At the outset, the Chair advised that Items 4.1 (Draft 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets – Planning and Housing Committee) and 5.2 (2025 Affordable Housing Capital Strategy and Update) will be considered concurrently.
Cyril Rogers, General Manager and Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Economic Development (FCSD), Debbie Stewart, General Manager, Strategic Initiatives (SI) and Marcia Wallace, General Manager, Planning, Development and Building Services, (PDBS) presented an overview of the Budget and answered questions from the Committee. Lily Xu, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of Build Ottawa, SI was also present and responded to questions. A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.
The following members of the public spoke before the Committee and provided comments on the report recommendations:
- Valerie Wright, Age-Friendly Ottawa*
- Peter Tilley, The Ottawa Mission*
[ * Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions and presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]
Following discussions and questions of staff and delegations, the Committee carried the report recommendations as presented with the following direction to staff:
Direction to Staff (Councillor L. Dudas)
That in assessing the potential of land within Park and Ride sites to be utilized for affordable housing, staff are directed to seek to preserve where feasible existing Park & Ride parking capacity and to maintain transit access and commuter park-ing to support current and future ridership. If there is consideration of the removal or significant reduction of Park & Ride parking or changes in use of the site as a result of a proposed affordable housing project, staff are to engage Council as early as possible in the process.