEREAS Action 26 of the Housing Acceleration Plan directs staff to undertake a comprehensive review of Development Charges.

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, as part of Action 26: Undertake a Development Charge Structure Review, staff consider a new, discounted rate category for three-bedroom residential units in the urban core.

    Carried
  • Amendment:
    Motion No.2025-66-08
    Moved byC. Kitts
    Seconded byR. Brockington

    As part of the Housing Acceleration Plan Action #6 to review Secondary Plans with an aim to streamline and remove old and outdated Secondary Plans, staff refrain from reviewing plans created within the last five years.

    Carried with dissent from Councillors Hill and Lo.

    Carried

File No. ACS2025-PDB-PSX-0023 – Beacon Hill-Cyrville (Ward 11)

  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 1137 and 1147 Ogilvie Road and 1111 Cummings Avenue, as shown in Document 1, to permit for two 30- storey mixed-use buildings, as detailed in Document 2 and Document 3.

    Carried

File No. ACS2025-PDB-PSX-0038 – Bay (Ward 7)

  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 1299 Richmond Road, as shown in Document 1, to permit a high-rise mixed-use development with a maximum height of 30 storeys, as detailed in Documents 2 and 3.

    Carried

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0105 - Barrhaven East (Ward 24)

  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council approve the installation of an all-way stop control (AWSC) at the intersection of Bren-Maur Road and Eisenhower Crescent-Kelowna Street.

    Carried
  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council approve the following:

    1. That the Mayor, on behalf of Council, write to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Transport, and the Minister of Infrastructure to expresses the City of Ottawa’s strong support for the Alto High-Speed Rail project, and to urge the Federal Government to maintain momentum and prioritize Alto High-Speed Rail project through the Major Projects Office; and
    2. That City staff be directed to continue engagement with Alto technical teams and report back to Council on opportunities for local integration, community benefits, and with major project updates.

    Carried with dissent from Councillors Carr and Desroches.

    Carried (23 to 2)

File No. ACS2025-PDB-TP-0013 - Beacon Hill-Cyrville (Ward 11), Rideau-Vanier (Ward 12), Rideau-Rockcliffe (Ward 13), Alta Vista (Ward 18)

  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council:

    1. Approve the functional design for the St-Laurent Boulevard Transit Priority Corridor (Hemlock Road to Innes Road/Industrial Avenue) Environmental Assessment Study, as described in this report; and,
    2. Direct Transportation Planning staff to finalize the Environmental Study Report (ESR) and proceed with its posting for the 30-day public review period in accordance with the Ontario Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process.
    Carried

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0088 - City-wide

  • Committee Recommendation(s)

    That Council direct staff to implement a winter parking prohibition on the south side of Grovehurst Drive, from Crestway to Oldfield, before winter 2025.

    Carried

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0111 - City-wide

  • Report Recommendation(s)

    That Council approve the Summaries of Oral and Written Public Submissions for items considered at the City Council Meeting of September 24, 2025, that are sub-ject to the ‘Explanation Requirements’ being the Planning Act, subsections 17(23.1), 22(6.7), 34(10.10) and 34(18.1), as applicable, as described in this report and attached as Documents 1.

    Carried

Council resolved in camera at 11:17 am.

In Camera Session

In Council (Open Session)

Council resumed in open session at 12:02 pm.

Upon resuming in open session, Mayor Sutcliffe advised that Council just met in camera pursuant to the Procedure By-law (By-law No. 2025-100), as follows:

  • Subsections 13 (1)(e), litigation or potential litigation affecting the City, and 13(1)(f), the receiving of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose, to receive information with respect to the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Legal Updates

During the closed session, no votes were taken other than procedural motions and/or directions to staff.

  • Motion No.2025-66-09
    Moved byS. Desroches
    Seconded byA. Troster

    BE IT RESOLVED that City Council resolve in camera pursuant to Procedure By-law 2025-100, Subsections 13 (1)(e), litigation or potential litigation affecting the City, and 13(1)(f), the receiving of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose, with respect to the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Legal Updates.

    Carried

To be considered in camera pursuant to Procedure By-law (By-law No. 2025-100), Subsections 13 (1)(e), litigation or potential litigation affecting the City, and 13(1)(f), the receiving of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.


As the content of the in camera update contains information pertaining to the legal aspects of the subject matter, the material falls within the exception contemplated by Subsections 13(1)(e) and (f) of City Council’s Procedure By-Law. As such, this matter will not be reported out.

  • Motion No.2025-66-10
    Moved byS. Desroches
    Seconded byA. Troster

    That the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation report entitled “Appointment of Auditor – Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC)”, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Report 28, Built Heritage Committee Report 26, Community Services Committee Report 18, Environment and Climate Change Committee Report 19A, Joint Finance and Corporate Services Committee and Planning and Housing Committee Report 3, Planning and Housing Committee Report 54, Public Works and Infrastructure Committee Report 21 and the report from the City Clerk entitled “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of September 24, 2025” be received and adopted as amended.

    Carried
  • Motion No.2025-66-11
    Moved byG. Gower
    Seconded byM. Sutcliffe

    WHEREAS the City of Ottawa, the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada have invested $8.15 billion in Ottawa’s Stage 1 and 2 LRT project, based on a cost-sharing model that has seen Ottawa taxpayers contribute 55% of the overall cost of the project; and

    WHEREAS in other large Ontario cities, like Toronto, Brampton, Hamilton and Waterloo, the Province and Metrolinx have built, own and maintain light-rail transit systems at little to no cost to local taxpayers; and

    WHEREAS Mayor Sutcliffe has been advocating with the provincial government for the fair treatment of the City of Ottawa and its taxpayers for almost a year, especially as it relates to the ownership and maintenance of LRT assets; and

    WHEREAS Premier Ford and Transportation Minister Sarkaria were in Ottawa on February 4, 2025 to announce a campaign commitment to upload Ottawa’s LRT, which Premier Ford reiterated in his speech on Election Day; and

    WHEREAS in the provincial budget tabled on May 15, 2025, Minister Bethlenfalvy reiterated the Province’s commitment to pursuing the upload of Ottawa’s LRT;

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and the City Manager enter into negotiations with the Province of Ontario regarding the upload of LRT, and that the following principles be foundational to those discussions and inform a future Agreement with the Province:

    1. that a deal must be fair to Ottawa taxpayers and consistent with precedent deals reached in other Ontario municipalities;
    2. that the governance structure of Metrolinx includes appropriate mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency for Ottawa residents;
    3. that Metrolinx has a significant presence and adequate resources in Ottawa to meet its commitments to the City of Ottawa and OC Transpo;
    4. that OC Transpo maintain local control over service delivery and hiring of personnel;
    5. that any savings from reduced debt-servicing and maintenance costs be re-invested into OC Transpo;
    6. that the value of Transit Oriented Development opportunities available along the LRT corridors be identified, assessed and factored into valuations;
    7. that the Province consult and collaborate with the City of Ottawa and OC Transpo on the planning, design, procurement, construction, delivery and operation of Stage 3 LRT to Kanata, Stittsville and Barrhaven; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and the City Manager report back to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee on the status of their discussions as key milestones are achieved.

    Carried
  • Motion No.2025-66-12
    Moved byL. Dudas
    Seconded byM. Luloff

    WHEREAS Gregory “Mayor Greg” Kazmierski was proof positive that having an intellectual disability does not need to hold you back, overcoming every challenge life threw at him with courage, humour, and heart; and

    WHEREAS Born with Down Syndrome and two holes in his heart, Greg defied expectations from the very beginning, fighting for his place in school, in society, and in the hearts of his community; and

    WHEREAS Greg was a fighter in every sense—earning a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and training at local martial arts gyms, while also overcoming challenges with strength, kindness, and determination; and

    WHEREAS Greg was a beloved and iconic figure in Blackburn Hamlet, affectionately known as the Honourary Mayor of Blackburn Hamlet, recognized for his leadership in fostering community spirit and connection; and

    WHEREAS Greg worked for 35 years at the local grocery store, where his welcoming presence and genuine care for others made him a daily source of joy and comfort for generations of families; and

    WHEREAS Greg was a tireless community builder, known for his enthusiastic support of local events such as the Blackburn Fun Fair, holiday celebrations, and neighbourhood gatherings, where he was often seen giving out his signature bear hugs and uplifting everyone around him; and

    WHEREAS Greg had a deep love for sports and was a fixture at local hockey games at the Blackburn Arena and baseball games at the Blackburn Park diamond, where he cheered on players with unmatched spirit and kindness; and

    WHEREAS Greg was also a regular at the Blackburn Arms Pub, where he played darts, sang Elvis tunes, and cheered loudly for his beloved Ottawa Senators, further cementing his role as a joyful and familiar presence in the community; and

    WHEREAS Greg’s extraordinary contributions to community life were recognized through prestigious honours, including the Canada 125 Medal (1993), the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship (2008), and his designation as Honourary Mayor of Blackburn Hamlet in 2008; and

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the baseball diamond located in Blackburn Park be officially named the Greg Kazmierski Diamond, in honour of his life, legacy, and enduring impact on the Blackburn Hamlet community; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT any costs associated with the installation of signage or a plaque in recognition, be covered through eligible sources.

    Carried

No Motions Requiring Suspension of the Rules of Procedure were received.

  • Moved byT. Tierney
    Seconded byA. Hubley

    WHEREAS the Province of Ontario, has announced plans to introduce legislation in October 2025 to ban all municipal automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras across the province, while committing to fund alternative traffic calming measures such as speed bumps and flashing lights in school zones;

    WHEREAS the City of Ottawa has operated a successful ASE pilot program since 2020, expanding to 60 cameras with 50 operating in school zones;

    WHEREAS data from the City's ASE program shows a significant increase in driver compliance with posted speed limits, rising from 16% before installation to 87% four years later, resulting in fewer speeding vehicles and safer conditions for children and pedestrians in school zones

    WHEREAS unlike some other Ontario municipalities, the City of Ottawa allocates all ASE program revenue beyond operating costs to the Road Safety Action Plan along with funding critical road safety measures such as intersection upgrades, enhanced signage, and other infrastructure improvements, without using any ASE funds toward the general city budget;

    WHEREAS speeding in school zones remains the number one complaint received by Ottawa councillors' offices, highlighting the ongoing need for targeted enforcement in school zones to prevent collisions and promote community safety and well-being, and a 2024 survey of Ottawa residents demonstrated that over 80% of those surveyed were supportive of automated speed enforcement cameras in school zones;

    WHEREAS a complete provincial ban would deactivate all the ASE cameras including in school zones, creating the risk that speeds in these areas would increase;

    WHEREAS the Province has continued to reiterate the importance of safe driving and reduced speeds, and has committed to funding traffic calming measures such as speed humps, flashing lights, roundabouts and other practical measures;

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Ottawa City Council affirm the proven safety benefits of the ASE program and urge the Province of Ontario to permit the retention of ASE cameras exclusively in designated school zones if immediate removal of ASE cameras in non-school zones goes ahead;

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, should the Province proceed with removing ASE cameras in school zones, Council request that municipalities be granted the opportunity to phase out the cameras over a 12-month period, ensuring a smooth transition and minimizing safety risks during the implementation of alternative measures;

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council request the Province provide equivalent funding as mitigation and that the City of Ottawa will commit to allocating all mitigation exclusively to the Road Safety Action Plan budget, ensuring continued investment in critical road safety initiatives such as intersection upgrades, enhanced signage, and other infrastructure improvements to protect vulnerable road users;

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk forward this motion to Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria,

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that once legislation is tabled that staff be directed to prepare a report in early Q1 2026 outlining the projected safety and financial impacts of the provincial ban in Ottawa, focusing on school zone data related to reductions in collisions and speeding attributable to ASE and the impact on the Road Safety Action Plan, and to prepare a plan to use alternative methods to ensure school zones/areas are protected using whatever measures are allowed.

  • Motion No.2025-66-13
    Moved byS. Desroches
    Seconded byA. Troster

    That the by-laws listed on the Agenda under Motion to Introduce By-laws, Three Readings, be read and passed.

    2025-374    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to establish certain lands as common and public highway and assume them for public use (Falls Drive and Cyd Street).
    2025-375    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to designate certain lands at Tonic Crescent, Galanthus Walk, Catnip Crescent, Elixir Place, Tincture Place, Leone Farrell Street, Demulcent Lane, Mortar Terrace, Bee Pollen Way on Plan 4M-1767, as being exempt from Part Lot Control
    2025-376    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2017-180 respecting the appointment of Municipal Law Enforcement Officers in accordance with private property parking enforcement.
    2025-377    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to designate the Fleming Convalescent Home, 410-412 Besserer Street to be of cultural heritage value or interest.
    2025-378    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to designate certain lands at Finsbury Avenue, Cardamom Terrace, David Wiens Street, Mountmellick, Goldhawk Drive, Killinchey Row and Back Bush Terrace, as being exempt from Part Lot Control.
    2025-379    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to designate certain lands at Clyde Avenue on Plan 30 as being exempt from Part Lot Control
    2025-380    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of lands known municipally as 1137 and 1147 Ogilvie Road and 1111 Cummings Avenue.
    2025-381    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of lands known municipally as 1299 Richmond Road.
    2025-382    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of lands known municipally as 2132 Brianna Way.
    2025-383    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of lands known municipally as 6335 Perth Street.
    2025-384    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of part of the lands known municipally as 1047 Richmond Road.
    2025-385    A by-law of the City of Ottawa to establish certain lands as common and public highway and assume them for public use (Postilion Street, Cantering Drive, and Oldenburg Avenue).

    Carried
  • Motion No.2025-66-14
    Moved byS. Desroches
    Seconded byA. Troster

    That the following by-law be read and passed:

    To confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting of October 8, 2025.

    Carried

There were no Inquiries.

The meeting adjourned at 12:09 pm.

  • Motion No.2025-66-15
    Moved byS. Desroches
    Seconded byA. Troster

    That the proceedings of the City Council meeting of 8 October 2025, be adjourned.

    Carried
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