Newsletter Dec 21
From the desk of Councillor David Brown
An update on the state of rural affairs in Ottawa
One of the main reasons I ran for office was that I do not believe that a “One Size Fits All” policy works for Ottawa. With that in mind, I wanted to outline what I am working on to promote rural interests at City Hall.
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Additionally, I am pleased that the Mayor has agreed that rural Ottawa is different than urban Ottawa, and that it is vital to respect rural interests. By way of example, the Mayor recently gave a forceful defence of rural interests at Council; you can listen to his remarks here.
I had a great time as one of the judges for Manotick's Christmas Decorating Contest! Special thanks to the BIA, MVCA, and everyone involved in bringing bright lights and Christmas cheer to the village. Winners will be contacted soon; stay tuned!
Ward Updates
Schedule Changes: Christmas and New Years
Please note that our Ward Office will be closed for the holidays through January 5. During this time, we are grateful for your patience as it may take longer than usual to respond to emails and calls. For immediate assistance, residents are encouraged to contact 3-1-1.
Other City services (such as garbage and recycling collection, libraries, and Client Service Centres) will also be operating on a Holiday Schedule. Learn more
Vacant Unit Tax: Declaration Period Open
Residents can now submit their Vacant Unit Tax Declarations to the City. Please note, the declaration is mandatory for all residents and the deadline for submitting your declaration is March 21, 2024. Submit your declaration here, or learn more about the VUT here.
Residents with questions or who need assistance filing their VUT are encouraged to reach out to the City's Revenue Services department by email at VUT_ILV@ottawa.ca or by phone at 613-580-2444.
As your Councillor, I am opposed to the VUT. I believe it is an unfair administrative burden on residents and I have yet to see evidence that it is actually assisting with increasing housing supply. I voted to scrap the VUT earlier this year and will vote again to scrap it when the matter comes before Council again in summer of 2024.
Helping Families in Need this Christmas
Almost 9,000 families in Ottawa need a helping hand this holiday season. If you are in a position to assist, please consider donating to the Caring and Sharing Exchange. The C&SE provides assistance to families in need during the Christmas. Learn more
GoFundMe: Passing of Wan Juan Xiong
On December 8, the Xiong family (which owns and operates the Chinhon restaurant in Richmond) said goodbye to Wan Juan Xiong. The community has come together in support of her husband, Jing Yu Xiong. If you are able to do so, please consider donating to support the Xiong family. Special thanks to Melissa Harley and Josh Siu for thinking of the Xiong family and organizing this thoughtful fundraiser.
Important Survey for Farm Property Owners
Many farmers or residents who live on agricultural properties may soon receive a survey from the City regarding changes to curbside collection. During the curbside collection debate earlier this year, I worked alongside my Council colleagues to ensure that staff would engage with farmers to develop an exemption policy for farm properties that receive residential waste collectionservices from the City. If you are a farmer who receives curbside collection, please take the time to fill out the survey here.
Volunteers wanted! Outdoor Rinks
Our communities are fortunate to benefit from a large number of volunteer-maintained outdoor rinks. If you are interested and able to volunteer this winter to support your community, please email seasonalrecreation@ottawa.ca. In particular, the Munster Community Association is looking for a lead rink operator for Dogwood Park this winter season. Learn more
Update on Recent Road Closures
Many residents have shared their frustration with the length of some recent road closures, the lack of apparent work being done on site, and the extensions of closures. The concerns were especially apparent with the long-running closures of Fourth Line and Barnsdale. I share in the frustration of residents and have met with City staff to express that the kinds of delays and issues we have faced are unacceptable.
Though some of the delays were for factors outside of the City's control, staff have assured me that they will make every effort to ensure these kinds of issues will not occur in the future.For instance, the City’s construction teams have committed to reviewing how rural culverts are repaired in the future with an effort to reduce impacts to the rural community and improve communication with the local residents affected by the work.
I will be working hard in the new year to ensure that the City does better by our communities when it comes to road closures.
Future Road Closures
Barnsdale Road from Twin Elm Road to Eagleson Drive will be closed between January 2 and January 31, 2024 for the second phase of Hydro Ottawa's work, including stringing conductors on the new poles. This is being done to improve grid reliability for Richmond and Kanata.
Fallowfield Road from Munster Side Road to Huntley Road will be closed for 6 weeks in summer of 2024 for full resurfacing and rehabilitation work. More details will be provided as they become available.
Upcoming Community Events
Youth of Manotick Association (YOMA): Ongoing Activities
YOMA hosts a wide range of activities and programs for local youth in Grades 4-12 at the Manotick Community Centre. To get involved and see what they have planned, follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or sign up for their newsletter. For more information, visit their website at yoma.ca
Manotick Legion: Catch the Ace!
The Manotick Legion's Catch the Ace event is ongoing and is open for all! As of December 16th, the progressive jackpot is $480. Tickets are $10 each and are sold only at the Legion with draws every Saturday at 3:30pm. Proceeds from the event will support a local charity. For more information, contact the Legion at: 613 692-3243
News from the Ottawa Public Library
Please note that all libraries will be closed on the following days: Monday, Dec 25; Tuesday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 1. Library branches that are open on Sundays will be closed early at 3 pm on Dec 24 and Dec 31 respectively.
Well water test kits will not be collected on the week of Dec 25 – 31.
At Richmond and Munster branches storytimes will not be held until the week January 8 2024, but the Stay-and-Play segment will be available during the holidays: Tuesdays at Richmond and Wednesdays at Munster at their appointed times.
On Saturday Dec 23 South Nepean Community Health Centre volunteers will be coming to the Manotick Branch 10:30 am-12:30 pm. They will offer information on seeking primary care and health promotion services to more than 200,000 people living in the Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode areas. Drop by in the morning to learn how they can help you.
ROSSS Drop-In
Rural Ottawa South Support Services' (ROSSS) hosts a number of ongoing events, including Drop-In programs. Learn More
ROSSS is also looking for volunteers for their Transportation Program. Call 613-692-692-4697 ext. 228 or visit their volunteer page to learn more.
Richmond and Manotick Legions: Ongoing events
The Richmond and Manoitck Legions have regular events going on all year round! Learn more about the events in Richmond here and the events in Manotick here.
City Updates and Events
Stay in touch
I want to hear from you! Connect with the team and stay informed by:
Following us on social media by clicking the icons below
Visiting our website at www.ward21.ca
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.