City Council Minutes

 

 

OTTAWA CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES 52

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

10:00 am

By Electronic Participation

This Meeting was held through electronic participation in accordance with Section 238 of the Municipal Act, 2001 as amended by the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020

 

The Council of the City of Ottawa met on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, beginning at 10:00 AM. The Mayor, Jim Watson, presided over the Zoom meeting from Andrew S. Haydon Hall, with the remaining Members participating remotely by Zoom.

Upon calling the meeting to order, Mayor Watson acknowledged that April 28th was the National Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace (Workers' Mourning Day), and proclaimed April 28, 2021 as a day of mourning in the City of Ottawa in remembrance of those workers who have been killed, injured or disabled at their workplace.

 

Mayor Watson led Council in a moment of reflection. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS/CEREMONIAL ACTIVITIES

 

OTTAWA’S POETS LAUREATE RECOGNITION AND POETRY READING

 

 

The Mayor recognized April as National Poetry Month and introduced the City of Ottawa Poets Laureate for the term of 2021 to 2023.

Mr. Albert Dumont, Ottawa Poet Laureate, recited his poem “La Résilience De Notre Rire” and Mr. Gilles Latour, Ottawa Poet Laureate, recited his poem “Resilience”

 

 

ROLL CALL

All Members of Council were present.

 

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

 

 

Confirmation of the Minutes of the Council meeting of 14 April 2021

                                                                                                            CONFIRMED

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST INCLUDING THOSE ORIGINALLY ARISING FROM PRIOR MEETINGS

No declarations of interest were filed.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO):

 

 

The following communications were received.

 

 

·          

AMO Policy Update – Federal Budget Highlights, Revised COVID-19 Measures, and Red Tape Bill

 

 

·          

AMO Policy Update – Municipal Code of Conduct Consultation Launched

 

 

·          

AMO Policy Update – New COVID-19 Enforcement Measures and Two-Week Extension of Emergency Declaration, and Emergency Child Care

 

 

REGRETS

No regrets filed.

 

MOTION TO INTRODUCE REPORTS

 

MOTION NO 52/1

Moved by Councillor R. King
Seconded by Councillor R. Brockington

That Ottawa Board of Health Report 10; Built Heritage Sub-Committee Report 20; Community and Protective Services Committee Report 18; Finance and Economic Development Committee Report 23; Planning Committee and Community and Protective Services Committee Joint Report 1; Planning Committee Report 41; Transit Commission Report 11; and the report from the City Clerk “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of April 14, 2021”; be received and considered.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 


 

REPORTS

 

OTTAWA BOARD OF HEALTH

 

 

1.

OTTAWA PUBLIC HEALTH 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

 

BOARD OF HEALTH RECOMMENDATION

That City Council receive Ottawa Public Health’s 2020 Annual Report, for information, in accordance with the City of Ottawa Act, 1999.

                                                                                                            RECEIVED

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

BUILT HERITAGE SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT 20

 

 

2.

HERITAGE REGISTER ANNUAL REPORT 2020

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council remove the reference to the following properties from the Heritage Register:

1.         3288 Greenbank Road;

2.         77 Kenora Avenue;

3.         577 Tweedsmuir Avenue;

4.         227 Glebe Avenue;

5.         20-22 Hawthorne Avenue;

6.         24-26 Pretoria Avenue;

7.         90 Martin Street;

8.         26 Clovelly Road (formerly 26 Davidson Crescent);

9.         486 Cole Avenue; and

10.       301 Second Avenue.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

3.

APPLICATION TO ALTER 94 CRICHTON STREET, A PROPERTY DESIGNATED UNDER PART V OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT AND LOCATED IN THE NEW EDINBURGH HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council:

1.         Approve the application to alter the property at 94 Crichton Street, including the construction of a two-storey rear addition, according to plans submitted by UnPoised Architecture, dated January 18 and 21, 2021, and attached as Documents 5 to 7;

2.         Delegate authority for minor design changes to the General Manager, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department; and

3.         Approve the heritage permit with a two-year expiry date from the date of issuance, unless otherwise extended by Council.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

COMMUNITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE REPORT 18

 

4.

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS INVESTMENT PLAN – HOUSING SUBSIDIES

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council approve:

1.         The update of the housing allowance framework, rules and subsidy calculation for Envelope #4 – (Rent Supplement and Housing Allowances) of the municipally funded Housing and Homelessness Investment Plan for new allocations to be consistent with current provincial portable housing benefit programs.

2.         That the Director, Housing Services, be delegated the authority to reallocate funding from investment Envelope #6 (Social Housing Repairs and Renewal) of the municipally funded Housing and Homelessness Investment Plan towards investment Envelope #4 (Rent Supplement and Housing Allowances) within the same program year based on rent supplement/housing allowance demand and need rather than the current model that targets funds for exclusive use within each investment funding envelope type.

3.         That the Director, Housing Services, be delegated the authority to reallocate $300,000 funding from investment Envelope #5 (Supports to Housing) of the municipally funded Housing and Homelessness Investment Plan towards investment Envelope #4 (Rent Supplement and Housing Allowances) to support additional housing allowances for homeless and at risk households.

4.         That the Director, Housing Services, be delegated the authority to allocate up to $1 million of Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) Operating Component – Rental Assistance Year 3 (2021/22) funding to support additional housing allowances for homeless and at risk households, and that the use of this provincial funding align with the OPHI program guidelines and the housing allowance framework outlined in this report.

5.         That the Director, Housing Services, be delegated the authority to allocate $1 million of Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF) Phase 3 – Homelessness Prevention Rent Relief funding to support short term rent relief for households experiencing homelessness, and that the use of this provincial funding align with the provincial SSRF guidelines and the housing allowance framework outlined in this report.

6.         The continuation of the Home For Good housing allowance program for new allocations utilizing available funding, first from the Social Services Relief Fund Phase 3 – Rental Assistance funding program, then from the provincial Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative Operating Component – Rental Assistance funding program, until such time that additional Home for Good operating funding is provided by the Province of Ontario.

7.         That the Mayor pursue additional annual capital funding and permanent stable operating funding from the federal and provincial governments to add new housing subsidies for low income.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 


 

FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT 23

 

5.

2021 TAX RATIOS AND OTHER TAX POLICIES

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That Council:

 

1.           Receive the optional Small Business property tax subclass framework outlined in this report and that staff consult under this framework and report back in Q3 with final recommendations.

2.           Adopt the following optional property classes in 2021:

·                   Shopping Centre property class

·                   Parking Lots and Vacant Land property class

·                   Office Building property class

·                   Large Industrial property class

·                   New Multi-Residential property class

·                   Professional Sports Facility property class

3.           Adopt the following tax ratios for 2021:

 

Property Class

Ratio**

Residential

1.00000

Multi-Residential

1.38668

New Multi-Residential

1.00000

Farm

0.20000

Managed Forest

0.25000

Pipeline

1.72025

Commercial Broad Class

1.85204

Commercial*

1.82769

Office Building*

2.26801

Parking Lots and Vacant Land*

1.23364

Shopping Centre*

1.47088

Professional Sports Facility

1.82769

Industrial Broad Class

2.41793

Industrial*

2.53090

Large Industrial*

2.17340

Landfill

2.76428

* including new construction classes for Business Education Tax rate purposes.

** Subject to final minor revisions upon Ontario Property Tax Analysis (OPTA) close-off.

 

4.           Adopt the following tax ratios and by-laws for the mandatory property subclasses and the tax rate percentage reduction for farm land awaiting development:

·                   Commercial excess land (i.e. commercial, office building and shopping centre property classes): 70% of the applicable commercial property class tax ratio;

·                   Vacant industrial land, industrial and large industrial excess land: 65% of the applicable industrial property class tax ratio;

·                   Farm land awaiting development subclass I: 75% of the residential property class tax ratio and the corresponding tax rate percentage reduction for the awaiting residential, multi-residential, commercial and industrial property classes;

·                   Farm land awaiting development subclass II: no tax rate reduction; and

·                   Small-scale on farm business subclass: 25% of the applicable commercial or industrial property class tax ratio for the first $50,000 of assessment.

5.           Approve that the tax rates for 2021 be established based on the ratios adopted herein.

6.           Approve that the 2021 capping and clawback provisions be as follows:

·                   That capping parameters be approved at the higher of 10% of the previous year's annualized tax or 5% of the 2020 Current Value Assessment (CVA) taxes;

·                   That capped or clawed back properties whose recalculated annualized taxes fall within $250 of their CVA taxation be moved to their CVA tax for the year and be excluded from any future capping adjustments;

·                   That properties that have reached their CVA during the current year or crossed over from the clawed back category to the capped category remain at CVA taxes and be excluded from any future capping adjustments; and

·                   That properties that cross over from the capped category to the clawed back category remain subject to clawback adjustments.

7.           Approve that the property tax and water mitigation programs previously approved by Council be continued for 2021 as follows:

·                   the Charitable Rebate Program;

·                   the Farm Grant Program;

·                   the Low-Income Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Tax Deferral Program; and

·                   the Low-Income Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Water Deferral Program.

8.           Approve that staff implement the technical adjustments for the City of Ottawa prescribed in the property tax-related regulations made under the Municipal Act, 2001.

9.           Approve that $7.6 million in additional tax revenue from the application of the technical adjustment be allocated as follows:

·                   $3.5 million be contributed to the assessment growth for 2021; and

·                   $4.1 million be contributed to the Transit Services operating budget for 2021.

10.        Approve that the 2022 property tax and due date provisions be as follows:

·                   That the interim 2022 property tax billing be set at 50% of the 2021 adjusted/annualized taxes as permitted by legislation;

·                   That the following tax due dates be approved for 2022:

i.            Interim: March 17, 2022;

ii.           Final: June 16, 2022;

·                   That the penalty and interest percentage charged on overdue and unpaid tax arrears remain at the rate of 1.25% per month (15% per year) for 2022, unchanged from 2021; and

·                   That Council enacts a by-law to establish the 2022 interim taxes, tax due dates, penalty and interest charges.

11.        Adopt an annual levy on eligible institutions pursuant to Section 323 of the Municipal Act, 2001, and Ontario Regulation 384/98 as follows:

·                   $75 per full-time student in attendance at universities and colleges, pursuant to Section 323 (1);

·                   $75 per resident place in correctional institutions, pursuant to Section 323 (2);

·                   $75 per rated bed in public hospitals, pursuant to Section 323 (3); and

·                   $75 per student place in provincial educational institutions, pursuant to Section 323 (5).

12.        Approve the amendment to the Municipal Capital Facility By-law 2018-273 and associated Municipal Capital Facility Agreement to reflect the updated space leased through the Elections Office, as further described in this report.

13.         Approve the changes to the service fee for payment card processing by-law, as outlined in this report.

14.         Approve that the City index the eight stormwater assessment value ranges by the average non-residential reassessment increase at each reassessment cycle.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

PLANNING COMMITTEE AND COMMUNITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE JOINT REPORT 1

 

6.

ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENTS TO PERMIT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL OF RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS CITY-WIDE

 

PLANNING COMMITTEE AND COMMUNITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council approve:

1.         amendments to Zoning By-law 2008-250 to modify existing definitions for Bed and Breakfast and Hotel uses and introduce new definitions and provisions for Short-term rental and Cottage rental, as detailed in Document 1;

2.         a temporary (three-year) amendment to Zoning By-law 2008 250 to permit the short-term rental of residential dwelling units city wide, as detailed in Document 2; and

3.         that the temporary Zoning By-law Amendment set out in Recommendation 2 be conditional upon the coming into full force and effect of the related Short-Term Rental By-law proposed in report ACS2021-EPS-PPD-0001.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 


 

7.

SHORT-TERM RENTAL BY-LAW

 

PLANNING COMMITTEE AND COMMUNITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council approve:

1.         the proposed Short-Term Rental By-law as described in this report and in the general form set out in Document 1;

2.         six (6.0) temporary full-time equivalents in By-law and Regulatory Services to enforce and administer the Short-Term Rental By-law, to be funded on a cost-recovery basis from user fees and municipal accommodation tax (MAT) revenue, as further described in this report;

3.         amendments to By-law 2019-252 (Municipal Accommodation Tax) to align terminology and definitions as further described in this report; and,

4.         that the short-term rental regulations set out in Recommendation 1 be conditional upon the coming into full force of the related amendments to the Zoning By-law for short-term rentals as proposed in Report ACS2021-PIE-EDP-0005.

 

MOTION NO 52/2

Moved by Councillor D. Deans
Seconded by Councillor R. Brockington

 

WHEREAS on April 22, 2021, the City’s Planning Committee and Community and Protective Services Committee jointly considered staff report ACS2021-EPS-PPD-0001, concerning the proposed Short-Term Rental By-law; and

WHEREAS the proposed By-law addresses many of the concerns expressed by residents over the last number of years, including the requirement of the property owner to exclusively use their principal residence to rent, using a City of Ottawa platform to advertise their property, requiring Ottawa Bylaw to review the floor plan to cap the number of people at either 16 or 32 who may sleep in the rental unit and a commitment to review the pilot program after three years; and

WHEREAS there is a risk that safety, health and fire hazards, and nuisances associated with overcrowding of short-term rental properties that the By-law is intended to address will continue to persist without imposing stricter limits on the number of overnight guests beyond what the new by-law is proposing;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the number of persons permitted to sleep in any short-term dwelling unit be limited to 10.

CARRIED with Councillors G. Darouze and S. Moffatt dissenting.

The Committee Recommendations, as amended by Motion 52/2 were then put to Council and CARRIED.

DIRECTION TO STAFF

That the General Manager of Emergency and Protective Services provide a memorandum to Members of Council by September 1, 2022, to provide information on: compliance with the Short-Term Rental By-law by hosts, platforms, and property managers; relevant  enforcement activities including data; and the nature and volume of service requests received. 

 

 

PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT 41

 

8.

ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT – 294 AND 300 TREMBLAY ROAD

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 294 and 300 Tremblay Road to permit a six-storey mixed-use building consisting of ground floor retail-commercial uses and 72 residential units, as detailed in Document 2.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

9.

ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT – 2 MONK STREET, 160 AND 162 FIFTH AVENUE

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

That Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 2 Monk Street, 160 and 162 Fifth Avenue to permit the construction of a stacked dwelling and detached dwellings, as detailed in Document 2.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

TRANSIT COMMISSION REPORT 11

 

10.

TRANSIT SERVICE EVALUATION CRITERIA

 

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION

That Council approve the transit service evaluation criteria and priorities as described in this report.

CARRIED with Councillor C. McKenney dissenting.

 


 

BULK CONSENT AGENDA

 

PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT 41

 

A.

ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT – 2112 BEL-AIR DRIVE

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

That Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 2112 Bel-Air Drive to permit 27 townhouse dwelling units in a planned unit development, as detailed in Document 2.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

B.

OVERSIZING OF THE ROAD AND SEWER ON CAMBRIAN ROAD FROM OLD GREENBANK ROAD TO NEW GREENBANK ROAD ALIGNMENT

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

That Council approve the increase of the financial authority for the oversizing of the road and sewer on Cambrian Road, from Old Greenbank Road to New Greenbank Road Alignment by $57,869.39 to $3,350,911.39 plus taxes.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 


 

CITY CLERK

 

C.

SUMMARY OF ORAL AND WRITTEN PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS FOR ITEMS SUBJECT TO THE PLANNING ACT ‘EXPLANATION REQUIREMENTS’ AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 14, 2021

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council approve the Summaries of Oral and Written Public Submissions for items considered at the City Council Meeting of April 14, 2021, that are subject 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 to 4.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

DISPOSITION OF ITEMS APPROVED BY COMMITTEES UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY

 

That Council receive the list of items approved by its Committees under Delegated Authority, attached as Document 1.

 

                                                                                                            RECEIVED

 


 

MOTION TO ADOPT REPORTS

 

MOTION NO 52/3

Moved by Councillor R. King

Seconded by Councillor R. Brockington

That Ottawa Board of Health Report 10; Built Heritage Sub-Committee Report 20; Community and Protective Services Committee Report 18; Finance and Economic Development Committee Report 23; Planning Committee and Community and Protective Services Committee Joint Report 1; Planning Committee Report 41; Transit Commission Report 11; and the report from the City Clerk “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of April 14, 2021”; be received and adopted as amended.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

MOTIONS REQUIRING SUSPENSION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE

 

MOTION NO 52/4

Moved by Councillor J. Leiper

Seconded by Councillor J. Harder

 

Be It Resolved that the Rules of Procedure be suspended to permit the consideration of the following motion so that the corresponding draft by-law may be amended immediately.

WHEREAS on April 14, 2021, Council approved Report ACS2021-PIE-PS-0030, Zoning By-law Amendment – 320 McRae Avenue and 315 Tweedsmuir Avenue, which recommends that the owner construct a public park on the land and;

WHEREAS, on June 13, 2018, City Council previously approved Report ACS2018-PIE-PS-0037 for this property, and within that report the City and owner of the subject land agreed that a park would be constructed by the owner with a construction budget of $800,000, indexed to the Statistics Canada Non-Residential Construction Price Index for Ottawa and;

WHEREAS in further consultation between parks staff and the owner, it is now recommended that the City construct the park with the agreed-upon funding to be provided by the owner;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council approve that the following amendments to Report ACS2021-PIE-PS-0030, to be reflected in the Zoning By-law Amendment to be enacted by Council;

Document 2, Details of Recommended Zoning, clause 6 to be amended to remove the following details:

6.       The following provisions will replace the wording in Section (16) of Part 19 of the Zoning By-law, titled 320 McRae Avenue and 315 Tweedsmuir Avenue, and will set out the facilities, services and matters that must be provided as per Section 37 of the Planning Act:

a)    The City shall require that the owner of the lands discharge Agreement OC2004404 pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act, and replace said agreement with a new Section 37 Agreement to be registered on title, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and General Manager, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development, to secure the public benefits noted below, and which will comprise a combination of public benefits including monies that would be paid to the City to be used for defined capital projects and facilities/works to be undertaken by the owner with the total value of the benefits to be secured being $747,600.00 to the City, indexed upwardly in accordance with the Statistics Canada Non-Residential Construction Price Index for Ottawa, calculated from the date agreement OC2004404 Section 37 Agreement is amended to the date of payment.

b)   The benefits to be secured are:

i.              A cash contribution of $747,600.00 into a Ward 15 specific fund for pedestrian/ cycling connectivity improvements, including but not limited to lighting along pathways.

ii.            The following non-cash contribution will be provided as part of the Site Plan Control approval process:

1.    the owner is to construct a park, to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development and the General Manager of Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services.

AND to replace with the following details:

6. The following provisions will replace the wording in Section (16) of Part 19 of the Zoning By-law, titled 320 McRae Avenue and 315 Tweedsmuir Avenue, and will set out the facilities, services and matters that must be provided as per Section 37 of the Planning Act:

a)    The City shall require that the owner of the lands discharge Agreement OC2004404 pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act, and replace said agreement with a new Section 37 Agreement to be registered on title, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and General Manager, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development, to secure the public benefits noted below, and which will comprise a combination of public benefits including monies that would be paid to the City to be used for defined capital projects and facilities/works to be undertaken by the owner with the total value of the benefits to be secured being $1,572,100.00 to the City, indexed upwardly in accordance with the Statistics Canada Non-Residential Construction Price Index for Ottawa, calculated from the date the new Section 37 Agreement is executed to the date of payment.

b)   The benefits to be secured are:

i.              A cash contribution of $747,600.00 into a Ward 15 specific fund for pedestrian/ cycling connectivity improvements, including but not limited to lighting along pathways.

ii.            A cash contribution of $824,500.00 to construct a public park on the land zoned O1 on McRae Avenue.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to the Planning Act, subsection 34(17) no further notice be given.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 


MOTION NO 52/5

Moved by Councillor S. Moffatt  

Seconded by Councillor T. Tierney

That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to consider the following Motion, in order to ensure compliance with applicable by-laws for a mural on Richmond Public School, 3499 McBean Street.

WHEREAS a mural on the exterior wall containing the main entrance to the building is not permitted by section 142(3) of the Permanent Signs on Private Property By-law 2016-326; and

WHEREAS the school community, with the support of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), wishes wish to install a mural painted, by the students and staff, to beautify the Village of Richmond, add art, life and colour while drawing the community to the school;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council approve an exemption to Section 142(3) of the Permanent Signs on Private Property By-law 2016-326, as amended, to permit a mural on the exterior wall containing the main entrance to the building, that is, the west wall at 3499 McBean Street.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

MOTION NO 52/6

Moved by Councillor S. Menard

Seconded by Councill C McKenney

 

That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to consider the following motion, as the provincial Government has communicated that they will now implement some form of paid sick leave in Ontario, with the topic under immediate consideration.

WHEREAS during a January 11, 2021, press conference, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, talked about the importance of paid sick leave provisions to “protect the health of individual workers, workplaces, and the broader community”; and

WHEREAS on January 12, 2021, during a press briefing, both the University of Toronto’s Dr. Adalsteinn Brown and Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario’s Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, indicated that a pandemic response that relies solely on restricting individual movements — and provides no increased social supports — will not work; and

WHEREAS on January 15, 2021, Ontario’s Big City Mayors put out a news release stating that, “too many workers across Ontario are having to choose between going to work sick or losing income” and urging the provincial and federal government “to implement a broader sick day program now that provides greater benefits and can be accessed by employees as quickly as possible”; and

WHEREAS, although the federal government has introduced a form of sick leave benefit, it has proven to be insufficient given that:

      It is limited in terms of the maximum weekly amount payable to workers;

      It is based on full weeks of missed work rather than days of missed work, leaving workers ineligible if they miss less than a full week; and

      It requires workers to apply for the benefit, resulting in a wait for payment and a risk of their application being denied; and

WHEREAS, at its meeting of February 8, 2021, the Ottawa Board of Health considered two reports from Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health on the subject of lessons learned to date from the COVID-19 pandemic titled “Lessons Learned Working with Long-Term Care Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic” and “COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Looking Ahead and Building Back Better”; and

WHEREAS both reports underlined the importance of staying home when sick in order to prevent the transmission of infectious illnesses like COVID-19, particularly as pertains to workers’ ability to stay home when sick without fear of lost wages; and

WHEREAS the report titled “COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Looking Ahead and Building Back Better” makes both health and economic arguments in support of paid sick leave for Ontario’s workforce, noting that:

      “The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined that a healthy population and a healthy economy go hand in hand and that differences in earning power and job security directly impact individual, family and community health”;

      “Some of Ottawa’s essential workers are precariously employed, limiting their ability to stay home when ill”; and

       “Employees attending work while sick can have a ripple effect at the workplace, including transmitting infectious diseases, increasing their risk of injury and decreasing productivity, which can ultimately lead to increased costs to employers”; and

WHEREAS at its meeting of February 8, 2021 the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit called on the province to implement paid sick days legislation, and directed its Chair to communicate as much in a subsequent letter to the Premier of Ontario;

WHEREAS on April 20, 2021, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table expressly stated that “what will work” to “reduce transmission, protect our health care system, and allow us to re-open safely as soon as possible” is to “pay essential workers to stay home when they are sick, exposed or need time to get vaccinated”; and

WHEREAS on April 22, 2021, the four Mayors and Regional Chair of Halton issued a statement that urged the Province of Ontario to “launch and fund a paid sick leave program in the coming days” in order to “avert a fourth wave and breach this cycle of lockdowns and restrictions”; and

WHEREAS, with the exception of a relatively small number of federally-regulated industries, the majority of workplaces are provincially regulated, making it foremost the jurisdiction of provinces to ensure seamless access to paid sick leave for workers; and

WHEREAS both Council and the City of Ottawa are today, April 28th, 2021, remembering the lives of workers lost and injured in various workplace tragedies on this National Day of Mourning;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Ottawa City Council join the Ontario Big City Mayors, Mayors and Regional Chair of Halton, the Mayors of Toronto and Brampton, as well as other municipal elected officials across Ontario requesting that the Province:

1.    Amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000, such that employers in Ontario are required to provide no less than five (5) paid sick days annually to all workers, after three months of employment; and

2.    Amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000, such that employers in Ontario are required to provide no less than ten (10) paid sick days annually in the event of a declared infectious disease emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and

3.    Develop and implement the necessary funding and/or financial supports to employers when their employees are accessing the ten (10) paid sick days as described above in Resolution No. 2.

CARRIED with Councillor R. Chiarelli dissenting.

DIRECTION TO STAFF

1.         that staff in Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development (PIED) share the Motion by Councillors Menard and McKenney with the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA), the Ottawa Board of Trade, the Regroupement des gens d’affaires de la capitale nationale (RGA) and the Ottawa Labour Council for their review and input; and

2.         that this feedback be compiled and shared with local Members of Parliament and Members of Provincial Parliament

 

MOTION TO INTRODUCE BY-LAWS

MOTION NO 52/7

Moved by Councillor R. King
Seconded by Councillor R. Brockington

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

                                                                                                            CARRIED

BY-LAWS

 

THREE READINGS

 

2021-105.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to implement City-wide changes related to short-term rentals.

2021-106.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to implement temporary City-wide changes related to short-term rentals.

2021-131.        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.

2021-132.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2003-445 make a minor amendment to the Road Activity by-law.

2021-133.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to designate certain lands at Kilspindie Ridge on Plan 4M-1518 as being exempt from Part Lot Control”

2021-134.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2001-17 to appoint certain Inspectors, Property Standards Officers and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers in the Building Code Services Branch of the Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department.

2021-135.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to designate certain lands at croissant Angelonia Crescent, croissant Mandevilla Crescent, rue Clarkia Street and promenade Barrett Farm Drive on Plan 4M-1676 as being exempt from Part Lot Control.

2021-136.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of the lands known municipally as 2 Monk Street, and 106 and 162 Fifth Avenue.

2021-137.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of the lands known municipally as 2112 Bel-Air Drive.

2021-138.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of the lands known municipally as 294 and 300 Tremblay Road.

2021-139.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of the lands known municipally as 1619 and 1655 Carling Avenue.

2021-140.        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of the lands known municipally as 320 McRae Avenue and 315 Tweedsmuir Avenue.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

CONFIRMATION BY-LAW

MOTION NO 52/8

Moved by Councillor R. King
Seconded by Councillor R. Brockington

That the following by-law be read and passed:

To confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting of 28 April 2021.

 

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 12:04pm.

 

 

 

_______________________________                _______________________________

CITY CLERK                                                         MAYOR

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