Special Joint Arac & Planning Committee

The Strategic Road Safety Action Plan was approved at Transportation Committee.

I was very happy to see for the first time ever, that a Safer Rural Roads plan is included.

The Road Safety Action Plan includes the following actions to be implemented to make rural roads safer.

• Safety Edges will be added on roadways where technically feasible
• Functional designs will be developed for 12 “skewed” rural intersections (i.e. Gordon Murdock & Dalmeny)
• Rural stop locations along one corridor per year will be equipped with oversized stop signs; stop ahead signs, and flashing LED beacons as required
• An improved process for identifying road shoulder maintenance priorities will be introduced
• A broad range of enforcement measures delivered by Ottawa Police Service will continue

The plan also includes implementation of measures to address high-risk drivers, reduction of collisions at intersections, as well as measures to make roads safer for vulnerable users.

For more information on the Ottawa Safer Roads Action Plan, please visit the city website here: https://ottawa.ca/en/parking-roads-and-travel/road-safety/safer-roads-ottawa-program

The Brand New Official Plan

With amalgamation, we were promised thriving and prosperous villages in the rural area, but with so many restrictions, we were limited and could not see the growth we expected and looked forward to. It has become clear to the city that one size does not fit all, especially with the urban, suburban and rural areas across Ottawa.

Over the past 5 years I have been listening to your feedback and working with staff daily to fulfill these needs. This has been my commitment and drive, to open the doors of opportunity for our villages and general rural area to expand forward into the future, while retaining the beauty and uniqueness that our ward has to offer. I am very thankful for the input and consistent commitment and feedback contributed by Osgoode Ward Business Association (OWBA), Osgoode Ward Advisory Committee (OWAC), Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and other stakeholders. Endless hours were spent in public consultations and in round table discussions to get us to where we are today.

I am proud to announce the brand New Official Plan, that finally delivers new opportunities in livelihood and business ventures, previously restricted or not allowed.

To read all the details and what the plan encompasses for Ward 20, please follow this link to my website. https://www.georgedarouze.ca/blog/brand-new-official-plan

Council Approves 2020 Budget

Ottawa passed a major population milestone in 2019 – reaching the one-million mark. Our residents live in dozens of communities that spread across a large geographic area. Ottawa has more than 1,000 working farms within its borders – and is the largest rural municipality of Canada’s big cities.

But as our city continues to grow, so too does the challenge of keeping Ottawa affordable for those who live and work here. The way we connect communities and keep residents moving plays a big part of this year’s budget, with significant investments in transportation infrastructure: roads, bridges, culverts and active transportation projects like cycling lanes and sidewalks. This includes the on schedule completion of the resurfacing of River rd and Snake Island dr, as well as the much needed resurfacing of Dalmeny rd between River and Gordon Murdock.

The draft 2020 Budget includes a $7.5-million investment in transit, with major bus service enhancements. The City will also spend $817 million in 2020 on Stage 2, to extend our newly opened light-rail transit system even farther east, west and south.

The City is also devoting more funds to repaving and road safety projects to keep our city moving. Investing in both transit and transportation together does far more than simply ease traffic congestion. It connects us with one another and with the businesses and services we use each day, helping create jobs and foster a stronger economy and a higher quality of life for all. With 75 per cent of the capital budget dedicated to infrastructure spending, this budget continues our commitment to maintain and upgrade roads, parks and water infrastructure, enhancing the mobility of residents and decreasing our flood risk.

The draft 2020 Budget finds balance by limiting the burden on taxpayers while maintaining the standard of service residents have come to rely on from their City. Homeowners will see that property tax increases have been capped at three per cent.

But it’s important to remember that affordable doesn’t mean the same thing to all residents. This year’s budget also builds on considerable past investments for Ottawa’s residents who are most in need, for instance with $15 million in new funds for affordable housing. Added support for community agencies is also included, along with continued support for long-term care and our Older Adult Plan. Communities are stronger when everyone has a safe place to call home and share in a good quality of life.

The City continues to rely on prudent financial planning at a time of financial uncertainty from upper levels of government and volitivity in global markets. We have worked hard to ensure that the draft 2020 Budget is respectful of each dollar contributed by taxpayers, reinvesting those revenues back into our shared infrastructure and the countless services we provide to residents.

We remain committed to building a strong and vibrant Ottawa for the future.

For more city-wide Budget information, please visit the city website here https://ottawa.ca/en/news/council-approves-budget-2020-increasing-support-housing-transit-and-road-safety

For Osgoode Ward 20 highlights, please visit my website here: https://www.georgedarouze.ca/Budget2020