Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

33

Date:

Thursday, March 05, 2026

Time:

10:00 A.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Location:

Ben Franklin Place, The Chamber, Main Floor, 101 Centrepointe Drive, and by electronic participation

Present:

• Chair: Councillor David Brown, 
• Vice-Chair: Clarke Kelly, 
• Councillor Catherine Kitts, 
• and Councillor Isabelle Skalski 

Absent:

• Councillor Matt Luloff 

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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, March 11, 2026 in Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Report 33.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4:00 pm on Wednesday, March 4^th, 2026, and the deadline to register by email to speak is 9:00 am on Thursday, March 5^th, 2026.

The Chair read the following statement at the outset of the meeting pursuant to 
the Planning Act:

This is a public meeting to consider the proposed Comprehensive Official Plan 
and Zoning By-law Amendments listed as Item(s) 4.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 7.2 on today’s 
Agenda.

For the item just mentioned, only those who make oral submissions today or 
written submissions before the amendments are adopted may appeal the matter 
to the Ontario Land Tribunal. In addition, the applicant may appeal the matter to 
the Ontario Land Tribunal if Council does not adopt an amendment within 90 
days of receipt of the application for a Zoning By-law Amendment and 120 days 
for an Official Plan Amendment.

To submit written comments on these amendments, prior to their consideration 
by City Council on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, please email or call the 
Committee or Council Coordinator.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

• Carried

3.1

ARAC Minutes 32 – 5 February 2026 

4.

Postponements and Deferrals

4.1

Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment – 635 and 891 Jinkinson Road

File No. ACS2026-PDB-PSX-0019 - Rideau-Jock (21)

At the outset, Ms Marcia Wallace, General Manager, Planning, Development and Building Services (PDBS) Department, spoke to express regret over procedural delays that had prevented this report from having been dealt with in a more timely fashion. 

The Committee then received a detailed slide presentation from Ms Cass Sclauzero, Planner II, Development Review, PDBS, which served as an overview of the report.  A copy of this presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.  Messrs. Adam Brown, Manager, Development Review – Rural, PDBS, Derrick Moodie, Director, Planning Services, PDBS and Dr. Nick Stow, Program Manager, Natural Systems, Strategic Initiatives Department, were also present to respond to questions.

The Committee then heard from the following delegations:

1. Mike Wesley
2. Ken McRae
3. Ms Sarah Hasenack, Conservation Campaigns Coordinator, Ontario Nature
4. Ms Janet Stavinga*, President, Friends of the Stittsville Wetlands (FOSW, accompanied by Mr. Bruce Dudley, Vice-President, FOSW)
5. Rob Pierce* Senior Vice President Planning and Development,
   R.W. Tomlinson Limited and Neal DeRuyter, Partner, MHBC Planning, Urban Design and Landscape Architecture

[ * Slide presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

Correspondence had been received from Mr. McRae, above, and from Mr. Rudolf Mueller.  All submissions are saved on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

At the conclusion of questions to the delegations and to staff, and with Committee discussions also having concluded, the report recommendations were put before Committee and were ‘Carried’, as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee:

  1. Recommend Council approve an amendment to Schedule B9, Schedule C11-A and Schedule C11-B of the Official Plan, as detailed in Document 2.
  2. Recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for part of 635 Jinkinson Road and part of 891 Jinkinson Road, as shown in Document 3 and detailed in Document 4, to permit a quarry expansion.
  3. Recommend Council direct staff to incorporate an amendment into the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2026-50 for part of 635 Jinkinson Road and part of 891 Jinkinson Road, as detailed in Document 5. 
  4. Approve the Consultation Details Section of this report, included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of March 11, 2026” subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
  Carried

5.

Presentations

5.1

Draft Economic Development Rural Plan

Vice-Chair Kelly introduced the following Motion to allow for the staff presentation at Committee:

• Motion No. ARAC 2026-33-01
  Moved by C. Kelly

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approve that the Rules of Procedure be waived subject to Subsection 83(4)(a) of the Procedure By-Law (being By-Law NO 2025-100) to receive a staff presentation on the Draft Economic Development Rural Plan.

  Robert Tremblay, Program Manager, Council and Committee Services, Office of the City Clerk and Debbie Stewart, General Manager, Strategic Initiatives (SI) Department, explained that a Motion to waive the Rules of Procedure was required because there was currently no report to provide an overview of the Plan. Following a 30-day consultation period, a report will return for the 
  Committee’s consideration, at its meeting of 7 May 2026.
  The Committee then received a detailed slide presentation overview of the Draft Economic Development Rural Plan from

  Jamie Hurst, Program Manager, Economic Development, SI. A copy of this presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. She was accompanied by Ian Scott, Economic Development Officer, SI and file lead. General Manager Stewart, Sheilagh Doherty, Director, Economic Development, SI and Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, Director, Climate Change and Resiliency, SI, were also present to respond to questions. At the conclusion of questions to staff and with Committee discussions also having been concluded, the presentation was ‘Received’.

  Carried

6.

Strategic Initiatives Department

6.1

Wetland Omnibus Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment

File No. ACS2026-SI-CCR-0002 – Rideau-Jock (21)

The Committee received a slide presentation from Ms Tara Redpath, Planner III, Natural Systems, Strategic Initiatives (SI) Department, which served as an overview of the report.  A copy of this presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.  Dr. Nick Stow, Program Manager, Natural Systems, SI, was also present to respond to questions.

The Committee then heard from the following delegations:

1. Ms Janet Stavinga*, President, Friends of the Stittsville Wetlands
2. Ms Sarah Hasenack, Conservation Campaigns Coordinator, Ontario Nature

[ * Slide presentation held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

Correspondence was also received from the following and is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk:

1. Shane Moffatt**, Conservation Campaigns and Advocacy Manager, Ontario Nature
2. Sarah Hasenack**, Conservation Campaigns Coordinator, Ontario Nature
3. Janet Stavinga**, President and Co-Founder, Friends of Stittsville Wetlands
4. Owen Clarkin**, President, Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club
5. William van Geest**, Executive Director, Ecology Ottawa
6. Angela Keller-Herzog**, Executive Director, Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability
   (** one letter, multliple signatories)
7. Stephan Bohan, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

At the conclusion of questions to the delegations and to staff, and with Committee discussions also having been concluded, the report recommendations were put before Committee and were ‘Carried’, as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  1. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend that Council approve the proposed amendments to the Official Plan as shown in Document 1 and detailed in Document 3;
  2. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend that Council approve the proposed amendments to Zoning By-law No. 2008-250 as shown in Document 1 and detailed in Document 4;
  3. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council direct staff to incorporate the proposed amendments into the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law, as detailed in Document 4 and Document 5;
  4. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of March 11, 2026,” subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
  Carried

7.

Planning, Development and Building Services Department

7.1

Amendments to align the Transportation Master Plan with the Official Plan

File No. ACS2026-PDB-PS-0012 – City-wide

This Item will be considered at the Planning and Housing Committee on March 4, 2026.

Extract of Planning and Housing Committee Minutes – 4 March 2026

Royce Fu, Manager, Policy Planning, Planning, Development and Building Services (PDBS), provided an overview of the report and answered questions from the Committee.  Deborah Lightman, Program Manager, Transportation Policy & Networks, PDBS was also present to respond to questions.  A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

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

Extract of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Minutes – 5 March 2026

This item was ‘Carried’ at the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meeting of Thursday, 5 March 2026 as presented, without discussion.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  1. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council:
     1. Approve and adopt the Official Plan Amendments as presented in Document 1, to implement the recommendations of the Council approved Transportation Master Plan.
     2. Approve amendments, as shown in Document 4 of this report, to new zoning by-law 2026-50 following approval of the Official Plan Amendment to correct neighbourhood zoning details in those areas where the evolving neighbourhood overlay has been removed or newly extended.
  2. That Planning and Housing Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of March 11, 2026’ subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision. 
  Carried

7.2

Minor Zoning By-law Amendment – Part of 6659 Franktown Road

File No. ACS2026-PDB-PSX-0030 - Rideau-Jock (21)

Messrs. Stephan Kukkonen, Planner I, Planning, Development and Building Services (PDBS) Department and Adam Brown, Manager, Development Review – Rural, PDBS, were present to respond to questions.

The Committee heard from Messrs. Jacob Bolduc, Fotenn, agent for the applicant, and Jeremy Hanna, Air Rock Drilling, owner/applicant, who spoke to a brief slide presentation to illustrate their points.  A copy of this presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

At the conclusion of questions to staff and to the delegation, the report recommendations were put before Committee and were ‘Carried’, as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  1. That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for Part of 6659 Franktown Road, as shown in Document 1, to permit an enlarged home-based business and adjust the location of the Environmental Protection Zone boundary, as detailed in Document 2.
  2. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council direct staff to incorporate an amendment into the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2026-50 for Part of 6659 Franktown Road, as detailed in Document 3.
  3. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of March 11, 2026,” subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
  Carried

7.3

Rural Community-Building Grant Program – Grant Application Review

File No. ACS2026-PDB-PS-0026 - Orléans East-Cumberland (1), West Carleton-March (5), Orléans South-Navan (19), Osgoode (20), Rideau-Jock (21)

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approve the recommendations on the Rural Community-Building Grants Program applications as detailed in Document 1.  

  Carried

7.4

2025 Annual Report Pursuant to the Building Code Act

File No. ACS2026-PDB-BCS-0001 – City-wide

This Item will be considered at the Planning and Housing Committee on March 4, 2026.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council receive this report for information.

  Received

8.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

9.

Information Previously Distributed

9.1

Housing Acceleration Plan Item 11 – Terms of References Update

File No. ACS2026-PDB-PS-0034

9.2

2025 Summary of the Rural Environmental Land Acquisition and Stewardship Program

File No. ACS2026-SI-CCR-0003

10.

Open Mic Session

Jerry Pearson, Rolling Luxury, spoke on the subject of adding local busing services for Ottawa’s rural wards.

11.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

11.1

Review of Rural Transit Area A Funding Model and Feasibility of Private Mass Transportation Partnerships

Chair Brown spoke briefly to introduce his Notice of Motion.

• Motion No. ARAC 2026 33-02
  Moved by D. Brown

  WHEREAS demand for expanded mass transit options in rural Ottawa has increased as rural communities continue to grow and more residents commute to employment, education, health care and essential services; and

  WHEREAS the City’s rural transit funding framework, including the Rural Transit Area A funding model, is intended to allocate costs in a fair, transparent and evidence-based manner; and

  WHEREAS concerns have been raised that the current Rural Transit Area A funding model may not reflect actual service levels, benefit received, ridership demand, or comparable treatment across rural wards and villages; and

  WHEREAS private mass transportation companies already operate in the region and many hold existing transportation contracts with the City of Ottawa and surrounding municipalities, and may be able to supplement service for rural commuters and improve interconnectivity between villages and major hubs; and

  WHEREAS any supplemental service should be assessed for integration with the City’s transit network and standards, including accessibility, safety, reliability, customer experience, and fare and transfer interoperability where feasible;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council direct City staff to review the Rural Transit Area A funding model and report back to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, including:

  1. a description of how the model allocates costs among rural areas/wards and the inputs driving those allocations;
  2. an analysis of alignment between costs paid and transit benefit/service received (including service levels, frequency, span, coverage, ridership, and commuter demand);
  3. options to improve fairness and transparency, including potential adjustments to the model, parameters or boundaries, with estimated impacts by rural ward/village and any budget implications.

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City staff be directed to evaluate the feasibility of engaging private mass transportation providers to supplement rural transit service for commuters and to enhance interconnectivity between villages and major hubs (e.g., Park & Ride lots, town centres and key employment areas), including:

  1. a scan of service models (including contracted fixed-route, peak-period commuter service, village-to-village shuttles, on-demand/microtransit, and feeders to rapid transit);
  2. procurement and contracting pathways, including whether existing City contracts may be leveraged or expanded, with estimated costs, risks, and timelines;
  3. minimum service standards and requirements, including accessibility (AODA), safety, reliability, customer service, data-sharing, and performance metrics;
  4. integration considerations with OC Transpo and the broader network (routing coordination, schedules, branding/wayfinding, and feasibility of fare and transfer integration including PRESTO where applicable); and
  5. opportunities for a time-limited pilot project in one or more rural corridors/villages, including recommended locations, expected outcomes, evaluation framework, and proposed funding sources.

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff incorporate the work already underway in response to Councillor Brown’s amendment to Motion No. 2025-62-10 from the July 23, 2025 City Council meeting into the work and report required by this motion, and that a single consolidated report be brought forward to avoid duplication, satisfying the reporting requirements of both motions; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the staff report include a recommended path forward and, where feasible, an implementation plan identifying decisions required, budget impacts (operating and capital), and a proposed timeline for any pilot(s) and/or changes to the Rural Transit Area A funding model; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff report back no later than Q3 2026, subject to staff capacity and procurement requirements

12.

Inquiries

There were no Inquiries.

13.

Other Business

13.1

Delegated Authority of Section 65 of the Drainage Act

Councillor Skalski spoke briefly to provide background and context for her Motion.  Mr. Dave Ryan, Drainage Superintendent, Infrastructure and Water Services Department was present to respond to questions following which, Motion No. ARAC 2026 33-04 was put before Committee and was ‘Carried’, as presented.

• Motion No. ARAC 2026-33-02

  That the Rules of Procedure be waived to consider this motion at today’s meeting to ensure the timely future appointment of Drainage Engineers.

  WHEREAS Section 65 of the Drainage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. D.17, provides the legislative framework for reapportioning drainage assessments when land is divided, severed, or otherwise altered in a way that affects an existing municipal drain; and

  WHEREAS the municipality may be required to appoint an engineer to prepare a report under Section 65 when changes to property configuration or drainage area occur and no landowner agreement exists under subsection 65(2); and

  WHEREAS certain Section 65 matters may be administrative or time sensitive in nature, including those where prompt instruction to an engineer is required to fulfill statutory obligations, respond to development timelines, or maintain the integrity of the municipal drain assessment schedule; and

  WHEREAS the appointment of an engineer for more substantial works for new and existing municipal drains under Sections 4 and 78 of the Drainage Act would still require approval by Committee and Council. 

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council delegate authority to the General Manager, Infrastructure and Water Services and the Director, Water Linear and Customer Services to appoint a qualified engineer for the purposes of preparing any report required under Section 65 of the Drainage Act; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Manager shall report back to Council through annual delegated authority reporting, on any engineer appointments made under this delegated authority, including the purpose of the appointment and a summary of the resulting Section 65 report.

14.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

• Thursday, 2 April 2026.

The meeting adjourned at 12:35 pm.