Ottawa looks to ‘turn the page’ on relationship with NCC to advance housing projects

The sign outside City Hall in Ottawa (CTV News Ottawa)

A City of Ottawa committee approved a plan to work with the National Capital Commission on ways to “advance and expedite” housing projects on federal lands, but not before some councillors complained about the city’s relationship with the NCC.

The planning and housing committee approved a motion from Coun. Glen Gower for the city to work with the NCC on a “framework agreement” to advance projects on federal land and act as partners to “maximize co-benefits” to address the need for affordable hosing.

“The NCC has had a reputation of being a fourth level of government in our city, sometimes. We have not, as a city necessarily, worked co-operatively. There’s a lot of political baggage between the city and the NCC,” Gower said.

“I’m moving this motion on behalf of Mayor (Mark Sutcliffe), because he wants to turn the page on that. When it comes to housing, it would be ridiculous if we keep acting in an adversarial mode with the NCC at the staff level, at the political level.”

Coun. Tim Tierney told the committee that when he hears the words National Capital Commission, his “antenna goes up.”

“They’re involved in everything; they feel like they want to be involved in everything, but they don’t want to work with us,” Tierney said.

“I don’t know who had the rose-coloured glasses on who wrote this; it’s ridiculous. I feel like we’re being bamboozled.”

Tierney said councillors are being contacted by the NCC on files, and he wants to make sure the city is working to ensure it’s getting “the best bang for the buck.”

“I appreciate our relationship with the NCC has not been an easy one,” said Marcia Wallace, Ottawa’s general manager of planning, development and building services.

“I think that as leaders in the corporation, we understand that they hold strategic locations of land that is important to the fabric of the city and we are working hard to improve that relationship, but not with rose-coloured glasses but eyes wide open.”

Wallace notes discussions on the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats involved general managers and directors of several departments at Ottawa City Hall.

“We are being very cautious, but we also recognize that it is much more productive if the city can develop a more partnership-type relationship with the NCC,” Wallace said. “We are treading carefully.”

While the motion calls the NCC a “trusted partner”, Coun. Riley Brockington said the public would disagree after the NCC asked zoning for two parcels of land be altered to “development reserve” during the recent zoning bylaw review.

Coun. Laine Johnson asked staff how this motion would protect the city’s interest in the development of NCC land.

“There is a clause in this motion that speaks to transparency in a public process,” said Wallace.

“What I see different here in this motion is a very specific deal that is identifying the exact parcels for the exact outcome that we would be looking for. So, how many units for, how much affordable housing, how would we be protecting woodlots or natural public spaces.”

Gower told councillors the city needs to avoid an “extra layer of consultation” that’s going to add another six months to move projects forward.

The motion notes the city has entered into a partnership with Build Canada Homes about other federally owned lands, and Ottawa’s Housing Action Plan specifically seeks to “unlock public land for public good by building more housing.”

The motion recommends the city work with the NCC on a framework agreement to:

• Help advance and expedite projects on specific parcels of land as proposed by the NCC
• Establish a common approach to create a structure for “value sharing, respects Ottawa’s natural heritage and environment, and ensures robust community engagement on projects”
• Creates a process that will be transparent to the public and involve public consultation within an expediated timeline

Gower said the motion would apply to the project at LeBreton Flats.

Tierney recommended a task force of committee chairs be invited to work with city staff on NCC proposals.

Council will vote on the motion at its next meeting.

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