City Council Finance Committee Advances Primary-Care Hub and Approves Property Transactions

The Finance and Corporate Services Committee advanced plans for a primary-care hub on city-owned land at 1655 Maple Grove Road, approved property and tax-related transactions, and supported expropriation proceedings for the widening of Brian Coburn Boulevard and improvements at Tenth Line Road. A delegation also called for investigations into the City's use of outside legal counsel in a Social Benefits Tribunal matter.

Topics Discussed

HEALTHCARE HUB AT 1655 MAPLE GROVE ROAD

The committee supported relaunching the procurement process for a physician-led, team-based primary-care clinic on city-owned land in Kanata-Stittsville. The proposed facility is intended to connect at least 5,000 net-new patients with family doctors and allied health professionals. City officials said approximately 19,000 residents in the area do not have access to an attached primary-care clinician.

Councillor Glen Gower said, "As you heard, there are 19,000 people in Kanata and Stittsville without a doctor. We have almost 60,000 people in Stittsville now and we have five doctors located physically in the community of Stittsville. Um that would be a crisis in any small municipality with 60,000 people. Simply not enough doctors."

Councillor Cathy Curry said it is "fundamental that Kanata Stittsville gets something to address these unattached patients." She said Leigh Couture of the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre had reported that many of the 19,000 unattached patients are babies whose doctors would not accept them, even when their mothers had physicians.

The previous RFP received one non-compliant submission. Staff said healthcare providers are not typically land developers and that the requirement to purchase the land at fair market value created a barrier. The north portion of the site was appraised at approximately $900,000 to $1.2 million per acre.

The revised process will consider a smaller four-acre parcel, with potential expansion to eight acres for additional medical services or affordable housing. Staff will examine deferred payments, phased development, shared servicing costs and a Municipal Capital Facilities Agreement under the Municipal Act. Restrictive covenants and performance milestones are expected to ensure the site remains dedicated to primary care.

Staff were directed to revise and relaunch the RFP, consult potential healthcare providers and report on progress. The revised procurement is expected to be released in early January, with a six-week submission period and a recommended contract returning for approval in April. A progress update is due by April 2027.

LEGAL SERVICES AND SOCIAL BENEFITS TRIBUNAL MATTER

A representative of the Social Services Users Union questioned the City's use of outside counsel in a Social Benefits Tribunal case identified as SBT244-3073. The delegate alleged that external legal fees, including billing from Pearly Robertson, were improperly incurred in connection with the City's compliance with a consent order.

The delegate called for investigations into alleged fraud and waste, possible privacy breaches involving Ontario Works client files, and the conduct of City legal representatives. The committee heard the allegations during its review of the mid-year legal services report.

BRIAN COBURN BOULEVARD AND TENTH LINE ROAD EXPROPRIATION

The committee carried a report authorizing the City to proceed with expropriation of land at 2322 Tenth Line Road, owned by 8619271 Canada Inc., for intersection improvements and the planned widening of Brian Coburn Boulevard.

The property owner alleged that the proposed acquisition increased from about 220 square metres in earlier plans to 1,648 square metres in October documents. The owner also alleged unauthorized access to the property, inadequate notice and a lack of a formal offer, appraisal or explanation for the change.

City staff said the size of the proposed acquisition changed during negotiations over whether to acquire part or all of the property. Staff said negotiations over fair-market compensation would continue under the Expropriations Act.

The intersection project, identified as CPP 00983, is scheduled for completion in 2027, while the broader widening is planned for 2029.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS AND TAX WRITE-OFFS

The committee:

• Carried the write-off of uncollectible municipal taxes under Section 354 of the Municipal Act.
• Approved a new acquisition lease for municipal use at 200 Iber Road.
• Approved declaring and disposing of surplus land parcels adjacent to 2100 Hunt Club Road.

Councillor Mark Sutcliffe said items requiring final City Council approval would rise to the November 12 council meeting.

Motions

• 1655 Maple Grove Road Healthcare Hub — Relaunch of Procurement Process: Passed. Staff were directed to revise and relaunch the procurement process, examine Municipal Capital Facilities Agreement and other flexible transaction options, target a minimum of 5,000 new primary-care patient attachments, and report on implementation progress.
• Brian Coburn Boulevard and Tenth Line Road Improvements — Expropriation of Land at 2322 Tenth Line Road: Passed/carried. The committee authorized the City to proceed with expropriation while continuing compensation negotiations.
• Write-Off of Uncollectible Municipal Taxes: Passed/carried under Section 354 of the Municipal Act.
• 200 Iber Road — Acquisition Lease: Passed.
• 2100 Hunt Club Road — Surplus Declaration and Disposal of Land: Passed.

Attendees

The supplied meeting material identified the following councillors as participating:

• Glen Gower
• Cathy Curry
• David Brown
• Rawlson King
• Theresa Kavanagh
• Catherine Kitts

The material did not include a complete official attendance list.