Newsletter - Dec. 15

Written By David Brown

From the desk of Councillor David Brown

The top two issues crossing my desk this week include the 2023 budget, and resident concerns about the vacant unit tax.

2023 Budget

It has been a busy week at City Hall. Budget directions were tabled and approved with the goal of keeping tax increases at or below 2.5 per cent. In addition, Council also directed staff to find savings to reduce the tax burden on residents.

I’ve put forward a motion which will be reviewed at the newly constituted Audit Committee to initiate a city-wide program and service review conducted by the Auditor General. After 21 years of being an amalgamated city, there is no better time to take a good, hard look at the program and services we provide, how well we provide them, and if they still serve a relevant purpose.

Vacant Unit Tax

Many residents have reached out to my office over concerns with the Vacant Unit Tax (VUT), which was approved by the previous council.

First off, I share these concerns. The VUT was created as a sledgehammer to correct a nail-sized problem. The largest issue is that the VUT forces more than 300,000 homeowners to declare that they are living in their homes in an effort for the City to identify approximately 1,500 vacant units across Ottawa. I support the goal of ensuring as many residential units are being lived in to ensure we can increase the housing stock and reduce the cost of housing. However, a mandatory disclosure by every homeowner adds an unacceptable level of administrative burden to the residents of Ottawa.

I supported a motion during Wednesday’s Council meeting directing staff to review the data collected through the 2023 declaration process and bring options for Council to consider reducing the impacts on residents going forward.

City Updates

  • Winter is here! Stay informed of official weather statements by following http://ottawa.ca/winter and the City's social media channels. We are coordinating with City Officials to help manage issues and requests that arise from winter road maintenance. If you have an issue with respect to snow clearing, please contact 3-1-1. If you require assistance with registering your issue, contact ward21@ottawa.ca.

  • Holiday Break: Dec. 14 was the last council meeting before councillors rise for the holiday season. Many ward offices will be closed for the holidays, from Dec. 23 until Jan. 3, including the Ward 21 office. Response time may be delayed during this period.

Ward Updates

  • The North Gower Client Service Centre, located at 2155 Roger Stevens, will be open Thursday, December 15th, 2022, from 8:30am to 12pm. The Centre will be closed on both Dec. 22nd and 29th.

  • To view events happening within Ward 21, please visit the events page on our website. Want us to promote your event across our channels? Please send your request to ward21@ottawa.ca

Did you know?

Reporting a concern to Service Ottawa is the most efficient means toward ensuring your service request is responded to in an organized and timely manner. There are a few ways you can make a service request:

If upon completion of a service request, you do not feel your concerns were fully addressed, please email our office at ward21@ottawa.ca with your service request number so that our office can follow up with the staff responsible to ensure your specific needs are met.

Stay in touch

We want to hear from you! Connect with the team and stay informed by:

  • Following us on social media by clicking the icons below

  • Emailing your concerns to ward21@ottawa.ca

  • Calling the office at 613-580-2491

  • Meeting with Councillor Brown at the North Gower office every Thursday. Email ward21@ottawa.ca to book an appointment.

David Brown
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Newsletter - Dec. 7