Ontario Premier Doug Ford introduced thousands and thousands of {dollars} in funding for Ottawa throughout a go to to the capital on Tuesday, however it was not the transit funding the mayor has been looking for from senior ranges of presidency.
As an alternative, the money will go towards police and different public security initiatives and to help asylum seekers and homeless residents. Whereas the federal government mentioned it was new funding, it’s a part of the beforehand introduced “New Deal for Ottawa” between the provincial and municipal authorities.
Ford was in Ottawa Tuesday to ship remarks to the Financial Membership of Canada, which included a “fireplace chat” with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.
Ottawa’s transit system is going through vital monetary pressures, together with a $25 million deficit in 2024 and a projected $120 million deficit in 2025. Sutcliffe has requested higher ranges of presidency for assist protecting the deficits, however Tuesday’s provincial announcement was targeted particularly on “public security” and didn’t point out OC Transpo operations.
In response to a information launch, the $48 million introduced Tuesday will likely be delivered over three years and is supposed for seven initiatives, together with rising the variety of uniformed particular constables on OC Transpo and different initiatives to bolster public security within the downtown core, resembling outreach and different psychological well being helps. The funding would additionally help the Ottawa Police Service hub within the Rideau Centre.
“The brand new funding I introduced right this moment, and our ongoing collaboration with Ottawa are a transparent demonstration of our authorities’s dedication to Ottawa’s success,” Ford mentioned. “We additionally want the federal authorities to step up as an lively associate contributing to the success of our nation’s capital.”
The Metropolis of Ottawa says the next initiatives will profit from the $48 million introduced by the premier.
Transit Safety: Enhancing security measures throughout public transit programs to guard commuters and scale back transit-related crimes.
Downtown Security Outreach Partnership: Collaborating with native companies and neighborhood organizations to create a safer downtown surroundings.
Various Psychological Well being Helps: Offering specialised and non-police psychological well being disaster intervention companies to help susceptible populations.
An Various Staffing Technique Encompassing Particular Constables: Implementing a brand new staffing mannequin to incorporate particular constables for extra versatile and environment friendly useful resource allocation.
A Mounted Patrol Unit: Introducing Mounted Patrols to enhance police visibility and neighborhood engagement in high-density areas.
Market Protected: A devoted initiative to handle the precise security considerations of the ByWard Market, specializing in lowering crime and enhancing public confidence.
CORE (Neighborhood-Oriented Response and Engagement): A complete strategy to neighborhood policing that emphasizes proactive engagement and problem-solving methods.
With out further funding for operations, Sutcliffe has mentioned choices to cowl OC Transpo’s deficit embody vital will increase to the transit levy and/or transit fares in addition to potential service cuts. Town’s draft funds is to be tabled Nov. 13.
“I imagine that the provincial and federal governments will do the appropriate factor. However I do not depend on something till it is a executed deal,” Sutcliffe mentioned. “We’ll discover options for 2025 it doesn’t matter what. However we’ll proceed to work on this equity marketing campaign for a lot of, many months to come back, perhaps even years to come back, as a result of we’d like sustainable funding for transit going ahead.”
The province has additionally pledged $40 million over the following yr to help emergency shelter operations, as the town faces an inflow of asylum seekers. Town is exploring the opportunity of constructing so-called “sprung constructions” to deal with asylum seekers, however residents have opposed constructing them of their neighbourhoods.
“We will preserve supporting individuals. Regardless of if it is refugees or asylum seekers, they’re coming right here for a greater life,” Ford mentioned, saying he speaks often with refugees and asylum seekers in his driving. “The issue is that they’re ready for a working allow – they need to work; all these individuals need to work – however they’re ready 18 months to 2 years to get a working allow. These individuals need to work. Give them a working allow.”
Town says the $40 million is a part of a three-year, $120-million deal that started in 2023.
“The funding acquired in 2023 was a reimbursement for working funds already spent by the Metropolis. The 2024 funding will likely be utilized in the identical method,” Metropolis Supervisor Wendy Stephanson mentioned in a memo.
The initiatives embody:
Provision of emergency shelter beds (together with motels/motels)
Crucial fundamental wants for people who find themselves experiencing or susceptible to homelessness
Companies supplied inside emergency shelters/by shelter staff
Different emergency shelter and homelessness helps
Administrative helps
“The Metropolis is happy with the progress made up to now on the Ontario-Ottawa Settlement as we work collectively to gas the town’s revitalization and financial restoration,” Stephanson wrote/
The “New Deal for Ottawa” that was introduced earlier this yr consists of $543 million in provincial cash for Ottawa for quite a few gadgets, together with a three-phased evaluation of potential provincial possession of Freeway 174, a brand new interchange at Freeway 416 and Barnsdale Highway and to restore and improve main connecting routes and rural roads.
A number of residents and neighborhood organizations have been seen demonstrating outdoors the Chateau Laurier lodge Tuesday, protesting a proposal from the Ford authorities requiring municipalities obtain provincial approval earlier than constructing new bike lanes.
“I am right here to recommend that Doug Ford has no enterprise interfering with cities bike lanes. That may be as much as municipal politicians and if the individuals of these cities do not prefer it, they will vote these politicians out. Nevertheless it’s not Doug Ford’s enterprise to be destroying our bike lanes or bike infrastructure,” mentioned bicycle owner Hans Posthuma.
Susan Hickman, one other bicycle owner, additionally criticized the premier.
“His apparent car-brain pondering that he is going to have the ability to transfer site visitors faster by eliminating bike lanes. The neighborhood actually wants to face up and communicate out and are available to protection of our secure biking infrastructure. We actually want it. Our transit is horrible and a motorcycle is a good possibility,” she mentioned. “I believe the neighborhood actually, actually wants to know what Ford is taking a look at and what it means for secure biking in Ottawa.”
Ford and Sutcliffe didn’t focus on bike lanes throughout their “fireplace chat.”
13 Ottawa metropolis councillors have signed an open letter opposing the laws.
–With recordsdata from Ontario Chronicle Ottawa’s Katie Griffin
