Council updated on efforts to speed up housing development in Ottawa

Council today received an update on the progress of the Housing Acceleration Plan.

Council approved the plan in October 2025, with 58 actions that overhaul the City’s approach to housing to clear the way to get more new homes built. The plan aligns the City with federal and provincial housing priorities, supporting the City’s eligibility for housing funding programs.

The plan reduces barriers to development by simplifying regulations and speeding up approvals, helping homes get built more quickly and affordably. The actions directly support the community housing sector as well, to deliver more affordable homes. The City has also increased flexibility around the collection of municipal fees and charges. By making the planning process more predictable and temporarily lowering some costs or deferring collection to improve cash flow, builders can start projects sooner and get more homes built faster.

Over the past six months, the City has made significant progress, completing 53 per cent of the actions in the plan. By the end of 2026, the City expects to complete 78 per cent of the actions, with the rest to be completed in 2027.

To track results, the report establishes a new measurement framework, which will inform the next progress update, anticipated in Q2 2027. The measurement framework will focus on three outcomes:

• Shorter housing approval timelines, measured by faster application reviews, fewer incomplete submissions, and legal agreements completed quickly
• More housing construction, with emphasis on urban and transit-oriented areas, measured by an increase in number of building permits issued
• More affordable housing available, measured by an increase in building permits for affordable and supportive housing

New strategy will help families experiencing homelessness access stable housing 

Council approved a new approach to help families experiencing homelessness move more quickly out of temporary shelter and into safe, stable housing. 

Pathways to Housing, Ottawa's Family Homelessness Strategy, focuses on helping families leave temporary shelter as quickly as possible and move into stable, long-term housing. The aim is to reduce the harm homelessness causes to children and caregivers, helping families heal, rebuild stability and thrive once they are safely housed.  

Today, families are the largest group experiencing homelessness in Ottawa, and demand continues to grow. More than 660 families were experiencing homelessness in Ottawa as of March 1, including more than 1,220 children. Families in shelter are staying an average of 11 months, with about 76 per cent living in overflow locations, such as hotels and motels, rather than in dedicated facilities. In 2025, the City spent $29.3 million on hotel and motel placements for families experiencing homelessness. The new strategy is a cost-effective approach that reduces reliance on hotels and motels, supporting families while also relieving pressure on City finances.

The strategy will reduce family homelessness by focusing on prevention, expanding access to transitional housing, improving coordination across systems and creating clearer pathways from homelessness to stable, long-term housing outcomes for children and their families. 

Council briefed on Road Safety Action Plan

Council received an update on the City’s Strategic Road Safety Action Plan and the impacts from the Province’s adoption of Bill 56.

The 2020-2024 action plan helped reduce fatal and major injury collisions in Ottawa by 20 per cent compared to the baseline rate recorded between 2013 and 2017. The City will continue monitoring to ensure the reduction is sustained and is not solely the result of pandemic-related traffic patterns.

The provincial Building a More Competitive Economy Act banned the use of automated speed enforcement (ASE), one of the City’s most effective tools for reducing dangerous speeding, especially near schools. Preliminary findings show that removing the City’s ASE cameras has reduced compliance with posted speed limits. High‑end speeding has increased at former ASE sites.

The ASE-funded component of the Adult School Crossing Guard and Temporary Traffic Calming programs will shift to citywide tax funding in 2027. The $1-million annual allocation to Ottawa Police Service will be addressed as part of the 2027 budget process. The City will seek recovery of eligible costs from the Province, including those related to provincially sanctioned road safety measures at former ASE sites. The Province has committed up to $23.8 million for these costs.

Due to the loss of ASE revenues this year, the 2026 Road Safety Action Plan program’s capital funding will be reduced to $7.5 million. Action plan funding will be evaluated again during the 2027 budget cycle.

Council helps grow the City’s rural economy

Council approved a new rural economic development plan to help rural businesses grow, create jobs and strengthen Ottawa’s rural economy.

The plan outlines actions to support rural businesses directly and to foster more collaboration between them. It includes a new rural business liaison who will provide dedicated, one-on-one support and help rural businesses navigate City and partner services. This role will ensure rural business perspectives are reflected in City decisions and help business owners feel heard.

Another focus is on growing rural tourism. The City will launch a campaign to promote rural Ottawa as a destination for film, tourism and special events. This campaign will seek to bring more visitors to rural communities, driving traffic to local businesses while strengthening Ottawa’s reputation as a welcoming, rural destination.

Staff will also explore ways to make rural employment areas more attractive to employers and to support expanded on-farm diversified uses – small-scale, secondary businesses run by farmers that can help strengthen the long-term viability of rural farms.

Council waives patio fees for 2026

Council waived patio fees for 2026 to help local businesses save money and boost our economy. This will support a lively patio season for residents and visitors, especially during Ottawa 200 celebrations. The City will refund any fees already paid this year.

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