Weekly newsletter: September 2, 2025
And just like that, it’s September. Hi everyone!
I hope you had an enjoyable Labour Day weekend. It was my first proper weekend off since late-July, so I certainly enjoyed it.
Welcome back to students at the English school boards! Please take care driving, cycling, and walking throughout the community, especially in school zones and around school bus stops, and remember to stop for school buses, crossing guards, and pedestrians at pedestrian crossovers.
Friendly reminder to parents at Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School that the new route 659 replaces the trips on bus route 80. The route will now use Paul Métivier and Beatrice to bring service closer to more students. Details here↗.
2026 budget direction
Property tax increase of up to 3.75 per cent proposed.
At today’s meeting, the Finance and Corporate Services Committee will be discussing and voting on the 2026 budget direction, timeline, and consultation process.
Budget direction provides City staff with parameters within which to develop a municipal budget, most notably the property tax increase ceiling, but also more general directions like user fee adjustments, advocacy, and other relevant directions.
For the 2026 budget direction, the proposal is a maximum property tax increase of 3.75 per cent, broken down to a 2.9 per cent increase in the general levy (except transit) and an increase of up to 6.5 per cent in the police levy.
Like last year, the budget direction separates out transit from the general levy, despite transit being a city service with no external governance.
On transit, the budget direction proposal includes a levy increase between 3 and 15 per cent along with a fare increase between 2.5 and 7.5 per cent. It also includes other items like finding efficiencies, deferrals, and advocacy to the province about the LRT upload, basically a repeat of the 2025 transit budget with different numbers.
It’s a repeat, because the 2025 transit budget was based on hope that the provincial and federal governments would fill a $36 million gap. It’s why I voted against the transit budget last year. That hope didn’t materialise fully, and we’re facing a $47 million budget gap this year.
As there may be amendments at Committee and then next week at Council, I’ll share the proposal without an opinion for now (though you may be able to read between the lines on transit).
I don’t sit on the Finance and Corporate Services Committee, but I will be listening in. The item rises to Council next Wednesday, September 10. City staff will then develop a budget based on the approved direction for discussion, amendments, and votes throughout November.
The autumn agenda
A look ahead at the major items in the legislative agenda to close out 2025 (sorted alphabetically). Details will be shared in newsletter issues closer to the item’s date.
Budget – As noted in the previous section, the 2026 municipal budget will be discussed at respective Committees throughout November. It will rise to Council on December 10 for discussion, amendments, and a final vote. The process will include public information sessions, details of which will be shared later.
Lansdowne – Among the heavy upcoming files, the final vote to decide on whether Lansdowne 2.0 should go ahead or not will happen some time in October. At that time, information such as the project’s final cost will be available.
Parks garbage policy – As part of the Solid Waste Master Plan, the City will be updating its parks garbage policy at the September meeting of the Environment and Climate Change Committee. Staff’s report is expected to include a formalisation of three-stream collection in City parks, better bin design to improve serviceability and cleanliness, and a general update on the three-item limit’s first year.
Private Approach By-law – This item will be before Council after the updated Zoning By-law is voted on in January. The by-law speaks to the portion of residential driveways within the right-of-way, including driveway widenings extending past the property line.
Speed limit policy – Currently, there are no consistent standards or practices in setting speed limits across the City. That’s why in Barrhaven East, Fallowfield is 80 km/h, Woodroffe and Strandherd are 70 km/h, and Greenbank is 60 km/h, despite the same design on all four roads. A new policy to establish a consistent citywide practice will be before Council some time before the end of the year.
Zoning By-law – The conclusion of a years-long process, the updated Zoning By-law will be before Planning and Housing Committee at the end of December, so that the by-law can finally match the City’s Official Plan as well as the various provincial changes enacted since 2022.
Integrity Commissioner report
Further fallout from sprung structure issue last year.
Last Wednesday, Council discussed a report from the Integrity Commissioner regarding the conduct of Councillor Plante in her interactions with some community members in Barrhaven East last year.
Based on her findings, the Integrity Commissioner recommended a three-day pay suspension for Councillor Plante, but Council voted to amend the penalty to a simple reprimand. I voted against amendments to the original report.
Sprung structure was controversial and discussions about it got heated at times, but Councillor Plante engaged in an unnecessary and sustained campaign of personal attacks against my residents that did not contribute to the debate.
Everyone, including Councillors, is entitled to freedom of expression and can participate in political debate. However, there’s no freedom from consequences, and absolutely no need to launch into personal attacks to discredit someone with an opposing viewpoint.
In contrast, I was copied on an email thread involving a different Councillor, where that Councillor disagreed with one of their residents on the topic, but it remained civil and professional, never devolving into personal attacks or attempts to discredit the other.
Councillors represent the city, and it’s reasonable to expect a level of professionalism from us. Though what my residents experienced wasn’t intimidation in the traditional sense, what was directed at them certainly contributed nothing to the debate and only discouraged public engagement on the matter.
Bite-sized updates
Sorted alphabetically.
Barrhaven Harvest Fest – The Ottawa Farmers’ Market, Barrhaven BIA, and Locally Crafted Markets are hosting the third annual Barrhaven Harvest Fest autumn market↗ on Sunday, September 7, 10 am to 2 pm, at the Nepean Woods Park and Ride! This is a free event (no tickets) with purchases on site.
Cleaning the Capital – Registration is open for the Cleaning the Capital autumn 2025 campaign. Join the 12 cleanup projects already registered so far in Barrhaven East to help keep our parks and public spaces clean and looking good and earn some volunteer hours! Participants are provided with clean-up kits with garbage bags and gloves. Learn more or register at Ottawa.ca/clean↗.
Greenbank Road pathway – Resurfacing is complete, and the pathway has reopened. The repaved pathway will buy us several years while the city works with the NCC on a proper upgrade, which includes drainage, levelling, and width.
Leikin Drive closure – Leikin Drive between Merivale and Beckstead should open around noon today, Tuesday September 2.
Low water conditions – The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority have upgraded to a major low-water advisory across the entire Rideau River watershed. Households on well water↗ are strongly encouraged to reduce consumption and suspend non-essential uses.
Shower facilities and water filling stations are available at Minto Recreation Complex↗ and the Walter Baker Sports Centre↗ to residents of Hearts Desire and Rideau Glen. Please call ahead to confirm availability (contact information and hours of operation in the links).
O-Train Line 1 – R1 bus service will replace the train service next weekend, Saturday September 13 and Sunday September 14, for performance testing of the entire line with the east extension. The closure will also allow for tunnel inspections at St-Laurent Station.
Pop-up office hours – I’m regularly at the Ottawa Farmers’ Market (Barrhaven)↗ for pop-up office hours! I’ll be there next on Sunday, September 7, 10 am to 2 pm as part of the Harvest Fest autumn market.
School zone speed limits - Posted school zone speed limits return to effect today until the end of June. Where applicable, automated speed enforcement cameras will once again enforce the school zone speed limit Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, including weekday holidays. At all other times, the cameras will enforce the regular speed limit.
Strandherd/Deerfox-Stoneway construction – The private infrastructure connection project that has restarted and should take about two weeks. There may be off-peak lane closures and shifts in the intersection as works progress, but no road closures.
Town Hall – I’m trying something new! It’ll be an opportunity for Barrhaven East residents to get together with City staff and me to talk about our community and City in an open format session. The in-person town hall will be on Tuesday September 23, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at St. Mother Teresa High School, while a virtual version will be on Thursday October 2, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. More details in the coming weeks!
Walter Baker Sports Centre – The hot tub has reopened. Due to foundation issues discovered during summer maintenance the steam room remains closed indefinitely. An update on the steam room should be available next week.
Waste collection – Garbage, blue bin, and green bin collection is delayed to Wednesday this week as Monday was Labour Day.
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Finally, 45 years ago yesterday, Terry Fox was forced to end his Marathon of Hope just outside Thunder Bay after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres. At a tearful press conference, Fox announced his cancer had returned and spread to his lungs.
He refused offers to complete the run in his place, saying he wanted to complete the marathon on his own.
Terry Fox raised $1.7 million ($6 million in 2023) by the time he was forced to end his run, but a week later, a nationwide telethon raised $10.5 million ($37 million in 2023) in support of Fox and the Canadian Cancer Society. Donations continued through the winter, and over $23 million ($73 million in 2023) was raised by April 1981.
His legacy lives on in annual Terry Fox runs↗ across Canada and the world. Over $850 million has been raised in Terry Fox’s name as of 2022, helping Canadian scientists make numerous advances in cancer research. This year’s runs will be held nationwide on Sunday September 14.
Enjoy the week ahead!
-Wilson