Emergency Preparedness and protective services committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

18

Date:

Monday, June 23, 2025

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 5:30 P.m.

Location:

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

Present:

• Councillor Riley Brockington, 
• Councillor David Hill, 
• Councillor Jessica Bradley, 
• Councillor Steve Desroches, 
• Councillor Laura Dudas, 
• Councillor Sean Devine, 
• Councillor Allan Hubley, 
• Councillor Laine Johnson, 
• Councillor Clarke Kelly, 
• Councillor Matt Luloff, 
• and Councillor Stéphanie Plante 

Christopher Zwierzchowski, Committee Coordinator [phone], ext. 21359

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1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

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

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on Wednesday, July 23^rd, 2025 in Community and Protective Services Committee Report 18.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on Friday, June 20, 2025, and the deadline to register to speak by email is 8:30 am on Monday, June 23, 2025.

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

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

EPPSC Minutes 17 – Thursday, 17 April 2025

• Carried

4.

Responses to Inquiries

4.1

EPPSC 2025-01 - Parking Bans and Snow Clearing

With the will of Committee, this item was considered.

5.

Emergency and Protective Services Department

5.1

Ottawa Paramedic Service 2024 Annual Report

File No. ACS2025-EPS-OPS-0001 - City Wide

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee recommend Council receive this report for information.

  Carried as amended
• Motion No. CPSC 2025-18-01
  Moved by C. Kelly

  WHEREAS the Ottawa Paramedic Service (“the Service”) has demonstrated measurable improvements in performance, supported by Council’s investments in hiring additional paramedics, purchasing new emergency vehicles, and implementing a new dispatch system;

  WHEREAS Ottawa’s aging and growing population, combined with persistent pressures on the healthcare system, has resulted in increasing demand for the Service;

  WHEREAS the Service has achieved a significant reduction in “level zero” occurrences—periods when no ambulances are available for dispatch—along with improved response times for the most critical patients;

  WHEREAS Ottawa’s vast geography, encompassing over 2,800 square kilometres—of which more than 80% is rural—creates unique service delivery challenges including longer travel distances and lower call volumes in rural areas;

  WHEREAS timely offloading of patients at hospitals enables faster ambulance turnaround and better coverage across all areas, particularly rural communities where paramedics are frequently redeployed to urban hospitals and become unavailable during offload delays;

  WHEREAS the implementation of a new Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) at the Central Ambulance Communications Centre in 2024 has enhanced the Service’s ability to triage and prioritize urgent calls;

  WHEREAS the Service continues to demonstrate innovation by deploying specialized mental health response teams and expanding Community Paramedicine Programs to address non-urgent care needs and reduce pressure on emergency resources;

  WHEREAS Dedicated Offload Nurse Program (DONP) funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) has proven effective in reducing emergency department offload delays—thus increasing ambulance availability and reducing response times system-wide;

  WHEREAS sustained and increased DONP funding is essential to build on recent improvements, mitigate systemic healthcare bottlenecks, and support the City’s emergency preparedness;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Emergency and Protective Services Committee recommend City Council approve that the Mayor of Ottawa write to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care requesting an increase in Dedicated Offload Nurse Funding for the City of Ottawa, in recognition of the program’s demonstrated success in improving ambulance availability, addressing healthcare system pressures, and enhancing emergency service delivery across both rural and urban communities.

  Carried

5.2

By-Law and Regulatory Services 2024 Annual Report

File No. ACS2025-EPS-BLR-0001 - City-wide

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee recommend Council receive this report for information.

  Carried as amended
• Motion No. CPSC 2025-18-02
  Moved by R. Brockington

  WHEREAS By-law and Regulatory Services staff play a vital role in maintaining quality of life for residents across the City of Ottawa;

  AND WHEREAS By-law and Regulatory Services serves residents, businesses and visitors through education, administration and enforcement of regulations that address public health and safety, nuisance control and consumer protection;

  AND WHEREAS By-law and Regulatory Services contributes to the orderly functioning of our city through the enforcement of local regulations related to noise, property standards, animal care and control, parking, business licensing, public spaces, and more; 

  AND WHEREAS By-law and Regulatory Services supports public safety and quality of life alongside other essential services, often responding to urgent matters and collaborating with police, fire, paramedics, and emergency management personnel;

  AND WHEREAS the City of Ottawa, the Province of Ontario, and other jurisdictions formally recognize and celebrate the contributions of Paramedics, Police, Firefighters, and Dispatchers;

  AND WHEREAS there is currently no province-wide recognition of the professional contributions made by By-law and Regulatory Services staff in Ontario;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Emergency and Protective Services Committee recommend City Council formally proclaim the second Thursday of October each year as “By-law and Regulatory Services Appreciation Day” in the City of Ottawa, serving to publicly recognize and celebrate the contributions of By-law and Regulatory Services staff in helping to uphold community standards, facilitate the safe and efficient movement of people, goods, and services, and enhance the livability of our city.

  Carried

6.

Office of the City Clerk

6.1

Status Update – Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee Inquiries and Motions for the period ending 12 June 2025

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0077 - City-wide

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee receive this report for information.

  Received

7.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

8.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

There were no Notices of Motion.

9.

Inquiries

9.1

EPPSC 2025-02 - Problematic Property Pilot Project

Submitted by Councillor S. Plante

The 2024 By-law and Regulatory Services Annual Report highlights, among other issues, the success of the Problematic Property Pilot Project in Rideau-Vanier and Somerset Wards, including over 30 enforcement actions and multiple demolition orders. This demonstrates that a proactive and coordinated enforcement approach with clear criteria and escalation tools can improve outcomes city-wide, recognizing that persistent nuisance and non-compliant properties have a negative impact on community wellbeing, safety, and the use of City resources.

With that in mind, can staff review the feasibility and budget impacts of potentially expanding the Problematic Property Pilot to additional wards, including consideration of:

1. A proposed threshold for identifying properties as "problematic" based on repeated offences and enforcement actions; and,
2. Options for escalating enforcement once a property is designated as problematic, including the use of administrative monetary penalties and cost-recovery tools; and,
3. Identification of any additional legislative authority that would support imposition of escalating penalties and cost recovery measures on persistently non-compliant property owners.

10.

Other Business

There was no other business.

11.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

16 October 2025

The meeting adjourned at 11:33 am.