We have all heard about the seriousness of the Canada Day storms, which flooded many homes across the City of Ottawa. While I have heard from a small number of Ward 5 residents who were affected, it appears our community was spared the worst of it. Unfortunately, thousands of residents in other parts of the city are now facing the difficult task of cleaning up and rebuilding. Source: Sean Devine on Facebook Our community has seen more than its fair share of serious storms and

July 12, 2026 Here's an update of the City’s coordinated response and recovery efforts following the July 1 extreme weather event from Ryan Perrault, GM of Emergency and Protective Services for the City of Ottawa. To date: The City has received 5,671 reports of basement flooding. Solid Waste Services has removed more than 2,100 tonnes of storm-related debris from impacted communities. The City has provided temporary emergency accommodation to 100 residents from 59 household

A heat warning has been issued by Environment Canada for the City of Ottawa beginning July 13th and extending until at least July 15th. Here are some Beat the Heat reminders from Ottawa Public Health: Download the above images as a pdf document with active links here:

Residents who have submitted a service request for a flooded basement or storm-related waste can dispose of eligible materials at the Trail Waste Facility Landfill free of charge. To receive the fee waiver, residents must provide: · Their service request number (digital or printed copies are accepted) · Valid photo identification and proof of address. Residents who have already brought eligible storm-related materials to the Trail Waste Facility Landfill a

This week, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approved a one-year extension of the expanded all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trail network pilot in parts of West Carleton-March, Osgoode, and Rideau-Jock wards. In April 2025, Council approved expanding ATV routes onto more City-owned lands for a two-year pilot. The change added approximately 242 kilometres of new routes to the existing network. A formal agreement between the City and ATV clubs was finalized in November 2025.

In December of 2022, I initiated and championed the City of Ottawa's 2024 Rural Summit, our first in over 15 years. The goal was to improve services and investment in our rural communities. We held multiple Summit workshops to address rural concerns, culminating in a November 2024 summit with City leadership. On Tuesday, at the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meeting, we received an update on the work the City has been doing since the 2024 Rural Summit to support our

In the follow up to the ongoing issues and confusion around recycling pick up, I went on CFRA yesterday with Kristy Cameron to discuss the issue and the challenges it has posed to Ward 5 residents. Here's the link to the interview, which begins at the 19:13 mark: Councillor Kelly addressed the current recycling issue on CFRA radio Wednesday afternoon Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron In the interview, I highlighted the lack of information and communication provided by Circular M

At the June 11, 2026, City Council meeting, West Carleton-March Councillor Clarke Kelly discusses the City's Long Range Financial Plan (LRFP) with City staff, and looks for answers on what the LRFP will mean for the funding and long-term condition of our roads in rural Ottawa. Below, you can read the summary of his comments and questions, or watch the clip of discussion right here: Opening comments: Council is being asked to approve a funding strategy without being clearly to

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

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

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

With a new collection contract in place, the collection days have changed for a number of residents in Ward 5. All of Ward 5 is now set to be collected on Mondays . The recycling collection calendar will remain the same, with green bin and paper and cardboard one week, and garbage collection, recycling, and green bin pickup the next week. You may have already seen information about these changes over the past several weeks through my office's social media, website and newslet

Before planning your next landscaping project, property owners and landscaping contractors should understand the City’s by-laws and their rules. Landscaping Education Guide Whether you’re working with a contractor or tackling this project yourself, read through the City’s Landscaping Education Guide before you start. This guide is a comprehensive overview of the City’s requirements for driveways, hard and soft landscaping, drainage and grading plans, protecting trees, fences