Joint Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services and Public Works and Infrast

WHEREAS the Review of the Special Event By-laws report states: “[…] we continue to encourage participation of young volunteers in other event activities where age-related safety concerns are less of a factor”, and “Section 13 of the recommended Special Events By-law also introduces a minimum age requirement for any volunteers assigned to tasks such as tending to traffic barricades or directing parking [to] help reduce risks for youth volunteers, including exposure to aggressive behaviour reported by event organizers and City staff […]”, and “Inline with the new Special Events By-law, Section 8 of the recommended Highway Events By-law also introduces a requirement for any volunteers tending to traffic barricades or directing parking to be a minimum age of 16 and have a valid G1 driver’s license or equivalent, or to be 18 years old”, and WHEREAS tending to traffic barricades or directing parking is an operational area of high responsibility and high risk, and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT volunteers tending to traffic barricades or directing parking be a minimum age of 18 years old or supervised by an adult where they are younger than 18 years old; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the requirement for a volunteer tending to traffic barricades or directing parking to have a driver's licence be removed and stricken from the staff report.

WHEREAS the report (ACS2025-EPS-PPD-0002) recommends a repeal of the Special Events on Public and Private Property By-law (No. 2013-262) and a subsequent enactment of a new Special Events By-law; and WHEREAS the Review of Special Event By-laws report states: “the recommended Special Events By-law introduces [a code of conduct] as a requirement for all special event organizers, in Section 14 of Document 1”, and “this new regulation would require all event organizers to develop and enforce their own code, ensure staff and volunteers are aware of it, and make sure it is available to patrons before they buy a ticket or enter the site”, and through event organizer workshop consultations, “In the area of special event safety, there is general support for measures to enhance safety, including support for developing a code of conduct for special event participants”, and “However, special event organizers also raised concerns about a code of conduct being a requirement, looking for support in developing their code of conduct and guidance on how to use it”, and “Event organizers were also concerned with the potential for increased liability associated with having a code of conduct and any requirement for them to enforce it”, and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the requirement to develop and adopt a code of conduct for special events be optional and not mandatory. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Section 14 of Document 1 be amended to read: 14. (1) Permit holders may establish a code of conduc

WHEREAS the report (ACS2025-EPS-PPD-0002) recommends a repeal of the Special Events on Public and Private Property By-law (No. 2013-262) and a subsequent enactment of a new Special Events By-law; and WHEREAS the Review of Special Event By-laws report states: “[…] Section 13 of the recommended Special Events By-law introduces a new requirement for event staff and volunteers to complete Ottawa Public Health’s free online “Safer Events” training prior to working or volunteering at a special event”, and “Staff are recommending this annual requirement for all event staff and volunteers 12 years of age or older, consistent with advice from Ottawa Public Health”, and through event organizer workshop consultations “Attendees had mixed opinions on mandatory safety training, especially for volunteers, and raised questions about the responsibility and process for reporting harassment or discrimination on-site at events”, and “Special event organizers were unclear as to what they should do with reports of harassment and discrimination at special events, when incidents do not violate federal or provincial law”, and WHEREAS although the intention of imposing such a requirement is understandable, a blanket requirement such as this may lead to decreased volunteer recruitment or retention, particularly for events which may not feel that this type of training is necessary for their operation; and WHEREAS it is desirable to ensure that it is as easy as possible for volunteers to get involved wi

WHEREAS a motion from Councillor Hill has been introduced directing staff to develop a Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law and report back to Committee and Council within nine months; and WHEREAS staff have indicated that developing a by-law to protect safe access to vulnerable social infrastructure using the Council-approved by-law review process would be time-consuming and complex, requiring engagement with the Ottawa Police Service and fulsome consultation with the public, affected communities, owners/operators of vulnerable social infrastructure and other relevant advocacy or other groups; and WHEREAS staff have also indicated that the development of such a by-law would require deferring previously planned work (such as the Vehicle for Hire By-law Preliminary Planning and Research) to the next Term of Council; and WHEREAS the federal government has recently committed to introducing legislation to make it a criminal offence to intentionally and willfully obstruct access to any place of worship, schools, and community centres; and a criminal offence to willfully intimidate or threaten those attending services at these locations; and, WHEREAS on May 8th in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Bill 16 “Sacred Spaces, Safe Place Act, 2025” was introduced and has passed First Reading, and in which the purpose of the proposed Act is “to protect access to religious institutions by protecting the safety, security, health and privacy of persons seeking to access these instituti

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that any decision directing staff to begin work on a Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law Review be