Provincial housing funding at risk for Ottawa

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Good morning!

According to the weather, it’s gonna be hot out there for the next few days. Make sure to drink lots of water and wear sunscreen (scroll down for the actual temperatures).

Today, we’ve got two big stories — some worrying numbers on housing starts and an update on the city’s budget.

Let’s dive in!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign up for free.

WEATHER

Wednesday: 29 🌡️ 14 | 🌤️

Thursday: 29 🌡️14 | 🌤️

Friday: 27 🌡️ 14 | 🌤️

PROVINCIAL POLITICS

Provincial housing funding at risk for Ottawa

I’m no math expert, but if something is only 22 per cent completed and 66 per cent of time has passed, that usually means you’re behind, right? Well, that’s certainly the situation the city is facing right now.

Background: To reach a provincial goal of 1.5 million new homes by 2031, the province set home-building targets for large municipalities across the province, along with an incentive of $1.2 billion in funding through the (entirely uncreative name) Building Faster Fund. The money would be doled out to cities for hitting 80 per cent of annual targets, with more given if targets were exceeded. 

• The measurement used are housing starts, which track homes beginning to be built. 

In Ottawa: Unfortunately, Ottawa is nowhere near hitting its target. So far, 6,134 homes have been issued permits, and 5,441 have been approved, with only 4,029 having started construction, according to CTV. That represents 22 per cent of the goal. Last year, 10,313 new housing units were started. 

• It’s a little better federally, with 49.1 per cent of the goal met. The federal government’s goal is 12,500 new dwelling units issued permits in Ottawa, 6,134 permits issued. The city could gain around $176 million from the Housing Accelerator Fund.

Good news: Earlier this month the province announced the city would receive $37.5 million from the Building Faster Fund after it met the 80 per cent target, according to CTV. The biggest part of the money will go towards 158 affordable housing units worth $16 million located at 1770 Heatherington Rd, with the rest split amongst different projects. 

Dig deeper: Housing funds are having a big impact on the development process, with none larger than the $4 billion from the federal government. Here’s a deep dive into how this money is changing things for all levels of government, according to the Financial Post.

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OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

👮 38%: The percentage of online crime reports that were about shoplifting in Ottawa in 2024 Q2, according to the Ottawa Police Services Board. This is up 19 per cent compared to Q2 in 2023. [CTV]

📉 2%: Canada’s inflation rate in August, which was the lowest increase since February 2021. [CTV]

❌ $3.3 million: The amount that Ottawa Public Health needs to maintain current service levels, stemming from what they say is “historical underfunding.” Yet, they say they still plan to present a balanced budget through other funding mechanisms. [CTV]

CITY HALL

City budget inches forward

Budget season, it’s like Christmas for journalists. Well, maybe not quite that — there’s no presents under the tree — but at the very least, it’s an interesting time as the city gets closer and closer to finalizing its budget.

What happened: The finance and corporate services committee approved a budget direction, according to the Ottawa Citizen, which includes a maximum of a 2.9 per cent municipal tax increase on a range of services, including libraries, public health and the Ottawa Police Services. 

The cost: These are averages, but according to CityNews, for home owners it could mean an increase of $173 for a $500,000 home, a $260 increase for a $750,000 home or a $346 increase for a $1 million home. 

Where it hurts: Much of this has been reported on earlier, including up to a 37 percent increase in transit levies, up to a 75 per cent increase in transit fares, fare discounts ending, and deferring Capital investments. Those numbers represent a ceiling, not the expected increase

• Still hoping: The budget still includes the potential for funding from other levels of government, to the tune of $120 million, which seems less and less likely. 

What it all means: After weeks and months of positioning, arguing and cajoling, the city has little to show from its concentrated communications effort to convince other levels of government to contribute to its budget. Rather than generate the city more revenue, the exercise purely seemed designed to shift the perception of blame from the city to other levels of government. 

• Was the mayor’s communication exercise successful? It remains to be seen who will wear the blame for higher taxes, or whether residents will eveb care. 

It really gets worse: Yes, really. Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office released a study that shows Ottawa will be the region impacted the most by declining transit per-resident transit subsidies, according to the Ottawa Citizen. Lower gas revenue and the end of the “Safe Restart” COVID funding, with a decline from $59.61 to $31.91. Meanwhile, Toronto’s will rise to $196.49, mostly due to subsidies given to Metrolinx.

MUSIC LISTINGS

Samantha Christ Francois, Thursday 8 pm: Captivating vocalist from Haiti performs songs from around the world, highlighting her range and soulful voice.  At Red Bird, 1165 Bank St. Tickets $22.

Switchfoot, Friday 7 pm: Grammy award-winners showcase their emotionally uplifting brand of alternative rock. At the Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Ave. Tickets $65. 

The New Hires, Friday 7 pm: Dynamic indie rock band bring their catchy hooks as they release their new EP.  At the 27 Club, 27 York St. Tickets $20. 

OneHood Music Festival, Saturday 6 pm: Hip hop festival with all proceeds going to CHEO’s urgent needs Department. At Cafe Dekcuf, 221 Rideau Street. Tickets $25. 

Diaphane, Saturday 8 pm: Gut-wrenching folk duo from Winnipeg featuring pristine vocal control laid over fluid acoustic guitar picking. At Art House Cafe, 555 Somerset St W. Tickets $17.

Listings are provided by OttawaGigs.ca, the best place to discover live music in Ottawa. Check out Ottawagigs.ca for full listings across the city.

THE AGENDA

🏟️ We’re still on Stadium Watch (name pending) here at the Lookout. But the Senators and the NCC appear to be making progress on finalizing an agreement to build a stadium at LeBreton Flats. The deadline is Friday for both sides to come to an agreement. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏒 Speaking of hockey, the Senators announced their 56-person lineup for training camp. The full list can be found here. [Ottawa Senators] 

💉 If your child has out-of-date immunization records, Ottawa Public Health will be issuing suspension notices to children between 7 to 17 years of age. It will include information on how to get updated shots and when suspensions will occur if it’s not completed. [CTV]

🔥 A commercial fire is being investigated near the 400 block of Hazeldon Road that occurred on Tuesday morning. It cost millions of dollars in damages and displaced many businesses. [CityNews]

👮 A 17-year-old teenager was killed Sunday evening in a shooting in Centretown in the area of Percy and Nepean streets. He played for the Kanata Knights Football. A second person was injured. No charges have been laid but a person is being investigated for firearm offences and potential involvement in the shooting. [CTV]

REVIEWS

A sampling of breakfast in Ottawa

Our restaurant critic Ralf has been hard at work lately visiting breakfast spots around town. Not a fan of breakfast, he’s worked hard to find a few places to recommend, even for those who may normally skip going out for brunch. From classics to even a halfway decent chain, here’s Ralf’s latest breakfast restaurant reviews.

Chesterfields Gastro Diner is a generational family favourite

Chesterfields Gastro Diner recently moved locations and I happened to arrive for a meal on opening day.

Around me, locals and regulars were seated recollecting how this place was a “family favourite” for a generation when it was still Won Ton House. Over on one wall, you can still take in the aerial photo mural of Hong Kong at night.

The menu is fairly tight and that’s to be appreciated for a breakfast/brunch spot. Each meal is served with either one or two sides, but you can always add more for a small upcharge.

(Members only) Alymer’s Antonyme shines

I’ve rarely had a good brunch experience. That’s often because the food is repetitive, badly made and seldom inspired. Besides, do people really like mimosas? It always feels like you’re obliged to have one.

The poached eggs are another matter. Rarely have I had them cooked to order and they often come served in a pool of their own hot water. This is often because, as the late Anthony Bourdain has written, kitchen second stringers are allowed to cut their culinary teeth during this service. Or as I’ve often viewed them: cast offs from a remedial egg cracking school.

Worse still is the powdered Hollandaise sauce mix used or the reheated, bacteria ridden Hollandaise from the weekend before. It’s just always too much of a gamble and it’s seldom worked in my favour.

Then I arrived at Antonyme. This Aylmer eatery had been on my radar for some time and when I looked through their website, I saw they offered brunch. Their menu called out to me and I made the trip.

Stacked breakfast is all about price

With soon-to-be more than 120 locations nationwide, the Canadian breakfast chain Stacked opened its first Ottawa location earlier this year.

Regular readers will know that I put my food prejudices out there as a form of full disclosure. So when I say that the North American style of pancake (I exclude Dutch pancakes and crepes) fills me with a revulsion greater than almost any other food, I recognize that I’m a lone voice.

Stacked is, of course, a reference to pancakes, but I’m sticking to a classic breakfast with coffee.

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Nice shot of the Aurora over Brittania Beach!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Here’s why Terry Fox’s brother says the new location of the Terry Fox statue on Sparks Street has real significance. [Global News]

• Our food editor raves about this bakery in Gatineau.

• Ottawa Symphony Orchestra | Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre | 22 September, 3:30 pm | Join us for an afternoon of masterful string music that touches both heart and soul. Get your tickets now for Adagio for Strings. Learn more [Sponsored]

• The Ottawa Black Bears’ schedule has been released. If you’re a lacrosse fan, you should check them out. [CTV]

• Condolence to the family of Gay Cook, a culinary visionary in Ottawa, who passed away recently. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Learn better phone habits and how to free up more of your time each day with this free newsletter. Subscribe in one click. [Sponsored]

• This video of cars on the canal is kind of mesmerizing… [Reddit]

OTTAWA GUESSER

Today’s Ottawa Guesser is a park. Can you name it? Reply with the correct park name and your name to be mentioned in the newsletter