On November 3rd, the City released the draft of Budget 2022. This budget proposes some very important improvements to many core city services, while maintaining an eye on fiscal responsibility, and keeping our city affordable, by capping the overall tax increase at 3 per cent – worth an estimated $56.1 million. To put this into perspective, the average urban homeowner would see an increase of $119 per year.

 

This budget emphasizes the continued need for investment in our City’s infrastructure, including long overdue investments in our road renewal and resurfacing projects, with total spending on roads increasing from $130.2 million in 2021 to $203.2 million in 2022 – an increase of 56 per cent. Additionally, more than $11.5 million is now being earmarked for improving pedestrian and cycling pathway networks. This funding is incredibly important here in Innes Ward and the East End, where we are seeing an increased need for road resurfacing and repairs due to the age of our community. Excitingly, this includes the $2 million required to complete the resurfacing of Jeanne d’Arc Blvd; building on last summer’s work, completing the resurfacing south to Innes Road.

 

I am happy to share that the draft Budget 2022 also includes an additional $800,000 to support Energy Evolution, funding the program’s priority projects, such as the LED street light conversion and the greening/electrification of Ottawa’s vehicle fleet.  As well, a dedicated $1.6 million in funding to support our urban canopy and the annual planting of 125,000 trees across Ottawa.

 

Last year, here in Innes we also saw expanded snow removal and winter maintenance on our active transportation network. Working with the Roads team we mapped out new areas to expand clearing on our multi-use pathways, and in the face of a pandemic that saw us all trying to get outside and maintain social distancing, this was a much appreciated change that will see further support with Budget 2022. I know many residents have already reached out to me for areas that they would like to see added to the network for this winter, and I want to say thank you and to keep them coming. 

 

Budget 2022 will build on the years of prudent financial decisions, and healthy reserve funds that have left Ottawa well-insulated from the shocks experienced by other cities this past year. Many residents in our community continue to face financial hardship; and it’s more important than ever that Ottawa remains affordable to keep us on solid financial ground. There are many important aspects of this budget, including funding for affordable housing, community parks and recreation services, and improved winter snow clearing for roads, pathways, and sidewalks. While many residents have already provided their feedback to staff and myself at my previous budget consultation meetings, the budget has not been passed, and I would like to still hear from you again.

 

I will be hosting another consultation online on November 6, 2021. Please reach out to my office at Laura.Dudas@ottawa.ca, if you wish to attend.

Budget Highlights for Innes Ward

Infrastructure

Infrastructure upgrades many not always be the flashiest budget items, but these are the investments that greatly improve our daily lives, and ensure that City services are reliable and being delivered.

• $50,000 to design the Blair Road Bridge overpass, north of Innes Road
  • Includes dedicated cycling lanes and pedestrian infrastructure
• $2 million to resurface Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard between Innes Road and Champneuf Drive
  • After working with the Mayor’s office and finance staff, Budget 2022 includes advancing the funding for the full resurfacing of the southern portion of Jeanne d’Arc Blvd, moving up the project years ahead of schedule
• $265,000 to resurface Mer Bleue Road from Navan Road to south of Renaud Road
• $585,000 to renew culverts, including on Navan Road at the east end of the Blackburn Bypass, Renaud Road west of Navan Road and Renaud Road east of Anderson Road

Additionally there are many projects that have already started, or were recently completed in our community. These include some of the below major projects. 

• $125,000 to design the Green’s Creek Bridge culvert rehabilitation
• $8.4 million to upgrade the Delorme pumping station
•  $600,000 to protect watermains
•  $460,000 to repair watermain and replace culvert on Blair Road
•  $2.5 million to resurface roads, including on Innes Road between Highway 417 Bridge and the Blackburn Bypass, and on Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard between Boyer Road and Champneuf Drive

Some of the major environmental improvements that are coming soon, or being completed include:

• $1 million to reconstruct storm sewers at the Blackburn Bypass and Renaud Road
• $200,000 for emergency sewer repair on Des Épinettes Avenue
• Removed accumulated sediment at the Renaud stormwater management facility

Transportation

Building and maintaining a strong transportation network is an imperative job for the City. With over 6,700km of roadways, plus our numerous pathways, the maintenance of these networks is one of the most frequent issues raised with me by residents. As the City continues to close the “infrastructure gap” – the difference between what Ottawa spends and what it needs to spend annually to maintain infrastructure such as roads, in good repair. In addition to the funding increases I mentioned earlier, we are also seeing dedicated funding for specific local projects in Innes Ward.

• •  $50,000 for temporary traffic calming measures 
    • These include flex stakes, cyclo-delineators, speed boards, and roadway markings. These investments are also used by traffic staff to use the temporary measures to test out future permanent measures
  • Preliminary work on the installation of a pedestrian crossover at the roundabout at St. Joseph and Jeanne d’Arc boulevards
  • The installation of a pedestrian crossover on Carrière Street in front of l’École secondaire catholique Garneau / MIFO / Laurier Carrière Park
  • Moving forward with traffic calming measures on Forest Valley Drive
  • Conducting the Brian Coburn and Cumberland Transitway Environmental Assessment Study from Navan Road to Blair Station
  • Designing a new sidewalk on Carrière Street between Orléans Boulevard and Laurier Carrière Park

• Additional transportation projects that are being completed in Innes Ward include:

• • Improved intersection control at Innes Road and Lamarche Avenue
  • Added left turn signal protection at Bearbrook Road from St. Joseph Boulevard, eastbound and westbound
  • Improved intersection control at Mer Bleue Road and Décoeur Drive

Parks and Facilities

Park and facility upgrades, expansions, and life-cycle replacements are all part of keeping our city parks and recreation facilities modern, accessible and safe. I am always eager to hear from residents on what sorts of improvements they would like to see at the various parks around Innes Ward.

Building on some of the improvements over the past few years, below you can read about just some of the projects that are coming or have been completed over the past year. 

• $529,000 for the gym in a new building at the MIFO cultural centre
• $400,000 to build Spring Valley Trails community park
• $390,000 for a life-cycle replacement splash pad and supporting infrastructure at Chapel Hill Park
• $79,000 for a skate-changing structure at Barrington Park
• $1.2 million to contribute to the developer-led building of Trailsedge East Park
• $60,000 for a skate-changing structure at Bradley Estates
• $1.1 million to contribute to the developer-led building of Goldfinch Park (Spring Valley Trail)
• $80,000 towards the Ottawa Public Library project to repair the exterior insulated finish system at the Orléans Public Library Branch

As well, some of the new changes that have come to the Ward include:

• $285,000 for a splash pad and picnic table at Blackburn Park
• $4,000 for a bulletin board at Patrick Dugas Park
• $4.9 million to expand the Lois Kemp Arena
• $100,000 to replace the fire alarm system at the Orléans Public Library Branch

There is still time to provide your feedback on the draft Budget 2022.

Below is a list of dates for the committee meetings, where residents can sign-up to speak on items and express their views on the budget.