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Ottawa Citizen

Hersh: New security measures at Ottawa City Hall are excessive

Late last Friday afternoon, without any consultation or public meetings and just before a long weekend, the City of Ottawa announced it is enacting sweeping new changes to how residents can access City Hall. Article content Article content A press release relayed the implementation starting May 26 of 'enhanced security measures,' including metal detectors at all entrances and the need to go through security screening. Article content Article content This will mean that even residents needing to access services at Service Ontario such as getting a new health card or driver's licence, getting married or replacing a lost birth certificate will be subject to screening. Article content Even those who need to access City Hall to use one of downtown Ottawa's few public washrooms (there are only 22 of them, according to the GottaGo! campaign) would face these excessive security measures. Article content When I moved to Ottawa almost a decade ago, there were no barriers to enter City Hall. It was open as late as 11 p.m. for people to walk through freely. Many also used the facilities during festivals that would take place in Marion Dewar Plaza, such as the Ottawa Jazz Festival, among others. Article content Historically, City Hall isn't just the seat of our local government. It's also what some would describe as a 'third space,' where people can congregate and connect with others. These new measures severely limit that. Article content Article content And yet, very few incidents, that were cause for concern, if any, occurred. Article content Since the pandemic, however, the doors started closing earlier. Many thought it was just a temporary measure but the opening hours remained extremely limited. Article content In a more charged and even hostile political climate, I can understand concerns around security. But there are already metal detectors at the council chambers, and most of the time, you cannot just waltz into a councillor's office without an appointment. Article content So this prompts the question: What evidence does the City have to implement these sweeping changes and how can they do it without speaking to residents? This is supposed to be our building, after all. It's our dollars that will go into making these unnecessary changes. Article content The City's press release argues that other cities and government buildings are enhancing their security. But this alone should not be enough to close off access. The matter ought to be reconsidered and brought to City Council for public discussion.