Statement from Councillor Kelly May 30, 2026 Saturday was a wonderful day for the Corkery community as we celebrated the grand opening of the new, expanded Corkery Community Centre. This project certainly had its challenges, so this was not just a celebration of a new building and its amenities, but a celebration of our community and how it came together to get through a difficult process. The strength, dedication, and perseverance of the community were on full display throug

Good morning, everyone. Over the past few days, I have heard from numerous residents regarding the letter that was distributed in Constance Bay about a possible parking permit system for a large section of the village. I’d like to offer further context and comment, but first, I would like to stress that residents are 100 percent in the driver’s seat on this. If the people of Constance Bay do not want this to happen, it will not happen. Given the level of interest in this issu

May 27, 2026 Over the past couple of weeks, my office has fielded several calls about noise concerns from residents who live near the ongoing work at 2555-2565 Marchurst Road. This week, the contractor applied for an overnight noise exemption to allow two diesel generators to run all night in order to maintain food refrigeration on site. I have denied their request for Councillor concurrence as I do have serious concerns. I understand the proponent’s position that this appli

To help provide more context on how our Ward 5 road resurfacing projects are prioritized, here's a brief power point presentation from City staff. It outlines our road budget, how we prioritize scheduled projects, the inspection process, and the various projects that are planned in Ward 5. You can watch the video slide show directly below or download the standard power point version in the second link below.

Councillor Kelly and his team met earlier this month with members of the Infrastructure and Water Services Department (left to right, far side of table) GM Tammy Rose, Scott Laberge, and Douglas Rathwell to discuss road resurfacing priorities in Ward 5. Statement on Road Resurfacing in Ward 5 May 26, 2026 Over the past several years, I have consistently advocated for greater attention to road resurfacing priorities in Ward 5 and have shared many of the frustrations residents

The Environment and Climate Change Committee today approved a new pilot rebate stream under the City’s Rain Ready Ottawa program to help residents and multi-residential housing providers better manage rainwater and reduce flooding risks. The new stream would support low‑rise, multi‑unit buildings, including condominiums, co‑operatives, rental properties and non-profit affordable housing. It would help these property owners complete larger, shared projects that manage storm

The Planning and Housing Committee today approved changes to the Official Plan that will help reduce delays in new housing construction. The changes will allow the City to approve new subdivisions faster while still making sure water, sewer and stormwater systems are in place before people move in. Right now, an area must have water, sewer and stormwater systems fully in place before the City can approve a subdivision layout. This step, called draft approval, is needed befo

We’ve been sharing regular West Carleton Spring flooding updates here to keep residents informed on conditions, along with the City's response and information. On Thursday May 14, 2026, the City shifted from response activities to recovery operations. May 14, 2026. Conditions along the Ottawa River continue to improve overall, and water levels are gradually receding. While local rainfall this week may temporarily slow the current decline in river levels, current forecasts con

Today at Council, we carried the report from our last ARAC meeting which includes the new Economic Development Rural Plan. Importantly, this plan reflects input from the 2024 Ottawa Rural Summit, and also provides a refreshed, evidence-informed framework to support rural economic growth. It builds on previous initiatives and aligns with municipal, provincial, and federal priorities. I am very excited that the Rural Plan includes the City's first-ever dedicated rural economic

The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, of which Councillor Kelly is Vice-Chair, today approved a new rural economic development plan to help rural businesses grow, create jobs and strengthen Ottawa’s rural economy. The plan sets out actions to support rural businesses directly and to foster more collaboration between them. It includes a new rural business liaison who would provide dedicated, one-on-one support and help rural businesses navigate City and partner servic

According to the calendar, spring is here and your Parks Maintenance staff is on the job, regardless of the weather, getting our outdoor amenities ready for you to use this spring and summer seasons. There is much to do, and honestly, not a lot of time to do it. But we’ll get there! We always do. Winter cleanup   As it is every season, our first task is to clean up after winter. Outdoor rink boards, gates and safety nettings have been removed and safety precautions such as

If you are planning to visit City Hall or are just in the area, take a journey back in time and explore Ottawa’s farming history at the City of Ottawa Archives latest exhibit, Cultivating Community: Agriculture Rooted in Ottawa’s History – now open at the Barbara Ann Scott Gallery. The exhibit offers a dynamic and engaging experience for visitors of all ages. Interpretive panels, display cases with artifacts, and archival photographs will guide visitors through Ottawa’s agr

I am very proud of the two motions that I have been working on that were both carried at Council today. In 2022, the City of Ottawa took down their public-facing staff directory, citing cyber security concerns as the reason for doing so. I believe this approach was more forceful than necessary, ultimately leaving residents without a directory to consult, and feeling like their city is less navigable and open. My motion will re-establish a public-facing staff directory and org

Councillor Kelly's statement, following the April 16th Huntley Community Association AGM, held at the HCA Mess Hall. Last Thursday, I had the honour of helping welcome guests and board members to the Huntley Community Association ’s AGM. It never ceases to amaze me just how much they do for our community each year, from creating sports opportunities for youth and lining Carp Road with Canadian flags, to organizing parades, carnivals, and so many other community-building initi

April 10, 2026 Newly Renovated Corkery Community Centre Hosts First Event I had the pleasure of joining the Corkery Community Association for their AGM this week and left feeling very encouraged. It was the first event in the brand-new community centre, and not only was attendance fantastic, but two additional community members put their names forward to become directors. That’s a very successful AGM! I also heard some great conversations among residents and board members abo

Councillor Kelly's thoughts after another successful Carp Fair Men's Night, held April 2nd at the Agricultural Hall. As always, it was an honour to help welcome people to Carp Fair Men’s Night, and to connect with many members of the community. That includes the guest speaker, former Ottawa Senator and ward 5 resident Chris Neil, who shared some great stories about growing up in a small rural town and his journey to the NHL. Thank you to the Carp Fair team and volunteers for

April 2, 2026 The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee today approved renewing the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program for another five-year term. The program would continue to provide cost-share grants to farmers and rural landowners for projects that protect surface and groundwater quality. With an annual budget of $200,000, applicants are eligible for grants of up to $15,000 for 19 different types of projects. In the last five years, the program supported 271 projects w

Every year, the City of Ottawa (the City) hosts drop-off events to ensure that residents’ hazardous waste is safely collected, transported, and appropriately recycled or disposed of. This helps to protect the environment and decreases the risk of toxic materials ending up in the City’s collection vehicles and landfills. The events are planned and executed by trained and certified waste management professionals in accordance with applicable laws. Any collection, handling and t

Easter Weekend schedule changes The City of Ottawa would like to remind residents of the following schedule changes and City service impacts on Good Friday, April 3, and Easter Monday, April 6. Client Service Centres The City’s 3-1-1 Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters only. Please visit ottawa.ca/311 to submit a service request online. ServiceOttawa’s Client Services and Provincial Offences counters and phone lines will be closed. Counters are located at Ottaw

It's time to launch Season 2 of the City of Ottawa’s official podcast and we OttaTalk about the City’s Spring Freshet Taskforce. What’s a freshet? It’s the annual spring snowmelt and rainfall that flows into rivers and creeks, raising water levels and increasing flood risk. Listen now to find out how the City works to monitor, prepare, inform and respond during the spring freshet. Listen now: Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Today, we’ll talk with Jim Lethbridge, Area Mana