CIP GRANT: Gutter Politics At Its Worst (1)

This is absolutely disgusting. What happened to democracy at Ottawa City Hall?

The problem here is not whether or not this community improvement plan of $1,257,737 over 10 years is justified. Who knows? Anyone want to wager a guess on who “Trim Works Developments
Limited, in respect to 1280 Trim Road” is as per a city report?

Good luck with that. Without a public policy debate, the parametres of the issue are beyond a reasonable conclusion. The fact of the matter is most people don’t even know this has happened. That was the purpose of staff. Tell people that this item is coming on Friday before Canada Day weekend and pump it through finance committee on Tuesday morning.

So what blood is on this measure? Why are the pols and staffers so intent on whipping this through city hall without a proper public discussion? What’s the purpose of that? Reasonable people have reason to be reasonably skeptical and concerned. This is a job for the city auditor general who is looking for suggestions for audits. We’ve already, in no uncertain terms, told the AG that her office’s reputation is hinging on her exploring the Trillium Line procurement. Now, and we’re just trying to be helpful here because the AG asked for suggestions, this grant to Trim Works (whatever that is) of more than a million bucks deserves some attention.

Another Big Tax Break For Developer: STANKOVIC

Previous CIP grants have received no end of debate and controversy. We speak of the Porsche dealership and airport hotel grants (or in the hotel case, almost grant) have received withering criticism from the public. So staff and the pols don’t want that again so they gave the public no opportunity to say whether this is a good idea or not. But given how city hall whisked this through on the news black hole of Canada Day, safe to say our betters on Laurier Avenue had something to hide. If not, open the deal to public scrutiny. Yoo hoo, auditor general, where are you?

So the summary of finance committee dealings on Tuesday neglects to mention the Trim Road $1-million grant. So our close personal friends at Happy Town News were in on the fix. Note the release below from their brand new fancy Dan news emailer:

The Finance and Corporate Services Committee today approved the action plan portion of the City’s application for the Housing Accelerator Fund. The City anticipates receiving more than $150 million from the $4-billion federal fund that aims to create more housing supply more quickly.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will determine funding based on the number of dwelling units it estimates would be issued permits before September 2026 as a direct result of initiatives in the action plan. In line with CMHC requirements, the action plan identifies nine initiatives to increase building permits issued by at least 10 per cent over three years. They include:

• Accelerating the disposal and preparation of City-owned lands for housing
• Implementing an affordable housing pipeline strategy
• Streamlining planning approvals
• Pursuing transit-oriented zoning amendments and inclusionary zoning
• Increasing zoning permissions to allow for multi-unit intensification
• Implementing an affordable housing community improvement plan
• Establishing an office-to-residential conversions pilot
• Preparing a new comprehensive zoning by-law and Digital Twin tool
• Developing an on-site storm water management tool

After funding awarded to the City is confirmed in July, staff will return to Council with a roadmap of next steps, including determining how the funding will be allocated. The Planning and Housing Committee will consider this matter on Wednesday, July 5.

The Committee also approved changes to the City’s advisory bodies. They include redefining advisory committees as statutory and policy-based advisory bodies that are either required under legislation or that have direct ties to legislation. The changes would establish four advisory committees:

• The Accessibility Advisory Committee, required under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
  
• The Community Safety and Well-being Advisory Committee, required under the Police Services Act
  
• The French Language Services Advisory Committee, required under the City’s Bilingualism Policy and tied to both the Bilingualism By-law and the City of Ottawa Act
  
• The Planning Advisory Committee, required under the Planning Act

The report also recommends the City create a Transit Working Group to provide advice to Transit Services on matters related to operating public transit. Working group members could raise matters for discussion, including those related to the transit customer experience, and would likely meet three or four times a year.

A World-Class Developer City But Little Else: READER

The Committee approved The Ottawa Hospital’s request to release a reversionary covenant at 1967 Riverside Drive. The hospital plans to develop a privately operated seniors retirement community on this site. The City had previously provided this land to the hospital, but maintained the covenant to protect the City’s future interest. In return for releasing this covenant, the City will be compensated in the amount of $12.9 million, which is based on the current market value of the land.

We pay money for this garbage? The real issue was the CIP $1-million grant. No mention above. Is this informing the public or straight, raw propaganda? Your agent opts for propaganda.

So let’s see what happened at finance committee? Oh lookie here … it’s in the minutes from the meeting.

So here’s the excuse. This had to be rushed through because the summer legislative break would slow down the developer. Good forbid city staff would let democracy get in the way of a developer’s plans.

And if city staff could only present this in time for Friday before Canada Day weekend, well they then did a pretty lousy job didn’t they? Of course if you believe staff excuse, I’ve got a piece of the Hurdman Bridge I can sell you cheap. One time only. Don’t wait. It’s going fast.

BULLDOG EXCLUSIVE: Our New Night Mayor (Nightmare)

So here are our alternatives on this legislative fiasco.

One … planning staff did a really lousy job or;

Two … city staff and politicians were trying to con you (2a. Happy Town News was in on the scam).

This is the kind of thing that happened when ex- (and thankfully ex) mayor Jim Watson was mayor.

Appears we just changed horses in the last election but not the riders. The King James Legacy epoch continues with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

This is odious politics at its worst. Anybody smell a skunk?

Ken Gray

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