The City of Ottawa is asking you to chip in to pay for public services

Ottawa City Hall (CTV News Ottawa)

UPDATE: The City of Ottawa says a refined strategy for the Contribution Program will be introduced in 2026. See more details here.

As residents looked up information on the 2026 draft budget on the City of Ottawa’s website on Wednesday, they noticed an information box for something called the City of Ottawa Contribution Program.

“Support City of Ottawa programs and services through a financial contribution,” it says, with a link directing people to an online payment form.

“This form provides a way for residents to make a financial contribution to the City of Ottawa. Contributions will be allocated by the City to support its programs and services,” the form says.

The program allows residents to make a personal contribution or a corporate contribution of anywhere between $5 and $25,000. Those who donate $20 or more are eligible for an official donation receipt for income tax purposes.

The program comes after Alta Vista Ward Coun. Marty Carr moved a motion, seconded by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, at the council meeting on Dec. 11, 2024. It directed staff to review the business case and the viability of an accessible online voluntary contribution program that allows residents, businesses, and other entities to provide contributions to City services and programs. It was carried unanimously.

Carr said at the time that other jurisdictions, such as the City of Toronto, have similar programs.

“I think it would be something very useful to do,” Carr said, when introducing the motion. “I think, in terms of a lot of things we discuss about voluntary social services levy and other initiatives, I think that there could be advantages to setting this up.”

College Ward Coun. Laine Johnson told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron on Wednesday that she is not a fan of the program.

“Personally, I’ve booked an appointment to talk about it next week because I’m a little uncomfortable with the idea that we could have donor-advised funds for the City of Ottawa to pick out our pet projects and invest in them. I think that’s what taxes are for,” she said. “If we’re not doing what we need to do on taxes, it feels kind of strange to be asking on the other side whether people can cough up more.”

Kitchissippi Ward Coun. Jeff Leiper told Ottawa Now he also disagrees with the program.

“Let’s properly fund city services through the revenue tools that the province has provided us, and we shouldn’t need to go begging to donors who are out there,” he said. “There are some programs that individuals may want to contribute to—putting a commemorative tree or bench somewhere—but it’s certainly unseemly to give residents the opportunity to pay for a road resurfacing that should be paid for through tax dollars.”

The 2026 draft budget includes a 3.75 per cent property tax increase for city services next year, along with higher user fees for transit, recreation, parking and water and garbage services, meaning property owners will pay an average of $237.30 more in property taxes next year.

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