City of Ottawa

[J.OT13]

Although I certainly don't agree with the way he runs City Hall and his tendency to sell Ottawa short by downsizing certain visionary projects, he will undoubtedly leave a an important legacy. We've seen some major projects come to fruition under his leadership.

Starting with the Confederation Line and Lansdowne Park. Some credit is owed to Larry O'Brien however, under Watson both projects were scaled back to something more realistic. I doubt that if bids for the O'Brien version of the Confederation Line would have come back at $3.5B+, the project would have been built. Same with Lansdowne with the 70+ million park, though I wish we would have gone with a phased approach rather than a scaled down approach.

Otherwise, Watson has brought new life to many of our traditional main streets, more density throughout the urban area. The new library will be a spectacular addition to LeBreton Flats, a catalyst for redevelopment (along with the Confederation Line).

[mykl]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The new library will be a spectacular addition to LeBreton Flats, a catalyst for redevelopment (along with the Confederation Line).

Lets reserve the word spectacular for after value-engineering is complete.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by mykl

Lets reserve the word spectacular for after value-engineering is complete.

He could have just said it will be "an addition to Lebreton Flats" and it would still be a major accomplishment.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by mykl

Lets reserve the word spectacular for after value-engineering is complete.

Might have been to strong a word. The rising cost of materials might have a negative impact on the end product.

Originally Posted by phil235

He could have just said it will be "an addition to Lebreton Flats" and it would still be a major accomplishment.

Touché.

[rocketphish]

Ottawa set to charge tax on vacant homes
Staff suggesting additional 1% on units left empty half the year

Kate Porter · CBC News
Posted: Jun 01, 2021 3:34 PM ET | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

In a bid to keep properties from sitting empty when they could be housing people, the City of Ottawa is set to begin taxing vacant residential units next year.

City staff are still working out the details, but have suggested taxing vacant homes at an additional one per cent, or about $4,150 on a residential home assessed at $415,000, if they sit empty for a total of more than 184 days, or half the year.

"It's nice to be leading the pack on this issue in the province of Ontario," said Mayor Jim Watson, who chairs the city's finance and economic development committee, which tasked staff with coming up with the new tax.

Vancouver has a vacant homes tax, and Toronto and Mississauga are looking at the idea after Ontario gave its municipalities that power in 2017.

Ottawa plans to follow Vancouver's example and require all 307,000 homeowners to declare annually whether their property is occupied or vacant. Those who don't could face a fine and have their properties deemed vacant.

The new tax would apply to buildings with up to six units including condos, but not to units considered a primary residence, or to commercial, industrial or larger multi-unit buildings. There would be exemptions for occupants who die or are hospitalized, or if extensive renovations are taking place.

The first bills would go out in 2023 for buildings that were assessed as vacant in 2022.

The Hintonburg Community Association's Cheryl Parrott had urged councillors to consider such a tax during budget deliberations last November.

Parrott said her neighbourhood has seen evictions and houses boarded up for years while they await redevelopment.

"There has to be a better way, and we think this is the way," she told the Tuesday committee.

Another Hintonburg resident, Anne Hanna, said speculators and developers shouldn't be allowed to let buildings sit empty during a declared housing emergency, while neighbours have to cope with the mess and safety concerns surrounding vacant properties.

The Ottawa Small Landlord Association pointed out there are currently risks preventing some property owners from renting out their units.

Tony Miller said landlords have had more problems during the pandemic with tenants who refuse to pay rent or move out. He said it can take eight to 12 months to get a hearing before Ontario's landlord-tenant board, a trend that predates the pandemic.

He asked the city to exempt them from the tax until the tribunal's delays are fixed.

"The city must not penalize small landlords who are making the difficult decision to leave their units vacant," Miller said.

As of March, the city had received complaints about 206 vacant properties, but staff cited a five-year-old Statistics Canada report that placed the actual number as high as 22,000 units.

Staff estimate the new tax would generate between $5 million and $6 million from between 1,000 and 1,500 vacant properties, and would cost the city just over $1 million to administer.

The money generated would go toward creating affordable housing, the mayor said.

Full city council must endorse the idea at its meeting June 9.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...nary-1.6048483

[J.OT13]

3 juin 2021 11h20
Le Droit

La Ville d'Ottawa déclenche son plan de retour au bureau

Tel qu’annoncé en mars dernier, la Ville d’Ottawa confirme que certains de ses employés recommenceront à travailler dans les édifices municipaux dès lundi.

La maire, Jim Watson, a indiqué il y a un peu plus de deux mois que l’administration cherchait à ramener des employés sur les lieux de travail – notamment au centre-ville – le plus tôt possible, une façon indirecte de soutenir le milieu des affaires puisque les employés qui retourneront au bureau recommenceront à acheter, notamment, des plats et des boissons d’entreprises avoisinantes.

La Ville commencera par offrir de nouveau des services au comptoir lundi. La prise de rendez-vous pour ces services a été lancée mercredi sur le site web de la municipalité.



Services

Parmi les services qui seront offerts en personne, on compte ceux des Centres de service à la clientèle, du service du Code du bâtiment, des services sociaux et d’emploi, les permis d’entreprises, ainsi que le programme de suppléments au loyer.

Les archives de la Ville seront également accessibles sur rendez-vous. Le comptoir de services de la Cour des infractions provinciales – situé au 100, promenade Constellation – sera également pour certains services.

Vous pouvez obtenir de l’information sur les services disponibles et les façons de prendre rendez-vous sur le site web de la municipalité.

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/o...81053a9590e920

[rocketphish]

Council approves new warehouse near Barrhaven and creation of residential vacancy tax

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jun 09, 2021 • 54 minutes ago • 3 minute read


<snip>


Council supports creation of residential vacancy tax

Council has backed a new municipal tax applied to homes that are vacant for long periods of time in a single year, hoping to raise money for affordable housing programs and spur landlords to fill empty residential units during a housing and homelessness crisis.

The support wasn’t unanimous. Councillors Riley Brockington and Rick Chiarelli dissented on the staff recommendations after questioning the need for a new tax.

Brockington saw pitfalls in how the tax would be administered especially when it comes to making sure property owners declare taxable vacant units. If they don’t share the information with the city, they could be fined.

Chiarelli was skeptical about the tax’s aim to, in his words, “somehow alter the free behaviour of the market system.”

On the other hand, Coun. Mathieu Fleury said there’s a cost to taxpayers by not having a tax on vacant residential units when it comes to bylaw and other emergency services.

Residents, especially in the Hintonburg community, have pointed out an increase in derelict, vacant residential properties in voicing their support for a new tax.

Staff will continue public consultations on the new tax before reporting back on the policy in 2022. The city could start collecting the residential vacancy tax in 2023.

<snip>

jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...al-vacancy-tax

[rocketphish]

Coun. Jan Harder should be removed as planning chair over conflict with developer, watchdog says
Integrity commissioner Robert Marleau found Harder breached two sections of the council code of conduct when it came to her relationship with development advisor The Stirling Group.

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jun 18, 2021 • 2 hours ago • 3 minute read

Coun. Jan Harder should be removed from chairing the planning committee and lose 15 days of pay for a relationship with a development consultant that has “tainted the city’s planning and development process,” the City of Ottawa’s integrity commissioner says.

In a report released Friday, integrity commissioner Robert Marleau found Harder breached two sections of the council code of conduct when it came to her relationship with development advisor The Stirling Group, headed by Jack Stirling, who’s the councillor’s long-time friend and mentor. The investigation also involved the employment of Stirling’s daughter, Alison Clarke, in Harder’s office.

Marleau found that the relationships gave rise to an apparent conflict of interest and that Harder, councillor for Barrhaven ward, didn’t disclose publicly that she received free services from The Stirling Group.

Harder, in a letter sent through her lawyer to the integrity commissioner, said she was “saddened by the fact that this investigation appears to be a politically motivated attack on me personally as chair of planning” and she disagreed with the findings.

The integrity investigation started on Oct. 7, 2020, based on an initial complaint made April 21, 2020.

The report released Friday gave a detailed account of the investigation.

Clarke worked for Harder between Aug. 14, 2017, and July 20, 2018, as a councillor’s assistant. She then worked as a contractor for The Stirling Group, providing services to Harder between Nov. 1, 2018, and Oct. 31, 2019, and also between March 1, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021. Each contract, which was for work that included notes on planning files, was for $36,000, the report said.

There was a third one-year contract with The Stirling Group dated March 18, 2021, and also worth $36,000, but the integrity investigation didn’t consider that contract since the investigation was coming to an end at that time, the report said.

In addition, the report said Harder received $12,000 worth of services from The Stirling Group at no charge in between contract periods.

Harder and Stirling have known each other since working for the former Nepean municipal government. He was the planning commissioner when she was councillor.

Stirling, who previously worked for Minto Group, also served on the council-appointed planning advisory committee between March 28, 2018, until he resigned on Jan. 27, 2021.

Harder couldn’t be reached on her cellphone for comment late Friday afternoon, but she responded to the integrity complaint during the investigation.

According to the report, Harder said she made sure Clarke had no input in her father’s development files and that “she simply didn’t see them.”

Harder also compared Clarke’s employment and contract work to how the city hired legal consultants and planning advisors.

“The City regularly contracts out work to the private sector to lawyers, planners and a host of other contractors. There are law firms and planners that regularly act against the City that also work for it,” said Harder’s explanation to the integrity commissioner.

Harder also said Clarke’s employment was completely transparent to the public. The councillor told the integrity commissioner she did nothing wrong and defended her record representing her constituents.

The integrity commissioner found no evidence of financial interest or potential financial gain on Harder’s part.

Stirling and Clarke accepted the integrity commissioner’s invitation to be interviewed for the investigation. The integrity commissioner made no findings on their conduct.

Harder was interviewed and had a lawyer present, but refused to testify under oath, the report said.

Harder is one of the longest-serving members of council, going back to the pre-amalgamation City of Nepean. She took over as chair of the planning committee in the 2014-2018 term after serving as as vice-chair. She retained the chair position for the current term after re-election in 2018.

It will be up to council to vote Wednesday on the recommended penalties against Harder.

The integrity commissioner also said Harder should be removed from the planning committee, the planning advisory committee and the Ottawa Community Lands Development Corporation board of directors for the rest of the term. The next municipal election is scheduled for October 2022.

In another recommendation, the integrity commissioner said council should direct the clerk “to seek reimbursement of any legal fees related to the investigation charged by Councillor Harder to her office budget.”

It’s the third time this term that the integrity commissioner has filed a report to council on conduct violations by elected members.

Coun. George Darouze was found to have bullied constituents, as described in a 2019 report.

In two reports in 2020, Coun. Rick Chiarelli was found to have exhibited lewd behaviour toward staff and job applicants, leading to a council-ordered salary suspension. He challenged the integrity investigation in court and is awaiting a decision from a three-judge panel.

jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...-watchdog-says

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

[B]Coun. Jan Harder should be removed as planning chair over conflict with developer, watchdog says
Integrity commissioner Robert Marleau found Harder breached two sections of the council code of conduct when it came to her relationship with development advisor The Stirling Group.


https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...-watchdog-says

This post and the previous posts have connections as Jack Stirling appeared on behalf of the warehouse owners at Planning Committee and frankly came across as quite arrogant and argumentative with some Councillors but Jan didn't seem to shut him down.

[J.OT13]

“saddened by the fact that this investigation appears to be a politically motivated attack on me personally as chair of planning”

I'm sorry, what? Is this everyone's new tag line now? Chiarelli used the same when investigated for his sexual deviancy. At least he's on the outs with the Watson Club. Harder has always been a close ally of the Mayor.

As with Tierney (3 strikes?) and Darouze (2 strikes), I expect no consequences other than maybe the small financial penalties. If she is kicked out of her Committees, no doubt the Mayor will do another cabinet shuffle of suburban Councillors.

[J.OT13]

Can't help but wonder what would have happened if Leiper was caught driving during a Zoom call. Or if McKenney had accidently, or "accidently" released the confidential memo. Or Menard had bribed a rival candidate. Or if Fleury hired the daughter of some developer (not that he accepts financial contributions from developers).

Consequences would likely be far more severe, even though none of them have power that can be striped from them.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Can't help but wonder what would have happened if Leiper was caught driving during a Zoom call. Or if McKenney had accidently, or "accidently" released the confidential memo. Or Menard had bribed a rival candidate. Or if Fleury hired the daughter of some developer (not that he accepts financial contributions from developers).

Consequences would likely be far more severe, even though none of them have power that can be striped from them.

Leiper would have got caught cycling and zooming at the same time

Agree that the consequences would have been much greater if any of Watson's not so favourites had got caught.

I'm sure there has been lots of communication yesterday between Jan Harder and some of the other parties in this.

Like her or not, this is going to be a serious stain on Jan Harder's history as a Councillor. She claimed she wasn't going to run again so she had less than 1 1/2 years left. I believe the author of the report is also retiring.

She does run Planning Committee with an iron fist for those she doesn't agree with. Those she agrees with (usually the applicants) she lets them talk or tries to minimize the opposition.

Classic late in the day on a friday news from the City.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

Leiper would have got caught cycling and zooming at the same time

[Truenorth00]

Does explain all the garbage that gets approved in this city. Makes sense when the Planning Committee chair is in the pocket of developers.

That report is scathing. She clearly doesn't get that public office is a trust, not a business.



Says a lot that there hasn't been any consequences or much of a public outcry.

[rocketphish]

For Mayor Watson, of things hard and Harder
Should council accept the commissioner’s findings — and they are severe — no doubt questions will be asked of the mayor.

Kelly Egan, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jun 21, 2021 • 10 hours ago • 3 minute read



Jim Watson has an explosive issue on his hands this week, an issue named Jan Harder.

On Friday, the 101-page report from the City of Ottawa’s Integrity Commissioner arrived at a devastating conclusion for Harder, the longtime councillor from Barrhaven.

Not only should she be removed as chair of the city’s planning committee, but she should be booted off the committee altogether, the commissioner recommends. And lose 15 days pay, and reimburse the city for any legal costs she charged to defend herself.

On the scale of things Robert Marleau could have done, he turned into Maximum Bob, essentially telling city council it should fire one of its key leaders.

I mean, wow.

Harder has had a leading role on this important committee for 11 years, the last seven as chair. As such, she is a key lieutenant on Watson’s team.

When the matter comes before council on Wednesday, he seems to have two choices, neither of which — for a man who likes things neat and tidy — are very neat and tidy.

If he tries to pardon his longtime ally, he’ll open a divisive debate about respecting the findings of a commissioner who has “integrity” in his title, as his primary duty. Why would the city maintain such an office if it just ignores his findings?

And Marleau’s office didn’t just give this matter a quick look. It hired an independent investigator, who interviewed the parties involved and had access to reams of documents.

Further, if Harder’s actions are simply forgiven, or glossed over as an inconsequential mistake, does this not signal that an apparent conflict of interest is no big deal at city hall?

We are already living in an era when lots of people, misguided or not, are already suspicious about the relationship between elected officials and the private development industry.

Should council accept the commissioner’s findings — and they are severe — no doubt questions will be asked of the mayor.

He put a trusted colleague in a key leadership position for seven years. Did he know the daughter of a well-known planning consultant was working for council’s planning boss? (Seems like everybody did.)

Did he ask any questions or see a red flag? If not, does it suggest he doesn’t take “apparent conflict of interest” seriously? That loyalty blinded him to how this looks to a fresh set of outside eyes?

The timing is also terrible.

The city is coming to the conclusion of a long process to come up with a new official plan. Many people don’t particularly like the current version.

And so, into the mix, we toss the idea that the chair of the planning committee doesn’t see any problem — even a potential problem — with coziness with a private-sector planner and his family?

It’s all very curious how this came about. The unidentified complainant says he read a story in a little-known publication called The Leveller in 2019. The self-described “left-leaning” periodical mentioned that it appeared that the daughter of a well-known planning figure in town, Jack Stirling, was working in Harder’s office.

Indeed, Alison (Stirling) Clarke had worked for Harder for a relatively short time, then returned to work with her father.

Jack Stirling is an old friend and mentor to Harder, back to their Nepean days. Harder had a chance meeting with Alison in the city hall cafeteria one day and mentioned there was an opening in her office for a planning aide.

She began working for the councillor in August 2017 for a term of about a year. For much of the period from 2018 to early 2021, Clarke did contract work for Harder’s office.

Harder’s defence is reasonable: everyone in this “triangular” relationship acted with integrity at all times, nobody gained a financial advantage, nobody tried to hide the relationships, and Stirling’s wise counsel to her, in fact, advanced the public good.

Essentially, she doesn’t see the problem the integrity commissioner is trying to fix and is suspicious about who is making this complaint, calling it a “politically motivated,” personal attack.

“In this sense, the anonymous complainant seeks to smear and besmirch an entire lifetime of community and political contribution with a general allegation that provides no specific sense of how the complainant might have been wronged,” she wrote in reply.

Well, Marleau took 100 pages to say what “wrong” is, but it’s pretty simple: it looks bad to hire your pal’s daughter, while heading a public process where, one day, the pal may seek your approval.

No need to make it any harder; now to His Worship to right the ship.

To contact Kelly Egan, please call 613-291-6265 or email kegan@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/kellyegancolumn

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...ard-and-harder

[rocketphish]

Colleagues react to councillor's 'coziness' with development firm
Mayor, several councillors won't comment until Wednesday's meeting

Kate Porter · CBC News
Posted: Jun 22, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

Some of Coun. Jan Harder's colleagues on Ottawa's city council agree she should lose her seat as chair of planning committee, which was one recommendation from an integrity report on her perceived conflict of interest with a development consultancy.

Integrity commissioner Robert Marleau recommended the veteran Barrhaven councillor be removed from the committee entirely after concluding she "tainted" the city's planning process by mismanaging her relationship with The Stirling Group.

"We hired an integrity commissioner to increase accountability for the politicians," noted Gloucester-South Nepean's Carol Anne Meehan. "There were perceptions that some of the relationships between city councillors and developers were too cozy. This has been given serious consideration by the integrity commissioner."

"I think we have to accept his recommendation," agreed Bay ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh who was "stunned" when she heard his findings, then spent the weekend reading his report.

Over 101 pages, Marleau described how Harder had recruited the daughter of development consultant Jack Stirling in 2017. When Alison Stirling, now Alison Clarke, left Harder's staff to work for her father's firm, Harder then put The Stirling Group on three sole-sourced contracts to continue providing briefing notes and planning advice. The third contract was signed at the end of March 2021 as the commissioner was wrapping up his investigation, and not part of his report.

Jack Stirling is registered as a lobbyist, and the company did bring files before Harder's committee for approval while on contract with her office.

Marleau found no proof that the relationship actually influenced Harder's decisions on files at committee or council, but said "it is all about perception" and Ottawa's rules say councillors must avoid even "apparent" conflicts of interest.

In Harder's comments attached to the report, she said serving as planning chair has been a highlight of her 24-year career in municipal government.

"I have always, and continue to demonstrate 100 per cent commitment to integrity in all my decision making," Harder wrote. She considers Stirling a longtime friend and mentor but wrote she doesn't make decisions based on one advisor.

Kavanagh says it wasn't enough for Harder to simply vouch that everyone behaved ethically.

"She missed the point ... that it's not how you do things. You can't have that coziness," said Kavanagh. "It's exactly what the public sees as the problem with councillors is that coziness with developers."

Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard ran in the 2018 election on a platform that included reining in what he sees as developer influence at city hall. He hopes the report on Harder will lead to an investigation of other issues, from what he calls a "revolving door" between city staff and the development industry to fundraisers for developer donations during elections.

Menard also fought the selections for committee positions at the outset of the council term, when Harder was made planning chair and urban councillors were mostly shut out from planning and finance seats.

"It was known then that there was a cozy relationship [Harder] had with industry executives," Menard said. "Now there's more spotlight on it and there's an official report from a commissioner within the city."

Mayor Jim Watson's office told CBC News when the report came out he would not comment until council meets Wednesday. Many councillors also refused to comment for this story, while others chose to take their time with a serious report or ask questions of the integrity commissioner at council.

Menard said council should approve Marleau's recommendations, but Meehan doesn't know what to expect from Wednesday's meeting or from Harder herself.

"She's a fighter. She does not see that she's done something wrong, and to me that's a big issue," said Meehan.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...port-1.6074394

[J.OT13]

I have a feeling their was a general meeting of the Watson Club to discuss next steps. The public, urban Councillors and the few suburban on the outs will have to wait and see how that turns out.

[Truenorth00]

I have zero hope the corrupt clique will even sacrifice the token toadie.

[m0nkyman]

Corruption isn't briefcases full of money changing hands. That's too obvious. It's the way that councillors become intertwined socially with developers. They go to the same charity events, dinners and golf tournaments. Even before they get elected, it's typical that the people who can raise the money to mount a challenge to a council seat have those social connections. And so, they don't *need* to be bribed, because they fundamentally believe that developers are good people trying to build their community. This hiring of a family member is part and parcel of that social intertwining. And you don't want to vote against your social circle.

it's why the appearance of corruption is such an important part of conflict of interest regulations and laws. It's so rare that the briefcase of money changes hands. It's the doors that get opened for your kid, because of who you know that matter more. It's being one of the 'in crowd' at the important social events of the year. The things that begin to matter when money isn't as important because you have enough to get by...

[Truenorth00]

A council caught between corrupt suburban politicians on one side and elitist NIMBYs on the other. Great for the community.....