We need a better budget, consultation on bubble bylaw, city skateboard strategy, street parking changes, and more!

Because this year’s budget directions say a lot about what our city values. And once again, I think that Ottawa can and must do better.

Every year, the mayor’s office announces a target tax rate for the next year and council votes to direct staff to craft their budgets accordingly. This way of doing things began under Mayor Larry O’Brien in 2006, in an attempt to meet his unreasonable attempts to raise taxes by zero percent per year (in fact, taxes rose 14 percent during his four years he was in office).

In 2025, we are still following this legacy, and I continue to argue that it shortchanges our city. Instead of asking city staff to come to council with a budget that protects core infrastructure and keeps essential services running, we tell them to comply with an arbitrary tax rate that may or may not be sufficient.

This year, the tax increase is being capped at 3.75 percent, with core services at 2.9. But the Ottawa Police are being given a range of up to 6.5 percent, and the city is considering raising transit fares up to 7.5 percent, in an attempt to fill a deficit of $46.6 million.

I believe it’s unacceptable to ask people to pay higher fares when transit is failing them. And that it would be a serious mistake to fund police at a higher level than the social and community services that promote wellbeing and help prevent crime.

When Councillor Jeff Leiper and I held a budget consultation in June, the message from residents was clear: fix our city. Make the bus come on time. Repair the cracks in our sidewalks. End chronic homelessness. Open libraries on Sundays and stop draining city pools in mid-August during a heat wave.

Relying on bargain-basement tax increases over the last few years has allowed our core infrastructure to crumble. It leaves little room for innovation makes it impossible to fix the very real problems that our city faces every day.

It is also true that we are being shortchanged by the federal provincial governments. Municipalities manage 60 percent of the infrastructure across Canada and receive roughly eight cents on every tax dollar. But asking all of us to pay just a few more dollars in taxes to avoid massive increases in user fees and infrastructure failure seems reasonable to me.

This is why I plan to vote against the budget directions at next week’s council meeting. We all deserve a city that works – and we need a realistic budget to get us there.

Warmly,

Ariel

P.S. – If you want to have a say in next year’s city budget, stay tuned. In future issues of the newsletter, I will share ways that you can participate in the process.

Ariel with MPP Catherine McKenney, at the official opening of the new Food Basics store at Queen and Lyon.

Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law Review

The City of Ottawa is considering regulations to provide for safe access to vulnerable social infrastructure like places of worship and religious centres, community centres, schools, daycares, and care homes.

As the City of Ottawa considers this issue, we will be seeking community input on key questions:

• What types of vulnerable social infrastructure would benefit from protection?
• What type of protection zone or other measures are required to protect safe access, and how should they be administered and enforced?
• Would the community benefit from this type of by-law?
• Would a by-law that protects safe access to vulnerable sites but restricts these fundamental rights and freedoms be justified and balanced?

This review is expected to take about nine (9) months to complete, with a report to Council expected in early 2026. You can learn more about the review and provide your feedback online here.

New on-street parking times

Earlier this year, a city report identified areas that would benefit from extended parking hours, or benefit from the implementation of paid on street parking. Below is a list of areas that will be impacted by these changes:

• ByWard Market, Besserer and King Edward areas: Paid on-street parking extended to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and Saturday evenings.
• Little Italy South (paid parking on Preston Street south of Highway 417 as well as on adjacent streets): Paid on-street parking extended to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Glebe South (Bank Street and adjacent side streets between Holmwood Avenue and First Avenue): Paid on-street parking extended to 7:30 p.m. on weekday evenings. Paid parking will end at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays.
• Downtown (Nepean street and to the north): Paid on-street parking extended to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

If you have questions about on-street parking, you can visit the City of Ottawa website for more information.

Provide your feedback on the Street Seats pilot project

Have you spent time in the new Uncommon Spaces on Frank, Florence and MacLaren in Centretown? These spaces are part of the Street Seats pilot program aiming to transform select streets in Centretown into seasonal public spaces that support community use, local businesses, and pedestrian-friendly zones. The Street Seats Pilot Program is one part of the Centretown Street Safety and Revitalization Action Plan, which focuses on enhancing Centretown’s main streets as safe, inviting, and vibrant places for residents and visitors to enjoy.

If you’d like to share your feedback about the project, visit the Engage Ottawa website to complete the Street Seats survey.

TOMORROW: Community Block Party on Eccles Street

Join the Dalhousie Community Association, the Ottawa Chinese Alliance Church, the Somerset West Community Health Centre, Cornerstone residents and neighbours for a family friendly community block party!

The party is tomorrow, Saturday September 6 on Eccles St. (between Booth and Rochester) from 3:00pm – 7:00pm. There will be games, live music and a free BBQ!

Bike Info Booth

Stop by Bronson and Albert on September 18th and chat with staff from EnviroCentre! These pop-ups are happening around the city at protected intersections as part of the  Cycling Safety Awareness Program (CSAP). Protected intersections provide additional safety and security not only to vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) but also to motorists, and these CSAP booths will help provide more information about how they work through an interactive booth display. Staff at the “Bike Info” booth will also have information about other cycling safety infrastructure (such as yellow dots), as well as maps, lights and bells for cyclists.

Location: Albert and Bronson

Date: Friday, September 18th

Time: 3:30pm – 5:30pm

Please note that these booths will be cancelled or postponed due to inclement weather and may be cancelled due to other unforeseen circumstances.

Check out the new Ottawa at Night website

The city has launched a new digital resource centre for nightlife in Ottawa! The platform is designed to serve both the public and businesses — offering a directory to promote nightlife venues, as well as resources and practical tools to support nightlife operators and staff.

Heading out tonight? Check out the Venues directory to find nightlife spots that match your vibe, and visit the Insider section for curated information about Ottawa’s nightlife scene.

Running a nightlife business? The Business section offers everything you need to know about licensing, permits, bylaws, safety, and more.

Safety first. Enjoying a night out starts with staying safe. We’re proud to launch two new Safety Booklets — one designed for nightlife staff and managers, and the other for the general public — both available under the Safety menu. You’ll also find more tips through Ottawa Public Health’s Party Safer program.

Ottawa OCD Walk

Join Anxiety Ottawa for the fifth annual Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) walk to help us to raise awareness about what it really means to live with the disorder and to raise funds for the International OCD Foundation! There will be food trucks and lawn games on site. Pre-register here or just show up! All are welcome. FREE. When: Sunday, September 7, 3:30-5:30pm. Where: Minto Park, 102 Lewis Street, Ottawa.