Last week my office mail included a letter from a woman who lives out of province. The three typed pages told a story of her brother who lived in a rooming house in Ottawa. More devastated than outraged, she questioned how her brother's shocking circumstances could have happened in a city like Ottawa. She described her visit one summer during which she
A new tax could soon be imposed on vacant residential units in Ottawa, with the money supporting affordable housing.
Mayor Jim Watson and Councillor Catherine McKenney will introduce a motion at Wednesday's council meeting asking city staff to study the feasibility of imposing a property tax on the assessment of vacant residential units.
"This would allow the city to invest more dollars into affordable housing,"
By Natasha Bulowski
Despite the city declaring both climate and housing and homelessness as emergencies, the 2021 draft budget fell short of providing the kind of investment needed to tackle these big, complicated issues, advocates and some councillors say.
On Wednesday, the city proposed $15 million to create new affordable and supportive housing units, the same amount as in 2019 and 2020, even though 80
By
John Crupi
OTTAWA -- Ottawa’s Barrhaven LRT project passed its first test Monday with approval by the City of Ottawa’s Transportation Committee.
As part of the $3 billion project, bridges will be built over the Via Rail lines at Fallowfield Road, Woodroffe Avenue and the South Transitway.
By Josh Pringle
OTTAWA -- Two downtown Ottawa councillors warn the early-morning construction noise is having an impact on resident's mental health.
Jeff Leiper and Catherine McKenney have introduced a motion for the next Council meeting, asking the Ontario Government to return control of noise
By Craig Lord
Ottawa city council will consider a motion next week that could spark a change in the police response to mental health crises as the community comes to terms with the full acquittal of the officer charged in connection with the death of
To see the full interview, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvD6UuCyzwE&t=1s
In an ongoing effort to connect with the distinguished and prominent voices that back our advocacy for better-built environments, we sat down with City Councillor Catherine McKenney at the beautiful new National Arts Centre to
By Jesse Tomas
A motion to divert funding from the police and move that money to Ottawa Public Health for COVID-19 in the upcoming city budget failed at city council last week. But those who favour defunding the police say they are not done trying.
On Oct. 14, councillors Shawn Menard and Catherine McKenney attempted to lower
Ottawa Citizen Editorial Board
Diverting part of the force's annual funding increase toward public health is a discussion worth having.
An attempt was made at Ottawa Council this week to “defund the police.” At least that’s what the mayor called it. It failed. But the conversation isn’t going away, and a controversial trial verdict expected in the coming days will
By Natalia Goodwin. Photo by Omar Dabaghi-Pachecho
An advocate for Ottawa's homeless is concerned the imminent closure of a respite facility at the McNabb Recreation Centre will leave its clients without basic human needs like showers and clean toilets.
The Percy Street respite centre was opened in April when other support services for Ottawa's homeless population were forced to close. It was a place
Catherine McKenney says the city's shelters do not have the capacity to handle such a significant increase.
Somerset Ward City Councillor Catherine McKenney says an estimated 2,500 Ottawa residents could face eviction if the Ontario government doesn't extend its freeze on residential evictions.
According to the councillor, this will overwhelm the city's shelter system,
As the winter approaches, the City of Ottawa says it is working on a plan to support the homeless population in Ottawa.
What that plan is, however, is still under development and details are not yet known.
“The City of Ottawa is currently developing a winter response plan to help people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The plan will be presented to