APPENDIX
1
2017
State of the City
A
Year of Celebration for Ottawa
Good morning
and Happy New Year.
Bonjour et bonne année à tous.
I am honoured
to deliver my sixth State of the City address.
Today I want
to reflect on the progress we have made together over the last year.
My 2016 State
of the City address focused on collaboration.
Last year was
an important year in the City of Ottawa. Not only was it a year filled with
planning and preparations for 2017, it was also a year of measured and steady
achievement.
From balancing
our budget and maintaining our tax commitment to residents – 2016 has been a
year of rolling up our sleeves to get things done.
Not only have
we been busy completing the Confederation Line tunnel, we are also planning for
Stage 2. We have pushed ourselves beyond the original scope to include the Trim
extension, a link to the Airport – and will undertake an environmental
assessment to Kanata.
In 2016 we
undertook our first Trade Mission to India that led to the announcement of a
series of new technological and creative partnerships, with an estimated total
value of over $80 million in contracts that will benefit Ottawa companies and their
Indian counterparts.
We also
invested $18.7 Million to repair existing social housing to enhance living
conditions of our most vulnerable residents.
Last fall, the
inaugural Mayor’s Gala for the Arts raised $75,000 for the Ottawa Art Gallery
Expansion and Arts Court Redevelopment Project, which opens its doors this
year.
I am pleased
to announce that the Mayor’s Gala for the Arts will be held on a bi-annual
basis, with the next event occurring in the spring of 2018. I have every
confidence that it will develop into Ottawa’s premiere Gala in support of our
local arts scene.
We worked hard
to get it right on the environment with the conversion of 58,000 streetlights
to LED technology – saving $6 million annually.
We also have
some of the highest ranked drinking water in the world.
We installed
eight large solar rooftops on municipal building in partnership with Energy
Ottawa – reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 41,382 metric tonnes over 20
years.
Construction
also began on the Combined Sewage Storage Tunnel to protect the environment,
prevent floods and ensure future generations can enjoy swimming and boating in
the Ottawa River.
And any list
of accomplishments would not be complete without mentioning that Ottawa was
named by the Mercer 2016 Quality of Living Rankings, as the most affordable among
all Canadian and U.S. cities.
Ottawa was
also identified as a top technology hub in North America, with strengths in
digital media, wireless technology, photonics, defence and cyber security, and
data analytics.
As a City, we
have worked hard in 2016 and that enthusiasm has carried into the planning of
our country’s 150th anniversary.
That’s why I
believe that 2017 will be a year of celebration – a celebration that Ottawa
residents truly deserve, and they worked hard at creating.
People want to
live in our city.
People want to
visit our city.
And they want
to invest in our city.
Let me take a
few minutes to remind everyone of what we are celebrating.
We get to
celebrate as a City in 2017 because we live in a great country – one that has
served as a beacon of tolerance, generosity and prosperity for generations of
Ottawa residents.
Events are
about more than having fun – they remind us of how privileged we are to call
Ottawa and Canada our home.
It is well
known that Ottawa is on a roll, and that we are making progress on a number of
important City building fronts.
From city-wide
LRT to the rejuvenated Lansdowne to our new Ottawa Art Gallery and redeveloped
Arts Court, to the recently opened Innovation Centre.
This progress
– in large part – stems from the collaborative efforts we have seen from all
tiers of government investing in Ottawa, and from the vitality of our local
businesses and community organizations doing the same.
Ottawa is a
growing and thriving city.
Investors are
confidently putting more of their dollars into our city, and the proof of that
is all around us – from Bayshore to the Rideau Centre, Shoppers City East, to
Tanger mall in Kanada, growth in Barrhaven, Stittsville, Orléans and Riverside
South.
Ottawa is
expected to be home to over 1 million people in 2019 – just over two years from
now.
By 2036, our
city’s population will reach more than 1.2 million residents.
I hear
firsthand from visitors and residents alike how much they love visiting and
living in Ottawa.
Just a few
months ago, MoneySense magazine ranked Ottawa the best place to live in Canada.
In the same
survey, Ottawa was also ranked the best place for new Canadians.
Ottawa is also
at the top of lists for sustainable cities, cycling-friendly cities, and we’re
ranked the most business friendly amongst large cities, with the most stable
employment rate in Canada.
Our employment
hotspots contain plenty of good paying government, high tech and service sector
jobs.
And even
though we have a large public service sector anchoring our local labour market,
we are also fortunate that over 1,700 technology companies call Ottawa home.
So why am I
taking time today to brag about our city?
...Because
2017 will be a year to celebrate Ottawa.
Earlier this
month, the New York Times described Canada as the number 1 country to visit in
2017, and had a feature article about the wonderful places to see and things to
do during a weekend spent in Ottawa.
Lonely Planet
awarded Canada the same award last October.
And WestJet
named Ottawa the #1 place to visit in the world in 2017.
Some will
remember 2017 as a year of celebrations marked by great events.
2017 is also
an opportunity to re-imagine Ottawa.
To see how we
have changed and to demonstrate how much Ottawa has to offer.
Ottawa is our
home and we will be rolling out the welcome mat to over 10 million visitors over
the next twelve months.
It is the way
in which we deliver service to residents and visitors alike that makes our City
truly great.
Some of you
may think that being a good host is a modest goal for 2017 – but let me remind
you that it is a big deal for Ottawa.
Hospitality
and tourism spending contributed approximately $1.6 billion to our local
economy annually.
Also the
accommodation and food service sector, which are the bulk of Ottawa tourism
businesses, employs over 35,000 local residents.
It really is
going to be an unforgettable year here in the National Capital region.
From the Skate
Canada Championship last weekend to the Davis Cup next month, to the Junos and
the Grey Cup, it will be a very busy year for residents and visitors alike.
Ottawa is very
proud of our professional sports franchises and their contribution to the
vibrancy of our city.
We celebrated
with our Ottawa Champions Baseball Club when they won the Can-Am League
Championships in 2016 and we look forward to hosting the 2017 Can-Am League
All-Star game here at RCGT Park on July 25th 2017.
We also
celebrated with our Ottawa RedBlacks football club when they won the Grey Cup
in 2016 - the first-ever Grey Cup win for Ottawa in 40 years and we look
forward to hosting the Grey Cup here at TD Place on November 26th 2017.
Our Ottawa
Senators continue to be strong competitors and we feel optimistic about their
chances of making the post-season play offs this year.
And of course
Ottawa loves soccer and the Ottawa Fury will be starting their 2017 season off
in a new league – the United Soccer league.
I invite you
to check out the full list of events at ottawa2017.ca.
We will also
be hosting more conventions in Ottawa in 2017 than ever before – doubling the
number of business travelers to Ottawa next year.
Ottawa Tourism
estimates that well over 58,000 convention delegates will visit Ottawa in 2017
– this is a 48% increase over last year.
Today, I want
to highlight how Ottawa companies and Ottawa talent are helping to make 2017 a
reality.
Take
Inspiration Village as an example. This installation of about 40 sea containers
will be located in the ByWard Market and will feature talent from around
Canada.
Dymech
Engineering of Greely, in Councillor Darouze’s ward, has been tasked with the
design and build of this impressive construction that will be viewed by
millions of visitors this summer.
Other events
are firsts for Ottawa, but they will become permanent members of our events
community, or make their way back every few years, such as Red Bull Crashed
Ice.
This is all
part of the legacy of Ottawa 2017.
Part of the
2017 legacy lies in our ability to develop and celebrate our local talent.
Another way we
have of celebrating local talent and exceptional contributions to Ottawa is our
City’s highest honour the Key to the City.
I am proud to
announce that Algonquin College will be receiving this tribute in celebration
of its 50th anniversary and Carleton University will be receiving this honour
to mark 75 years of education excellence in Ottawa – accepting the award for
these fine institutions will be their respective presidents, Cheryl Jensen and
Roseann Runte.
Also this year
the City will be presenting a Key to the City to:
Michel Picard,
a well respected broadcaster and long-serving news anchor on Radio-Canada and
current host on Unique FM;
Senator Murray
Sinclair, a Canadian Senator, former judge, First Nations
lawyer, and was the chair of the Indian Residential
Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission;
Sheila Fraser,
former Auditor General of Canada from 2001 to
2011, and the first woman to hold this post;
Henry Burris,
the recently retired Canadian football quarterback
for the Ottawa Redblacks
of the Canadian Football League. He won three Grey Cup
championships; and,
Steve Yzerman,
a native of Nepean and a retired professional hockey
player and current general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is widely
considered to be one of the greatest players of all time.
I also want to
reflect on an idea which could make 2017 even more fun – for future
generations.
I am
announcing that we will work with the Ottawa Archives to create a “2017 time
capsule,” to be opened by Ottawa residents in 50 years time, when Canada will
be celebrating its 200th anniversary.
I am sorry to
advise that I probably won’t be able to attend this event in 2067.
I would like
to invite each Member of Council to work with their communities to propose a
representative memento for inclusion in the 2017 time capsule – something that
captures the essence of each of our city’s diverse wards.
Although
events are great economic generators, 2017 will also be a year of legacy for
the nation’s capital, with many new facilities and projects that will open to
the public this year.
Here is a
partial overview of how the face of Ottawa will change in 2017, including
public and private partners:
·
National
Arts Centre redevelopment will transform this artistic centerpiece;
·
George
Street Plaza will see improvements to the public spaces and pedestrian
experience;
·
The
Stanley Cup monument will be unveiled;
·
The
new Ottawa Art Gallery will open boasting three times the space of
the previous facility;
·
The
Arts Court Redevelopment will be revitalized as the center piece of the
new cultural precinct;
·
The
renovated Canadian Science and Technology Museum will re-open in the east;
·
The
Innovation Centre at Bayview Yards will serve as an incubator of innovation; and,
·
The
new Currency Museum, which will be called the Bank of Canada Museum, will open
in July of this year.
Many of these
new or newly renovated facilities will become landmarks in Ottawa.
They will
become places that tourists have to visit – and they are all great examples of
what can be achieved when we work together.
So what can we
do to help support this year of celebration?
Everyone in
the city has a role to play, from individual residents and families,
businesses, first responders or transit operators – each and every member of
our community can be part of the 2017 welcoming team.
Have you ever
been in a foreign city, struggling to find a street or a building?
We all need to
be more than tourism ambassadors this year and in the years to come – we need
to communicate our city’s values to everyone we meet.
Our warmth and
approach will communicate our City’s values.
Many visitors
will want to see Parliament Hill, stop in at the Museum of Nature, drop into
Lansdowne Park or skate on the historic World UNESCO Rideau Canal.
But they also
want to experience Ottawa’s hospitality. Visitors may enjoy a pint at a local
microbrew pub, a trip to a rural village or a meal at one of Ottawa’s new and
exciting restaurants like Bar Laurel in Kitchissippi or Riviera just around the
corner on Sparks Street.
There are
hidden gems in every corner of Ottawa, including Martha’s Culinaire in Orléans,
or the Three Sisters Bake Shop in Canterbury.
2017 is an
opportunity to show a global audience that Ottawa is a fantastic place to live,
work, learn, play and raise a family.
2017 is the
start of a new page for tourism in Ottawa’s history.
That is why we
are planning for the future.
We are
partnering with Ottawa Tourism on our Bid More, Win More, Host More strategy to
attract more major sporting and cultural events to Ottawa…
I want to take
this opportunity to thank Members of Council, and Sports Commissioner Jody
Mitic, for supporting Ottawa’s bid to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games.
This great
community building, multi-sport event – the largest in Canada – would bring
20,000 visitors to Ottawa and generate approximately $165 million in economic
activity, not to mention a legacy for our next generation of athletes as well
as our sport facilities.
And on a
smaller, but no less important scale, in 2018 we will be celebrating the
Village of Richmond’s 200th anniversary with the help of Councillor Scott
Moffatt.
City employees
are also the face of the City – and I challenge everyone to remember - what we
do best as a team – we put residents and visitors first.
I know that
the events of 2017 will require you to do more, to work longer hours and to put
even more of yourself into the services you deliver.
I want to
thank you for your dedication to date and tell you all that I have confidence
in your ability to handle what promises to be an exciting year.
Part of being
a good host is ensuring our city is safe.
This means
supporting and trusting our first responders.
First
responders, like our brave women and men of the Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa
Fire Service and Ottawa Paramedic Services, will be asked to do more over the
next year.
I want to
remind all of you that Ottawa is one of the safest cities to live in.
We recognize
that crime in our communities is changing and we are working with our police
services to address these challenges.
We have seen
an increase in violent crime and an increased readiness last year to use knives
and guns to resolve conflicts.
Like many of
you, I agree that any increase in crime is a flag for concern and renewed
effort.
I can assure
you that we are ready for 2017.
I am confident
that our officers of the Ottawa Police Service, under the leadership of Chief
Charles Bordeleau and Board Chair Eli El-Chantiry, are working hard to keep
Ottawa safe.
The Ottawa
Police Service has committed to hiring an additional 75 officers over 3
years.
But more
officers are just one tool – we also need a strong bond – a bond of trust –
between residents and our men and women in uniform.
I would like
to read you a recent e-mail I received from a resident.
This is just
one simple example of an Ottawa Constable that went beyond the call of duty to
serve residents.
“My name is Heather and last night I was
waiting for the bus across from Tunney's Pasture. Although I was bundled
against the cold, I became hypothermic.
I had been waiting for the bus for half an
hour, and was getting cramps in my legs because of the cold, and my feet felt
like they were becoming frostbitten. I couldn't stop shaking.
One of your officers watched me and
realized I was in trouble. He parked his marked SUV and approached me and asked
where I was going. When I told him he said he would take me home. He loaded the
walker I use because of some of my disabilities into the SUV and drove me home.
I would very much like to thank my hero…
for what he did. In all the circumstances, I neglected to ask his name.
Please, if you could supply his name, I
would be truly grateful... He truly saved my life by going above and beyond the
call of duty.”
It is unlikely
that you would ever hear about Constable Ian Kemp in the news, or that he would
receive an award for his actions, but I chose to highlight this example today
as the type of action that our men and women in uniform take on a daily basis
to build these bonds of trust.
I would ask
that Constable Ian Kemp stand and be recognized.
It is the
regular actions we take in performing our jobs – exercising our everyday
business with intention, which provides opportunities to build the foundation
for trust.
So I want to
take this opportunity to point out and to thank Constable Ian Kemp
specifically, and all his fellow officers, for their everyday efforts and for
reminding us through this one small example of the impact of their work on our
City.
Our paramedics
are also there for our community.
Every day,
members of the Ottawa Paramedic Service provide our residents and visitors with
the highest level of immediate care during their time of need.
From first aid
and CPR instruction, to community paramedicine programs, paramedics are also
active members of the communities in which they serve.
For example,
paramedics Michelle Farragher, Jonathan Sylvester, Matthew Di Monte and Deanna
Schofield volunteered their time to staff an ambulance so that a palliative
care patient at CHEO could attend this year’s Christmas parade in Orléans.
For most, a
ride in an ambulance usually means going to the doctor, but this time was
different for a child who instead got the chance to partake in the joy of the
holiday season under medical supervision.
This small but
impactful gesture exemplifies the compassion and goodness of the members of our
Paramedic Service.
I would ask
the 4 paramedic’s stand and be recognized.
Last year,
Council also made important investments to add more paramedics and Emergency
Response Vehicles.
I would also
like to recognize the exemplary work of Ottawa Fire Services, whose members
also consistently face danger on a daily basis.
Recently, a
resident was seriously injured while doing maintenance at their home in
Corkery.
In response,
firefighters from Station 84 volunteered their time to demolish a deck so a
wheelchair ramp could be installed. But these volunteers knew even more could
be done, and the Station proceeded to host a pancake breakfast – raising $2000
for the family. Since then, firefighters continue to visit the family from time
to time.
These actions
supported the family during a difficult time, and reflect the dedication of the
Fire Service to our residents and to the generosity of our entire community.
Today we
have Lieutenants Scott Morphy and Stephen Logan here representing Station 84.
Please stand to be recognized.
Our City is at
its best when we stand together in times of need.
By standing
together with our first responders we are standing by each other to make our
City even safer.
An increase in
visitors can sometimes lead to an increase in big city challenges.
Many of you
have heard about an increase in the number of Opioid overdose deaths in various
Canadian cities.
I want to reassure
you that for over 2 years, Ottawa Public Health has been leading the Overdose
Task Force, which includes our paramedic service, the Coroner’s office,
pharmacies, police and local hospital emergency rooms on overdose prevention in
Ottawa.
We have been
monitoring developments across the country and have confidence that, thanks to
their public awareness efforts and leadership of the Overdose Task Force, our
health department, along with its community partners, are actively engaged to
address the situation locally.
I would like
to take this opportunity to thank Health Board Chair Shad Qadri and Dr. Isra
Levy for their dedication to this issue.
The City is
not only preparing for the increase in visitors in 2017 - we are also preparing
for a change in demographics.
Our aging
population will be the main story in 2017 -- with the share of the population
that is 65 and over expected to increase from about 13% in 2011 to over 21% by
2036.
This
demographic shift is playing a key role in the City’s commitment to
intensification and to making our transit system and public infrastructure
fully accessible.
Again this
year we will be investing to create an Age Friendly Ottawa through the City’s
Older Adult Plan.
This plan
includes 50 initiatives to make our city accessible to residents of all ages.
These
practical initiatives include helping older adults navigate the built
environment, City facilities and services, and finding creative solutions to
help improve travel within Ottawa.
Ottawa will
also welcome over 6,085 new permanent residents this year.
Last year,
Ottawa also welcomed 2,000 Syrian refugees, hundreds of immigrants from other
countries and hosted over 8,500 international students – of which approximately
3,000 new students arrive annually.
I want to
thank Councillor Michael Qaqish, Special Liaison for Refugee Resettlement for
his important work with this community.
To residents
who stepped up to welcome newcomers from Syria through the Refugee613
initiative, and through other private initiatives, I want to thank you for
representing Ottawa’s spirit of generosity.
Since last
summer, I have been working with the Somali community on an action plan to help
address local priorities.
In 2017 we
will also celebrate multiculturalism in our city. Just like how Greece,
Lebanon, Vietnam, China, Italy and many other countries celebrate their
cultures with national festivals -- I hope to explore opportunities to
celebrate the Somali culture by working with our community partners to develop
a Somali Cultural Festival later in this Term of Council.
It’s the same
spirit of generosity that led to the tremendous success of our Ottawa4 Fort
McMurray fundraiser, in which over 750 residents and countless businesses took
part – this event raised $128,000 for the families of Fort McMurray. I want to
thank Ottawa Senators player Chris Phillips for co-chairing this event with me.
I hope that
together we can keep the momentum of generosity going.
Towards that
end, we will be planning a number of events to help demonstrate how we are an
inclusive and open city.
That
inclusive, open and bilingual City includes our vibrant Francophone community.
And I am proud
to say that the services we offer our Francophone residents have steadily
improved in the last few years.
The most recent
data indicates a 26% increase in the number of programs offered by our Parks,
Recreation and Cultural Services since 2010.
The number of
registrations to these programs is also up by more than 11% during this same
period.
I’m also happy
to report that the number of French Language Services complaints is going down
year after year. That number went from 119 in 2014 to 83 in 2015, for a
reduction of 30%, and this trend downwards was sustained in 2016.
This reduction
in the number of complaints speaks to the City’s commitment to improving the
quality of services offered to our Francophone residents.
In a few
months, I will be hosting the 11th Annual Francophone breakfast at City Hall,
which will once again provide an opportunity for City and Francophone leaders
to come together with the community and highlight the City’s Francophone
accomplishments. This year, the City is proud to be partnering with the
performing arts centre “La Nouvelle Scène.”
2017 will be a
year of celebration, but it is also a year to reflect and to build partnerships
towards reconciliation.
As many of you
know, Ottawa is located on un-ceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe
Nation.
I would like
to honour the land and peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation, whose
ancestors have lived on this territory for millennia, and whose culture and
presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land.
I would also
like to honour all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, their elders, their
ancestors and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.
I am mindful
that for many of our Indigenous friends and neighbours, the 150th anniversary
of Confederation takes on a different significance. Therefore, as we celebrate
the founding of our nation, my hope is that we will also continue to takes
steps towards reconciliation so that 2017 can also be a year of healing, growth
and celebration for all its citizens.
Towards that
end, the City of Ottawa will again be holding an Aboriginal Awareness Day in
June.
A particular
passion of mine has been making City Hall a people place and I am happy to say
that we have had some success on that front.
When I see
Ottawa residents and tourists enjoy the SENS Rink of Dreams, visit the Barbara
Ann Scott Museum or the Sports Hall of Fame, it reminds me of a very simple
fact – that City Hall actually belongs to the people of Ottawa.
Why is this
important? Ensuring that City Hall is a people place helps people feel included
and involved; it makes them feel more closely connected to their city government.
Making City
Hall a people place is just a small example of our larger commitment to
welcoming the world to Ottawa.
As our 2017
celebrations unfold, Ottawa residents will be watching our vision of a world
class transit system come to life.
The Confederation
Line and Stage 2 LRT will change how residents move across our city.
The City of
Ottawa is grateful for the investment of over $155 million in the new Public
Transit Infrastructure Fund, from the Federal Government.
This
investment is a significant boost to our City’s transit and active
transportation network, which are important areas of focus for residents.
This funding
includes over $65 million toward preliminary engineering and other planning
activities that have helped keep the City’s Stage 2 LRT project on schedule and
helped to ensure that we will have additional vehicles to manage ridership
growth over the next five years.
This past
June, in Councillor Bob Monette’s ward, the Province of Ontario announced a
historical investment of $1.16 billion dollars towards the Stage 2 LRT
expansion project.
This
represents the largest provincial transit investment in Ottawa’s history.
In February,
Council will be hearing more details on the Stage 2 project.
I am looking
forward to discussing this issue with my colleagues and the public so that we
can move ahead with the procurement of the next phase of LRT.
Ottawa will be
the only city in Canada where a new LRT line is being commissioned for revenue
service at the same time as its extensions will go under construction.
We are not
merely shovel ready; we are building now, we are fully mobilized and we have a
clear plan to continue to advance our environmentally friendly and affordable
transportation agenda.
Once fully
operational, the O-Train system comprised of the Confederation Line running
east/west and the Trillium Line running north/south, will span over 50
kilometers of rail and include 39 stations.
It will
accommodate up to 24,000 people per hour in each direction – more than twice
the number of people than today.
When Stage 2
of the City’s O-Train system opens for revenue service in 2023, approximately
70% of the City’s population will be within 5 kilometers of rail.
While on the
subject of our new LRT, I am pleased to announce that following the success of
the school competition to name our road headers we will be having a competition
in our local schools to name Ottawa’s LRT engines for our new line.
Information
will be sent to Councillors and your schools in the fall of this year and winners
will be announced in the spring of 2018.
I look forward
to seeing our creative young minds come up with some inspiring and exciting new
names. I have asked Councillors Blais and Egli to coordinate this activity.
Planning
matters
Ottawa’s LRT
projects will also change our land use planning to promote more density around
LRT stations.
And I’m happy
to say that our intensification strategy for residential development is
working.
There were
about 4,700 housing starts last year.
Of those, a
record 58% of new housing in urban and suburban areas was developed through
intensification.
New housing
built in intensification target areas ─ such as rapid transit stations,
the Central Area, and main streets ─ accounted for a record 41 per cent
of new units.
The City is
also committed to Transit Oriented Development -- for example in just the
properties around Hurdman, Lees, Tremblay, St-Laurent, Cyrville and Blair
stations alone, there is the potential for more than 30,000 apartments and
houses to be built, along with commercial and retail opportunities to provide
these communities with better jobs.
We know this
will take many years to unfold. But, I think it is very exciting that our
business community is prepared to invest in transit-oriented development.
Just this
summer, we approved plans for a residential highrise next to Blair Station, the
eastern hub of the O-Train Confederation Line.
RioCan,
Canada’s largest Real Estate Investment Trust, has long-term plans for several
major buildings at Blair Station that will capitalize on light rail access.
New buildings
are also being planned in the Preston-Carling area, next to the Trillium Line.
This area includes the Sir John Carling Building site as the home for the new
Civic Hospital.
Trinity
Developments is proposing a major development at 900 Albert Street with three
mixed-use towers – all steps away from the Bayview LRT Station.
And the future
development of LeBreton Flats will create a large new neighbourhood at the
heart of our light rail system. This development includes a 1,600-unit,
five-tower complex aimed at mixed-income households by Claridge Homes. It will
also feature a new grocery store to service the downtown.
In 2017 a
number of new affordable and supportive housing developments will be officially
opened to coincide with the Sesquicentennial.
These
include:
·
455
Via Verona (Barrhaven): A 98 unit affordable housing community for families;
·
55-59
Carruthers Avenue: A 36 unit supportive housing program for individuals who
experienced chronic homelessness;
·
1900
St-Joseph Blvd (Orléans): A 48 unit supportive housing program for individuals
who experience chronic homelessness.
I want to
thank Councillor Mark Taylor, our special liaison on housing and homelessness,
for his great work on these issues.
Next month we
will continue the dialogue on the proposed site for the new Central Library in
Councillor Catherine Mckenney’s ward.
Like many of
you, I believe that this is an extremely important City building moment.
I know that
the Central Library team and Library Chair Tim Tierney have been working hard
to ensure that the new Central Library will be a resounding success.
I am of the
view that, like Lansdowne, our new Central Library will be a very important
city-wide people place – one that residents from Fitzroy Harbour, Stittsville,
Vanier, Cumberland and Beacon Hill will come to enjoy.
This year, the
City will be challenged to guide the development of new suburbs, and the
gradual evolution of existing ones, in a way that maintains their residential
attributes.
As existing
suburbs mature, these areas have seen an increase in density and greater
diversity of demographics.
One initiative
that will gain momentum in 2017 is the Building Better and Smarter Suburbs
initiative lead by Councillors Jan Harder and Alan Hubley.
This
initiative is a practical example of how we can enhance our suburbs for future
generations by making these communities more land efficient, affordable, more
livable, and more cost effective to build and maintain.
Protecting
Heritage -
As many of you
know, I created the Heritage Matters Task Force last fall, on which I serve
with the Chair of the Planning Committee, Jan Harder and Built Heritage
Subcommittee Chair, Tobi Nussbaum.
This
collaborative group composed of heritage community leaders and staff from
across the corporation was formed to help ensure that future generations enjoy
our rich architectural heritage and to reduce the instances of demolition by
neglect.
Today, I am
announcing the first major initiative that has come out of our work… the
creation of a team, to proactively ensure our vacant heritage buildings meet
property and building standards and to support heritage conservation by working
with property owners so they are aware of consulting resources and City
programs available to support heritage conservation.
It is my hope
that these efforts will prevent any further demolition by neglect. This team is
already on the ground visiting identified buildings to examine building
conditions and categorize key heritage attributes.
Following the
initial inspections, formal actions will be pursued to ensure property
standards compliance to better preserve heritage elements of existing
properties.
Ottawa also
recognizes the importance of maintaining natural landscapes for the protection
of the environment, water protection, and adaptation to climate change.
In 2017 we
will complete the Urban Forest Management Plan that will provide a long-term
vision for the urban forest and ensure that it is healthy and robust for years
to come.
This year the
Energy Evolution project will support Catalyst Projects to demonstrate Ottawa’s
collaboration with community partners in advancing energy conservation, energy
efficiency and renewable energy generation in Ottawa.
I am looking
forward to a report outlining these projects in the coming months under the
guidance of Councillor David Chernushenko.
The City will
be planting 150 maple trees in each of the 23 Wards to celebrate the
anniversary of Confederation. Information will be released this week to
identify the grove locations and tree planting will commence this spring.
Ottawa is a
Dynamic and Innovative City
There are so
many reasons for optimism in 2017.
The Conference
Board of Canada predicts that in 2017 Ottawa-Gatineau will post better economic
growth than Canada’s for the first time since 2011.
In 2016, the
federal government and its agencies employed an average of 130,800 in the
capital region.
That’s up from
127,300 a year earlier.
High-tech
employment averaged 68,000 in 2016. This makes the capital region the most
technology intensive of Canada’s major cities.
Ottawa’s tech
sector has grown in part due to the breakout of firms such as Shopify, which
makes electronic software for online merchants around the world.
Shopify
employed 1,750 at the end of September, more than one-third of them based in
Ottawa.
Just last
month in a major employee survey, Ottawa’s Shopify was ranked the best place to
work in Canada.
And there are
other tech firms expected to see gains locally in 2017.
Kinaxis, for
example is a software pioneer specializing in applications for managing
corporate supply chains, and has experienced steady growth over the last year.
Another solid
member of Ottawa’s tech cluster is Ciena, an optical networking specialist that
will put the finishing touches this year on a major new campus in Kanata North
with over 1,600 employees.
Our city’s
lengthy history in communications is helping to turn the innovation industry’s
spotlight towards Ottawa once again.
The 5G
technology innovation is largely thanks to advancements made by technological
minds here in the nation’s capital.
The 5G
cellular networks are expected to allow for far better coverage, reliability
and speeds than are currently available.
Ottawa is now
home to Ericsson, Avaya, Nokia, Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei and Ciena, all key
players in the upcoming 5G cellular revolution.
Nokia and
Ericsson — collectively employ more than 3,000 people locally.
In
September, Chinese cellular giant Huawei announced a $500-million commitment
over the next five years to bolster research and development of 5G cellular
technologies in Canada.
They already
employ over 500 people in their Kanata offices and we can expect to see this
number grow as a result of these new investments.
Ericsson hired
900 former Nortel employees and is now in the process of setting up a
45,000-square-foot office building in Kanata that will employ 1,000 people
locally.
And just last
week a pair of promising Ottawa technology start-ups announced an influx of $18
million to expand staff and refine their products in Ottawa.
Clearwater
Clinical Ltd. announced a total of $6 million to double its staffing over the
next two years.
This company’s
first commercial success was the Dizzyfix, a device and application that helps
patients to recover from vertigo.
Also earlier
this year, Ottawa’s Klipfolio announced a new $12 million investments to help
expand its business and hire new staff.
Klipfolio is
an Ottawa company that makes software to allow companies to monitor sales,
handle shipping and inventory issues, and manage other business information.
Add in
BlackBerry QNX – who recently announced a $100 million investment and 650 new
jobs in Ottawa – and it’s no wonder that Apple is responding and has set up an
office in Ottawa to lead the charge on autonomous vehicles.
The mix of
technology being created in Ottawa, coupled with the proximity of major auto
manufacturers in the Greater Toronto Area, is setting up Ottawa for a promising
year in 2017.
Last November,
Council approved a motion supporting the testing of autonomous vehicles on
Ottawa’s roads – starting in the Kanata North Business Park.
I want to
thank Councillor Marianne Wilkinson for her pursuit of a Centre of Excellence
for autonomous vehicles here in Ottawa.
But there is
more we can do to support this promising sector... which is why in a few weeks,
I will lead a mission to Queen’s Park to showcase the great work that is
currently being done in Ottawa, and explore how we can leverage our local
high-tech sector to develop 5G in support of a sophisticated autonomous vehicle
industry in Ontario.
I am pleased
to announce that Sir Terry Matthews, who is a champion of technology in our
city, will be co-chairing the delegation with me on this undertaking.
We often find
ourselves in the shadow of Toronto and Waterloo, who have MaRS and CommuniTech
as their innovation hubs.
But our
strength is highlighted in our new Innovation Centre, in the talent we are able
to attract here, in the patents that keep getting registered in Ottawa, and in
the venture capital our local companies keep attracting, surpassing other
Canadian cities on all these fronts.
Ottawa is
where a growing share of strategic technology investments are being made, and
should be made, and we are going to promote that reality proudly.
And this
optimism is not limited to the technology sectors.
The Conference
Board also predicts the construction sector in Ottawa and Gatineau will employ
an average of 42,000 this year and next — about 13 per cent higher than in 2016.
We also need
to support small business through a new attitude towards this important
economic engine.
Invest Ottawa
recently moved to their beautiful new home at the Innovation Centre at Bayview
Yards in Councillor Jeff Leiper’s ward, at the intersection of the Trillium and
Confederation Lines.
The Innovation
Centre will be our city’s hub for creators and entrepreneurs; a place where
great ideas will become businesses.
We hope many
small companies will emerge from the Innovation Centre’s incubator and grow
into larger employers in Kanata, Orléans or Barrhaven.
We need to
clear the path to help small businesses get it done.
This is the
new economy of opportunity – jobs not just in the central core but also
supporting small business in rural and suburban areas.
2017 will also
see major advances in a number of large City building developments like Zibi
and LeBreton Flats.
These projects
have the potential to become unique and dynamic places within the core of the
City, creating a bridge between the downtowns of Ottawa and Gatineau and
creating new river-fronts that have not been accessible for generations.
This year, the
vision for the former Rockcliffe Air Base will also move ahead to create a
complete mixed-use community in the east end that is walkable,
cycling-supportive and transit oriented.
The former
Rockcliffe Air Base area is one of the last remaining significant redevelopment
sites in the inner urban part of the City, and will be the single largest
development within the Greenbelt since amalgamation.
It will result
in the construction of homes for approximately 10,000 residents and provide
2,600 jobs.
As you can see
from all these examples… Ottawa is booming.
Ottawa 2017
will be one of the single largest efforts our community has ever undertaken and
we need to align with community leaders and stakeholders to welcome the world
to our City.
Now is our
opportunity to change the way the world sees Ottawa.
With your
help, everyone who comes to visit or moves to Ottawa will see an inclusive and
optimistic city with an open attitude that sets us apart.
I want to
thank my Council colleagues for their work to date but… I won’t hide the hard
truth from you … in 2017 I expect we will be asking even more of you.
I believe that
municipal governments that work together can be the incubator for creative
solutions.
To grow
prosperity, equity and sustainability in our city means we have to get transit
right.
That is why we
introduced the new Equipass, which will allow a greater number of residents to
participate more fully in our city’s job market and socio-economic life.
And that is
why we are building Ottawa’s LRT system – LRT is about putting people first –
it’s about committing to environmental sustainability – it’s about creating the
conditions for economic prosperity.
Many of the
incredible services we deliver are made possible only by our hard working and
dedicated City employees.
In 2017, our
residents will continue to benefit from the strong partnership we enjoy with
our employee groups – a partnership that has led to a period of unprecedented
labour peace and productivity in our City’s recent history.
I want to take
this opportunity to thank you for your work over the last year and to convey to
you my confidence in your commitment to making Ottawa a place for all in 2017.
Some of you
may have heard me say this before – but it has never been truer – Ottawa is
going from Ottawa the old to Ottawa the bold.
Right from the
kick-off celebration that occurred on New Year’s Eve with the lighting of the
cauldron at City Hall to the many exceptional highlights we have planned –
highlights like La Machine, Sky Lounge, Red Bull Crashed Ice, Ignite 150, the
Interprovincial Picnic on the Bridge, the 2017 JUNO Awards, Argi 150 and the
2017 Grey Cup – it will be a year like we haven’t really seen before here in
Ottawa.
Before I
conclude I want to leave you with this video of the four hundred students from
across Ottawa that formed a human chain of fire to kick off our celebrations
here at City Hall. The 15 centimeters of snow that fell on New Year’s Eve could
not stop over five thousand residents and visitors from welcoming in 2017.
The
celebrations will be right across our entire city, and to do that, we are
working with community groups, local business and local organizations to help
get everyone involved.
I want to
thank the 2017 co-chairs Mathieu Fleury and Jean Cloutier for their tremendous
efforts alongside Guy Laflamme and his entire team.
This is an
incredible opportunity to help build our community…and you can be a part of it!
Come,
collaborate with us, and be a part of this wonderful celebration of our country
and our City.
Together,
let’s celebrate and continue moving our great city forward with optimism and
confidence.
Welcome to a
year of celebration.
Welcome to
2017.
Thank you