The City of Ottawa has tabled a plan to speed up housing, with Mayor Sutcliffe calling it a step toward making the city the most “housing-friendly” in Canada. The Ottawa Climate Action Fund (OCAF) welcomes this ambition and supports measures that focus on affordable housing and enabling “gentle density”. Read OCAF’s Submission here.
A housing-friendly city means more than just a supply target. It means a mix of affordable options in walkable, livable communities. We are encouraged that Ottawa aims to focus growth within existing urban and suburban neighbourhoods. With more family-friendly choices close to schools, amenities and transit, the city will see less pressure to push development outward into urban sprawl.
OCAF’s research shows that those family-friendly options can cut carbon footprints by up to half, mainly by reducing the distances we have to travel by car.