City Council

That Councillor L. Dudas chair the Special meeting as Deputy Mayor.

That City Council resolve to move into Committee of the Whole pursuant to Section 52 of the Procedure By-law ;

BE IT RESOLVED that City Council resolve in camera pursuant to the Procedure By-law 2021-24, Subsections 13 (1)(b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including staff; and 13.(1)(f) the receiving of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose, in order to receive legal advice and discuss confidential security, legal, and personnel matters related to the Truck Convoy Demonstration.

WHEREAS the Freedom Convoy occupation of the City of Ottawa is now in its third week with no clear end in sight; and WHEREAS the occupation continues to randomly spread out to other parts of the city; and WHEREAS organizers for the occupation have released statements being unequivocal about their demands: they seek to hold the City of Ottawa hostage as leverage against the Federal and Provincial Governments, and they have no intention of ending their campaign and leaving the city until their demands are met; and WHEREAS the City of Ottawa is in a State of Emergency in response to the continued illegal occupation of Ottawa’s downtown core; and WHEREAS the methods used by individuals participating in the demonstrations to illegally occupy the City of Ottawa, and terrorize residents and businesses, utilize unprecedented tactics that have no place in a free and democratic society and mark an intolerable departure from what could be considered lawful protest, including reports from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board of harassment at an Ottawa school towards its teachers, parents, and staff; and WHEREAS a number of schools have been forced to have indoor recess in order to maintain a safe environment; and WHEREAS schools must remain a place where everyone – children, students, staff, parents and the community – feels welcome, safe and respected; and WHEREAS a safe, inclusive and accepting school environment is essential for student well-being and achievement; THEREFORE BE IT

WHEREAS the Ontario government has introduced the temporary Ontario Staycation Tax Credit this year encouraging residents and families to take short-term trips within the Province in an effort to boost the tourism and hospitality sector amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. WHEREAS Ontarians are eligible to claim up to up a maximum of $1,000 as an individual or $2,000 who have a spouse or common-law partner or children to see a return of $200 or $400, respectively. This can be for one trip or for multiple trips and the stay must be under a month. WHEREAS individuals have travelled to the City of Ottawa with the intent to illegally occupy the municipality, terrorize residents and businesses, as well as utilize unprecedented tactics that have no place in a free and democratic society. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor write to the Premier to indicate on behalf of Council that the individuals involved in the illegal occupation should not qualify for the tax credit, since the application of such a tax credit would financially benefit individuals who have participated in the illegal occupation.

WHEREAS Ottawa City Council condemned the use of racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia; the mockery of Indigenous culture; and the harassment and denigration of residents within the 2SLGBTQI+ community during this illegal occupation. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council direct staff from the Anti-Racism Secretariat to work with the Community Led Anti-Racism Advisory Table to consider the development of a public service campaign to promote awareness about the negative impact of racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia in the wake of the illegal occupation as part of the Anti-Racism Strategy.

C McKenney WHEREAS an illegal occupation of the City of Ottawa has been occurring for 19 days; and WHEREAS this illegal occupation has engaged in harassment, threats of violence, acts of violence, and attempted acts of violence towards the residents of the City of Ottawa; and WHEREAS this illegal occupation has employed rigs, pick-up trucks and other large vehicles as a primary method of the occupation, and as a key component in the campaign of threats, violence and harassment of our residents; and WHEREAS these vehicles have been used to intimidate and harm residents, including through consistent and unrelenting noise, often exceeding 110 dB, which can cause permanent hearing loss; and WHEREAS these idling vehicles have been adding further pollution to our city, particularly the downtown core, causing harm to the health and wellness of our residents; and WHEREAS the vehicles—whether abandoned or inhabited—have been parked illegally for over two weeks in some cases; and WHEREAS there has currently been limited enforcement by Ottawa Polices Services or Ottawa By-Law Services to enforce parking regulations, noise regulations and idling regulations beyond ticketing; and WHEREAS the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Police Services currently have the enforcement powers and the necessary tools to remove the vehicles; and WHEREAS the mayor of the City of Ottawa struck a “backchannel” deal with the organizers of the illegal occupation; and WHEREAS the residents of Centretown and other areas

WHEREAS the continued occupation of Ottawa’s downtown appears likely to continue into a fourth weekend on February 19 to 21; and WHEREAS a demonstrable pattern has emerged during each weekend of the occupation of significantly higher attendance as thousands of people not local to the downtown core join the occupation using their private vehicles to access the area; and WHEREAS these additional participants demonstrably elevate the level of law-breaking, harassment of residents and intolerable impacts to local businesses; and WHEREAS a significantly elevated crowd level increases the challenge to law enforcement officers of maintaining order; and WHEREAS the preponderance of additional protesters access the site via motor vehicle; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council direct the General Manager of Public Works to work in collaboration with the Somerset Ward councillor and Rideau Vanier councillor in particular, but also affected Ward Councillors, to accomplish such road closures anywhere in the city as can be expected to diminish the volume of motor vehicles able to access the downtown core on February 19-21, and that the General Manager of Public Works or designate review these requests with Ottawa Police Services to ensure these can be accommodated as part of a coordinated response to the ongoing city emergency.

That the Committee of the Whole rise and report to City Council; and Be it further resolved that any motions, votes, and declarations of interest recorded during the Committee of the Whole session be deemed to be recorded in the Council session.

That the following by-law be read and passed: To confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting of February 16, 2022.