General Meeting – February 16 2026 – Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital

Members present: Paul Johanis (chair), Nicole DesRoches, Jason Kania, J.P. Unger, Iola Price, Erwin Dreessen

1. Adoption of the agenda

The agenda was adopted, Moved by J.P., seconded by Nicole.

2. Administrative items

a. Minutes of January 19, 2026 (for approval)

Moved by Jason, seconded by Erwin. Approved.

b. Association reports

City public engagement: Enlist support of partner organizations to urge City to re-instate the listing of agenda items in the round-up of City meetings they publish on a weekly basis.

c. Invitations

Saint Paul University Eco-fair, March 11: Chair to attend

Councillor Brockington’s Earth Day, April 18; the GA will attend, attendees tbd

Mayor’s Roundtable on the Environment, March 9: This is the first time the GA is invited to sit at this table, along with Ecology Ottawa, CAFES and the Ottawa Riverkeeper. The Chair will attend.

Official Plan 2026
The Chair delegated to the Joint Meeting of Housing and Planning and ARAC on February 18. While not contesting the population projections, he cast doubt on the validity of the assumptions underlying their conversion to household counts and dwelling types. His delegation, and a similar one by the Federation of Citizens’ Associations, seemed to resonate with several committee members and led to a motion co-sponsored by Councillors Gower and Kitts being passed to submit the household and dwelling projections to further tests and alternative scenarios during the next phase of the process, including a no-expansion scenario. The Committee report was heard at full Council at its meeting of February 25, including the Gower-Kitts motion, where it was carried by a large majority.
Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Review
While supporting the overall objective of the ZBL review, which was to facilitate a denser, more compact built form in the urban area, the GA opposed the proposed rezoning for two greenspace parcels owned by the NCC to Development Reserve. The motion by Councillors Brockington and Johnson to retain the current zoning for these parcels was endorsed by full Council on January 28. This is a win for the community and keeps alive the current alignment of the Poets’ Pathway.
Development Charge By-Law
The Planning and Housing Committee approved amending the Development Charges (DC) By-law and updating the 2026 Development Charges Background Study. These changes are meant to align development charges with the funding required for the infrastructure projects outlined in the 2025 Transportation Master Plan. As a result, development charge rates for residential development would decrease by an average of one per cent inside the Greenbelt and two per cent outside the Greenbelt, for a city-wide average decrease of one percent.

Threats and Opportunities

RURAL
Goulbourn Wetlands
This expansion was made possible by the de-complexing of a section previously designated Provincially Significant in the Goulbourn wetlands, an unfortunate result of Bill 23.
Chalk River
Recent reports indicate that radioactive waste, including high level waste like spent fuel, is being transported and stored at Chalk River, an activity above and beyond the scope of the Near Surface Disposal Facility, which has already been the focus of much controversy. It was agreed that the lack of public awareness and concern among Ottawa residents over this issue is worrisome and problematic.

Action: JP to seek ways to improve public awareness.
MAJOR URBAN
Federal Greenspace Conservation and Protection
City/NCC Framework agreement

Following the controversy regarding the re-zoning proposed by the NCC of two greenspace parcels to Development Reserve, eventually turned down by Council, the City and the NCC have agreed to establish a framework agreement for the future consideration of development proposals on NCC land. A motion backed by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe was introduced by Councillor Glen Gower to accelerate housing development on other NCC lands, highlighting an ongoing tension between protecting specific greenspaces and the city’s overall goal of increasing housing supply. An amendment from Councillor Riley Brockington calling for clear criteria for the selection of suitable lands and public engagement in the process was approved by full Council on February 11. A direction to staff was given to provide a report on the subject by March 25.
Ottawa Greenbelt
The Chair and members of the GA attended this half day long forum organized by CPAWS on the future of the Greenbelt. While well organized and featuring many excellent speakers, the event failed to focus on any specific, imminent threats to the Greenbelt and so no clear strategy emerged going forward. Nevertheless, it provided much food for thought and an opportunity to meet with NCC staff regarding the review of the Greenbelt Master Plan currently being initiated.

Post-meeting note: We have since learned that the GA will be invited to sit on the Public Advisory Group for the duration of the review.
Petrie Island Development Application
J.P. reported on the current status of this development application. Despite it being very controversial and opposed by local residents and many environmental groups, there seems to be little anyone can do to derail this plan other than to raise the alarm.
NCC Sussex Drive development
JP also reported on this proposed development and expressed the view that this is part of the bigger problem of the NCC becoming more of a developer, cannibalizing assets it is supposed to protect due to the federal government underfunding. It was discussed that the GA should publicize its opposition through different means and explore working with other groups to try to change the course the NCC seems set on.

Current Issues