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A motion backed by Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe aims to speed up the construction of housing on land owned by the National Capital Commission (NCC).<\/p>\n
The motion, introduced by Coun. Glen Gower on Sutcliffe’s behalf, would streamline the approvals process and get residential units built “faster and more affordably \u2026 with a focus on affordable housing on NCC lands,” according to a statement from Sutcliffe’s office.<\/p>\n
The city’s statutory obligations including environmental considerations and public consultation would be preserved, but timelines would be shortened to move the building process from the proposal stage to construction with fewer potential snags along the way.<\/p>\n
Ottawa city council will consider the motion Wednesday. <\/p>\n
In an emailed statement, NCC communications manager Val\u00e9rie Dufour said the federal Crown corporation sees it as a way to “advance and accelerate housing projects, including affordable housing, on federal land.”<\/p>\n
The NCC sees it as a “positive step toward strengthening collaboration” with the city, Dufour said.<\/p>\n
Fixing fractures with NCC<\/p>\n
Gower said the motion also serves as an attempt to repair the relationship between the city and the NCC.<\/p>\n
“When it comes to housing, it would be ridiculous if we keep acting in an adversarial mode with the NCC at the staff level, at the political level,” he said at the planning and housing committee meeting on Feb. 4.<\/p>\n
The city and the NCC have recently butted heads over a list of development and infrastructure projects. <\/p>\n
Late last year, city council refused a request<\/a> to rezone NCC-owned greenspace in McCarthy Woods for development, citing environmental concerns.<\/p>\n In the spring of 2022, council overwhelmingly voted against an NCC plan<\/a> to allow up to five embassies to be built in Mechanicsville, despite receiving prior approval from the city’s planning committee.<\/p>\n That same year, the city pursued a transitway extension through the Greenbelt despite the NCC’s refusal<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some members of council expressed skepticism over the new alignment on housing.<\/p>\n “I’m cautiously optimistic at this point,” said Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney. “There always seems to be a battle over who has rights to the city.”<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770734597_323_default.jpg\")
Ottawa city Coun. Tim Tierney serves as first vice-president for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. (Michel Aspirot\/CBC)<\/p>\n