One of the most frustrating things about being a city councillor is when bad decisions by other levels of government have negative impacts on our community.
In the last few years, we have seen the Ford government show absolute disregard for the priorities of downtown residents. This includes limiting our city’s ability to install bike lanes, removing speed cameras, and shutting down supervised consumption sites. And in cases where another level of government has jurisdiction, I have few tools at my disposal – except for advocacy. But sometimes advocacy works, and I want to tell you about one example.
If you live in Chinatown or West Centretown, you have no doubt heard about the New Dawn clinic on Somerset West, formerly known as Northwood Recovery. It is one of a string of 50 addiction medicine clinics owned by the same corporate conglomerate. New Dawn prescribes a high volume of narcotics, designed as “safer supply,” so people with substance use disorders can get off poisoned street drugs. But the medical care at these high-volume clinics is offered almost entirely virtually, with only a skeleton staff on site.
If you sit in the coffee shop across from the clinic, you can see that a large proportion of the patients immediately sell their Dilaudid prescriptions and buy street drugs. With no doctor on site on a regular basis, it means that the person prescribing these narcotics doesn’t see the obvious diversion happening right outside their doorstep. For more than a year, the residents who live nearby have been calling for accountability from this clinic and better wraparound care for neighbours struggling with substance use disorder.
Frustrated by an untenable situation, I took action. First, I worked with MPP Catherine McKenney to file a complaint about the clinic’s operations with the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons. And then last month, I had a motion passed unanimously by Ottawa City Council, calling on the province to better regulate high-volume private addiction clinics that operate using almost entirely virtual care. In both cases, we also called on the province to approve new evidence-based options for people with serious addictions, including injectable opioid agonist treatment.
It really felt like no one was listening to us. And then, a breakthrough. Last week, I received a letter from the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, saying that they had changed the prescribing guidelines for safer supply medications, in response to community concerns. The new guidelines insist that a doctor be physically on site when first prescribing safer supply, with an in-person follow-up a minimum of every three months. This could significantly change the operations of private clinics like New Dawn. And I hope that this helps ensure better care for patients, and more accountability to local communities.
I often say that making political change can feel like pushing a boulder up a hill. But we get it up faster when we work together. Thank you to everyone who advocated to my office and to the provincial government on this issue. You helped make a change for the better.
Warmly,
Ariel
Ariel with Catherine McKenney, Jellybean and Jeff Leiper at the Minto Park Sale.
Update on renovictions bylaw
It’s been a long road, but the final draft of the Rental Renoviction Licence By-Law will go to the Planning and Housing Committee on July 8. This is after I won a motion at council, demanding that city staff release their final report and draft language. They were initially reluctant to do so, out of a concern that there could be overlap with recent changes to provincial law. But after tenants and their legal advocates spoke out at committee, I was able to work with staff and the mayor’s office to get an adjusted version of the new bylaw on the docket for debate and a final vote.
If you are interested in speaking at committee on July 8, especially in you have been personally impacted by a renoviction, please email [email protected], and we would be happy to help you sign up.
Have your say on Dundonald Park renewal
Dundonald Park is one of our oldest and most-used parks. Like many well-loved public spaces, it's in need of some repairs. I am excited to share that we are working with staff to plan a park renewal project, with the aim of starting work in Summer 2027.
What does Dundonald Park mean to you? Fill out our survey to let us know how you use the park and what you'd like to see added.
Snider Park Launch
On June 13, the Centretown BIA will officially open Snider Park, a new urban green space in the heart of Centretown designed around art, culture, community, and everyday city life.
Designed as a flexible public space, it includes:
To celebrate the launch of the space, the Centretown BIA will host an official public opening event on June 13.
The public park launch will take place at 4pm and is free and open to everyone.
Following the public opening, the adjacent parking lot will host the Grown Ass Pizza & Taco Fest from 5pm-11pm.
For more information and to get tickets, click here.
Impact Skateboard Club Arrives in Ottawa!
Impact Skate Club is bringing youth skateboarding programs to Ottawa this summer for a new summer camp operating out of the Charlie Bowins Skatepark. The camp will help kids of all levels to learn to skate in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. Skateboarding is great for physical exercise but more importantly, it can help develop resilience, perseverance, confidence, and social skills that transfer to all areas of life. All abilities and skill-levels are welcome (with equipment provided if needed), but spots are highly limited for this special summer session!
Join us for the first Elgin Street Market of the season!
The Elgin Street Market returns to Boushey Square (Elgin St and Waverly St) on June 14! Join us Sundays from 9am to 1pm from June 14 to October 11 for this annual summer tradition that features the best goods and produce from local vendors across Ottawa.
More details available online here.
Catherine McKenney’s Office Open House and Ice Cream Social
Join Catherine, the MPP Office team, and your neighbours for our annual community office Open House and Ice Cream Social at 353 Waverley St. W.
Light refreshments and ice cream, courtesy of the Merry Dairy Ice Cream truck, will be provided!
WHEN: June 17, 2026 at 4:00pm - 7pm
WHERE: 353 Waverley St. W.
Somewhat Super Centretown Sale
Move over Great Glebe Garage Sale, the Somewhat Super Centretown Sale is happening again this year! Whether you have a yard, garage or driveway, set up shop outside on Saturday June 20th 9-1PM rain or shine and get the community vibes going. Neighbours on Gilmour, Florence, Flora and McLeod will be active but if you are located on other blocks of Centretown and are interested please join the fun, no registration required. If you would like to connect about the sale for this year or next please reach out to [email protected].
Italian Week
Join us for a journey through Italian culture, where you can:
Here are some special highlights to look forward to:
This is just a taste of what awaits you at Italian Week 2026! Whether you have Italian roots, a passion for Italian culture, or simply a desire to experience something new, we promise an unforgettable journey. Mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate la dolce vita (the good life) in Ottawa!
Full festival schedule is available online at www.italianweekottawa.ca.
Community advocates and legal experts say that a renovictions by-law is still urgently needed, despite recent changes made by the province to the Residential Tenancies Act.
Councillor Ariel Troster and community advocates say that a renovictions by-law is still urgently needed, despite recent changes made by the province to the Residential Tenancies Act.
There’s a new park opening at the corner of Lyon and Albert this summer, and when city staff asked me who we should name it after, I didn’t hesitate when I said: Diane Holmes.