Council approves start of work on Renovictions By-law

Council today directed City staff to seek information on recent amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act and determine the scope for a renovation licence and relocation by-law for Ottawa, commonly referred to as a renovictions by-law and how that legislation will be enforced. Staff will undertake a by-law review and to report back to the Committee by Q2 2026. This work would consider the feasibility, legality and practicality, and could inform a new by-law that would seek to prevent illegal or bad faith evictions of tenants made under the pretext of renovations or repairs. Addressing renovictions ultimately rests with the Province, which provides Ontarians with tenant protection by prohibiting illegal evictions and setting conditions when a legal eviction is required. The Government of Ontario recently made legislative changes to strengthen those tenant protections.  Council approved the Pinecrest and Queensview Stations Secondary Plan, introducing policies to guide the area’s transformation from a light industrial area. Over the next 25 years, the plan aims to foster a high-density mixed-use hub that will attract new housing and employment opportunities, improve connectivity and add new and expanded parks near the two LRT stations.  The secondary plan area centres around Pinecrest and Queensview stations, extending from Dumaurier Avenue and Morrison Drive in the west to the Pinecrest Creek valley in the east. The plan includes developing a new 6,000-square-metre park, making Queensview Drive a complete street, developing a new recreation complex, improving connectivity to neighbourhoods and establishing height limits to improve the predictability of development. Council also today tabled its Mid-term Governance Review report. The report suggests changes to committee structures and mandates. Council will consider the report at its meeting on Wednesday, January 29. Changes proposed in the report include:

• Dissolving the Light Rail Sub-Committee and renaming the Transit Commission to the Transit Committee
• Bringing revised terms of reference for the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Finance and Corporate Services Committee back to Council for approval
• Reducing the frequency of standing committee meetings to six regular meetings per year, excepting the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, the Built Heritage Committee, and the Planning and Housing Committee which will generally continue with current schedules to meet statutory timelines
• Updating various matters related to advisory bodies, local boards and governance-related by-laws and policies

The Nominating Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 28, to consider changes to membership for standing committees and other bodies. The City also recognized Dr. Vera Etches for her contributions as Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health. For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram. Related topics

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