OCDSB trustee cleared in possible code of conduct breach

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Good morning!

Let me first start off by introducing myself. My name is Charlie Senack and I have been a freelance journalist in Ottawa for almost seven years. It’s a true privilege to call this great city home and to keep residents informed.

I am editor of the Kitchissippi Times newspaper and have written extensively for the Barrhaven Independent and Manotick Messenger. You may have also heard me as a guest on CityNews Radio or recently in the Ottawa Citizen. I look forward to taking over the reins for Robert temporarily as he welcomes a new human into this world. If you’re interested in following me on X, you can do so here. 

• Ottawa OCDSB trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth was narrowly cleared of breaching code of conduct after a heated board meeting Monday. The board table seems more divided than ever as it gets ready to face many challenges its students are facing, including school bus shortages.

• Want to know how your municipal ward compares to others when it comes to property taxes? A new breakdown shows that Barrhaven West is paying the most for residential property taxes, whereas Somerset ward is paying the most as a whole.

— Charlie Senack [email protected]

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EDUCATION

Ottawa Trustee narrowly cleared of breaching code of conduct

What happened: A vote to find Ottawa Carleton District School Board trustee Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth guilty of breaching the board’s code of conduct, failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority by one vote.

• Kaplan-Myrth, who became known as an outspoken doctor at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, came under fire by her trustee colleagues after urging them to vote in favour of returned mask mandates.

What’s alleged: During a text discussion with trustee Donna Dickson, she initially told Kaplan-Myrth she’d be supporting her mask mandate motion, but later changed her mind after speaking with constituents.

This was not taken well by Kaplan-Myrth who “begged” Dickson to reconsider saying it was “angry people” who were fueling her decision, CTV reported. She also accused trustees Lynn Scott, Donna Blackburn, and Matthew Lee, of not caring if students got sick.

• Don't vote with white supremacists,” Kaplan-Myrth later said. Dickson replied, “Leave me alone.” Kaplan-Myrth then wrote back: “Don't talk to me about equity then.”

The report: The board brought in a third-party to investigate whether Kaplan-Myrth had violated the code. The report found she did break the rules, but recommended no sanctions be applied because Kaplan-Myrth “made sincere efforts to apologize and explain her actions after the Complainant’s concerns were fully brought to her attention.”

• Dickson had wanted a full public apology, CBC reported.

The meeting: During the roughly hour-long meeting, trustees expressed divide over if Kaplan-Myrth should be reprimanded for her comments. Some argued they were only weeks into their term and that new trustees were still learning the ropes. Others like Barrhaven trustee Donna Blackburn, who was named in the texts, said a well-known doctor should have known better.

• “For me, to have been personally attacked about my commitment to equity was disturbing, as an out lesbian, as a woman who proudly raised a Black daughter,” Blackburn said during the meeting.

Those comments were later interrupted by Kaplan-Myrth who yelled “you have been out to get me from day one.” The meeting was forced to go into recess for about 15 minutes.

The result: In the end seven trustees voted in favour of a breach, zero voted against, and four abstained. The vote failed with a two-thirds majority (eight votes) needed to pass.

Reaction: After the meeting Kaplan-Myrth was quick to share her reaction on Twitter saying: “I was not found guilty at OCDSB tonight. But it isn’t a victory. We live in a dangerous time. I have a Charter right to point out that we were bombarded by white supremacists, to express political opinion, and to lobby colleagues.”

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

💰 $27,000: The amount Ottawa residents are asking for in damages as they bring police to court over what they said are restrictive delegation rules. [CTV Ottawa]

🎇 37: The number of events that brought in $222.6 million in total tourism spending in 2019. {Ottawa Business Journal]

🏥 $120,000: Lumière Gala at Brookstreet Hotel raised these much-needed funds for Queensway Carleton Hospital. [Ottawa Business Journal]

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OUTSIDE DOWNTOWN

🏆 BGC Ottawa CEO Adam Joiner honoured with the Algonquin College Changing Lives Award. [Barrhaven Independent]

📱 Blackburn Hamlet was chosen for OC Transpo's bus-on-demand pilot project. [Ottawa Citizen]

CITY HALL

Does your ward pay the most property tax?

Have you ever wondered how your property tax bill compares to other parts of the city? A new breakdown reported by CBC can help you find out.

The top spot: Somerset Ward brought in over $198,000,000 for the city in 2023, with West Carleton March bringing in the least at a little over $41,000.

• Because the ward has such a big business district, much of the property taxes are paid by commercial entities, with nearly 60 per cent billed to businesses.

Elsewhere: For residential property taxes, Barrhaven West saw the highest number at $74.7 million, with Kitchissippi coming in a close second at $74.3 million. West Carleton March again saw the lowest property taxes at $34.6 million.

On the farm: And for farmland property taxes by ward, Osgoode saw the highest taxes billed at $922,755.

Next year’s tax hike proposals: Councillors have asked the city to keep tax proposals at 2.5 per cent for next year’s budget. While taken at guidance, it can still be changed before the budget is tabled this fall.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe campaigned on capping tax increases for two years, per CBC. While many councillors are on board, some worry more funds are needed to keep up with improving existing and new infrastructure.

• “Can we get these things that residents have a right to expect that their city is going to provide?" Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper asked at a recent finance and corporate services committee meeting. “We can choose as a council to bring in the taxes necessary in order to do that. We are not capped at 2.5 per cent.”

Want to better understand the budget? Insiders got a breakdown of what the plans are for 2024. Read the story here.

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

If you’ve been to Dow’s Lake in the last few years, you’ve probably seen this home. In fact, we featured it much earlier on, but it’s still on the market. If you’re looking for modern opulence, this is your home. Heated floors, heated driveway, heated walkway, it’s got it all. Plus a rooftop terrace with gorgeous views, and a kitchen to die for.

It doesn’t come cheap, as you’ll see at the listing.

House of The Week is a home selected by the Lookout team and is not a paid advertisement. All ads are labelled as such. If you’re a realtor who wishes to feature your home in our newsletter, please contact our sales team.

THE AGENDA

🚨 The City of Ottawa, Ottawa police, and Children’s Aid Society are investigating allegations of sexual abuse at the city-run Dr. Ernest Couture Child Care Centre. The accused employee was “immediately removed” and put on leave. [City of Ottawa]

🏫 University of Ottawa and Carleton University removed classroom details and schedules from its website to protect privacy and student safety, after a knife attack at the University of Waterloo. [CBC Ottawa]

🖼️ Orange Art Gallery fears it will have to close after landlord refused to renew its lease. [Kitchissippi Times]

🏠 Ottawa's built heritage committee voted to support a new plan for renewing Somerset House. The heritage building has stood vacant for years on Bank Street, as the owner and city sparred over development plans. [CTV]

💉 A new Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by Health Canada. It’s expected the vaccine, which targets a new variant, will begin arriving in the fall. [CTV]

🧇 Sharpfle Waffle reopens in Mechanicville after being forced to close in the spring. [Kitchissippi Times]

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• The over century-old Glengarry News will permanently stop publication later this week. [Ottawa Citizen]

• There’s still no date for when the Percy Street overpass will be replaced. [CTV]

• Grete Hale and Joseph Currier are being honoured with new plaques at Beechwood Cemetery. Currier founded the cemetery in 1873, and Hale saved it from developers in the 1990s. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Ottawa’s Elgin Street is looking rundown after a $36.3 million facelift. [Reddit]

• Ottawa’s year-round Christmas store is a great way to stay festive all year. [Reddit]

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CAPITAL EATS

What’s new in Ottawa's ice cream scene

Capital Eats is written by our food editor Ralf Joneikies.

If there's one thing that ice cream purveyors have in common this year, it's that prices went up.

My favourite, Montavani 1946 in the ByWard Market, went up two dollars for a medium cup landing at just under $10.

The excellent Cassis in Aylmer was sold to the Quebec chain Le Scoop, and prices rose by two dollars a cup while not giving me the same quality I enjoyed in the past.

There are however two new ice creams on the market and they're worth noting.