Latest news with #MarkSutcliffe
Ottawa Citizen
17 hours ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa's $11-billion infrastructure gap: Here's what you need to know
Article content City staff are proposing water rate hikes and taking on more debt to address a $10.8-billion 'gap' between infrastructure needs and available funds over the next 10 years. Article content Staff presented councillors with 12 'asset management plans' (AMPs) that outline critical information on all municipal assets — from transportation services to wastewater and stormwater infrastructure to emergency and protective services — worth approximately $90 billion. Article content Article content Article content The plans offer 'a clear view' of the current state of Ottawa's infrastructure, which, according to a staff report, 'is safe, in good to fair condition, and continues to serve residents.' Article content Article content What is the funding gap? Article content 'These forecasted needs reflect asset renewal, growth, service enhancements, and climate change adaptation and mitigation costs,' according to the staff report. Article content 'A measured backlog is expected in a large and established municipal portfolio, and the city has a strong track record of managing these challenges … Ottawa is experiencing a trend seen in all Canadian municipalities — a growing infrastructure backlog, largely driven by aging assets, the effects of climate change, rising construction costs and a limited number of revenue sources.' Article content Article content Article content The city will need $4.8 billion over the next 10 years for 'priority needs' in repairing and refurbishing water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. Article content Staff presented councillors with a long-range financial plan for wastewater and stormwater that calls for rate increases between 4.5 and 5.6 per cent annually over the next decade at an average of 5.0 per cent per year. That equates to about five dollars more per month for the average residential home. Article content Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told councillors that it would be considered 'good debt' at the June 3 finance and corporate services committee. Article content 'The way we use debt, I think, would fall into the category of good debt in the sense that we're not using debt to pay for our yearly operating expenses, we are using debt to pay for long-term investments in assets that will generate benefit to the community for many, many years to come,' Sutcliffe said.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe meets with Prime Minister Mark Carney
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Prime Minister Mark Carney met Thursday, according to their respective social media posts. Sutcliffe said he and Carney — who he noted is also the MP the riding of Nepean — discussed their shared commitment to Ottawa and their mutual priorities. 'We will work collaboratively and effectively together to build a stronger local economy, revitalize downtown and the ByWard Market and respond to challenges and opportunities,' Sutcliffe said. The mayor also said it's 'great to have the PM's support for our 'Shop Local. Buy Canadian' campaign.' The City of Ottawa launched a campaign this spring to encourage residents to shop at local, Canadian businesses in the face of tariffs and sovereignty threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. Safety concerns in the ByWard Market and downtown Ottaw have also been regular issues for city hall. Most recently, the City of Ottawa announced the launch of the Night Ambassadors pilot program in the ByWard Market, which the city says would 'improve community safety and visitor outreach' between 9:30 p.m. and 4 a.m. Carney's post said, 'We're going to build big things, make our city safer, and bring down the cost of living for the people of Ottawa, together.' This is the second time Sutcliffe and Carney have met in Ottawa. The pair also spoke in March, after Carney won the Liberal leadership and was set to be sworn in as prime minister. Sutcliffe has been asking the federal and provincial governments for financial assistance to cover major gaps in funding for the city's transit system, and he has accused the federal government of underpaying the city when it comes to payments in lieu of property taxes. The City of Ottawa took Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Canada Post to court, claiming they had shortchanged the city $22 million in 2021 and 2022 on federal payments for tax-exempt buildings. The case involved a move by the provincial government to lower the Business Education Tax rate on property taxes for private businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the federal government's decision to set its PILT rate at the same level. The City of Ottawa wanted to charge the federal government the rate that was in place prior to the provincial decision, but in February, Federal Court Justice Panagiotis Pamel sided with the federal government , which argued that the reduced rate is what it would have paid had it not been exempt from property taxes. In March, the city's Chief Financial Officer Cyril Rogers said, after consulting with lawyers, the city believes there are grounds to appeal.
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Italian Week in Ottawa kicks off with flag raising
The Italian flag is raised at Ottawa City Hall to mark the start of Italian Week. June 5, 2025. (Mark Sutcliffe/X) The Italian flag was raised at Ottawa City Hall Thursday to mark the start of Italian Week in the city. Italian Week is the annual celebration of Ottawa's Italian community. A flag-raising ceremony was held Thursday morning, attended by Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, city councillors, and Italian ambassador to Canada Alessandro Cattaneo. Italian Week is mainly celebrated on Preston Street, the heart of Ottawa's Little Italy neighbourhood, where residents and visitors can experience Italian culture, music, art, and, of course, Italian food. Opening weekend begins Friday, with live music and the Morin Supply Kids Zone. Saturday features live music, arts and crafts such as making Venetian masks, Roman gladiator helmets or laurel crowns, and beaded bracelets. Sunday features more live music, as well as the Feast of St. Anthony outdoor mass and luncheon at St. Anthony Church on Booth Street. A full list of events can be found on
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Ottawa prom made to include everyone with all abilities
Students pose for pictures at the Pathways Prom at Rogers Centre Ottawa. June 2, 2025. (Camille Wilson/CTV News Ottawa) A group in Ottawa is hosting its first-ever prom made to accommodate those with accessibility barriers. Pathways Prom is an event for high school graduates that is meant to make everyone feel included, even with the physical, sensory or cognitive barriers they may face that would prevent them from attending a traditional prom. Prom Night Canada is putting the event together along with Ottawa school boards, the City of Ottawa and community volunteers. It's taking place Monday at Rogers Centre Ottawa. The daytime prom will feature a DJ, a dance floor, sensory-friendly activities, calm spaces and onsite support staff to ensure every student can participate and enjoy. Pathways Prom Students take part in the Pathways Prom at Rogers Centre Ottawa. June 2, 2025. (Camille Wilson/CTV News Ottawa) Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will be attending to deliver a prom presentation. Ottawa Senators mascot Spartacat also made an appearance. More to come…
CBC
21-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Ottawa police introduce new mounted unit
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) introduced its new mounted unit Tuesday, touting the horse force as a way to both improve community engagement and meet the practical demands of urban policing. Mounted officers on seven Clydesdales will be deployed across the city over the coming months, Chief Eric Stubbs said during a "soft launch" in front of OPS headquarters on Elgin Street. The unit will be fully operational by 2026. Stubbs said the horses are trained to remain calm in unpredictable environments including noise, large crowds and tight spaces, and said their presence can help de-escalate tense situations. "People react differently when there's an 1,800-pound [816-kilogram] horse in front of them," Stubbs said. "Tempers drop, body language shifts, and it gives our officers a chance to connect rather than confront." In a news release, the OPS said the mounted unit will "respond to a wide range of operational needs, including community patrols, crowd management, and crisis response." Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also attended Tuesday's launch, lauding the mounted unit as both a nod to tradition and a forward-thinking investment in public safety and community outreach. "One mounted officer can have the presence of a dozen on the ground," Sutcliffe said. "That's important during major events and demonstrations when visibility and crowd movement really matter." Sutcliffe said Ottawa's last mounted police unit folded in 1993. Horses needed training Stubbs credited the persistence of Const. Eric Mougeot for reviving the mounted unit. "Eric has had this vision for seven to eight years," Stubbs said. "Because of him, we're here today in terms of that drive and that passion." Idling atop seven-year-old Ripp, Mougeot said horses provide a unique opportunity to connect with the community. "It's the most efficient tool to connect with a citizen. There's no more powerful tool," he said. A police officer for 23 years and a lifelong farmer, Mougeot said he trained with a mounted unit in Toronto for 10 weeks following a longer stint with the RCMP. Staff Sgt. Stephanie Burns, another officer in charge of the mounted unit, said the horses come from all over Ontario and Quebec and had little to no training. "They were pulled out of farmers' field, they were pulled out of backyards," Burns said. "Some of them had never had a person on their back before, so the training process takes a while." Burns said the horses are taught basic manoeuvres before gradually being exposed to large crowds and loud noises including trucks and emergency vehicles. "The more busy the environment the better it is, and the quieter the horses become," Burns said. "We just gradually introduce more stressful environments and eventually the horses take it all in stride." Questions over cost, intent Lauren Shadley, a criminal defence lawyer from Montreal, noted protests are necessary for democracy but can sometimes escalate. "We need non-violent ways to de-escalate," she said. "I'm hoping that the horse unit ... can do that." OPS said the province will supply $1.4 million annually toward the mounted unit, including eight officers and eight horses, for the next three years. Justin Piché, a criminology professor at the University of Ottawa, said he'd like to see a clearer cost breakdown. "When you're spending that kind of money, you should be able to articulate where the money is going," he said. Piché also expressed concern about how the mounted unit will be deployed, especially if it's disproportionately used to control social justice demonstrations. "That's just been the history of policing and their use of protest policing in this city," he said. The seven Clydesdales currently in the OPS stable are Ace, Arran, Angus, Deputy, Rio, Ripp and Will Power, the largest horse at over 18 hands high. An eighth horse will be added. "The horses are stabled within the city and receive daily care from their handlers, including feeding, grooming, medical attention, and exercise," according to the OPS. And yes, they are approachable if you see them out in public.
