Category: Housing policy
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CMHC Ottawa housing tracker
Housing starts are substantially down – around 29% – year-to-date in 2026 compared to the year prior. There have been 2,525 starts to date this year, compared to 3,249 units in 2025. However, the month saw virtually exactly the same number of units under construction at this point this year compared to last, and a…
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Back to the table on Build Canada Homes
Last December, the Prime Minister announced that Ottawa would be the first city to receive federal help through the new Build Canada Homes initiative. Late Thursday night ahead of the long weekend, we learned the details of the proposed deal that Mayor Sutcliffe has struck with the feds. There is less than a week before…
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Developer benefits holiday should be rejected
Mayor Sutcliffe’s Housing Acceleration Task Force is suggesting a five-year break for developers from paying community benefits charges (CBCs). These charges are often used to support affordable housing and public amenities in our neighbourhoods. The proposal would remove millions of dollars we could spend in ways residents need. Council should reject this recommendation. The proposal…
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2026 Ontario election candidates survey
Dear Simon Beckett (Green), Scott Healey (Conservative), Catherine McKenney (New Democratic), and Thomas Simpson (Liberal) Thanks to each of you as candidates. I and the residents of Kitchissippi are grateful for your unique and important service. Below, I’ve posed a number of questions to which Kitchissippi residents would be grateful to have your answers. There…
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Opening our neighbourhoods to shelters
Today at our Planning and Housing Committee meeting, I gave notice that I’ll be asking Council to fast-forward the proposal to remove any zoning barrier to building shelters[1] more widely across Ottawa’s urban area as the Official Plan directs us to do. I want to let residents know why. Zoning rules give Council the ability…