Ottawa City Council Considers Extreme Weather Preparedness Grant Program

A joint meeting of Ottawa's Environment and Climate Change Committee and Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee considered a pilot Extreme Weather Preparedness Grant Program. Staff asked committee to approve the program, delegate authority to the general manager of emergency and protective services to administer it, and require a report back to committee and council within three years. Councillors also discussed whether staff should report back earlier on first-year uptake.

Topics Discussed

1. EXTREME WEATHER PREPAREDNESS GRANT PROGRAM

Staff presented the pilot as a way to help neighbourhood organizations prepare before emergencies. Director of Climate Change and Resiliency Services Nicole Hoover-Bash told committee, "we're here today to present committee with a recommendation to approve a new pilot grant program geared towards supporting community extreme weather preparedness." She said the proposal was informed by public engagement, a scan of comparable programs, and existing city grant programs.

Councillors tied the discussion to Ottawa's recent experience with severe weather. Councillor Jeff Leiper said, "climate change is is affecting our our daily lives… and so we need to adapt to to what are inevitable issues that will come our way."

2. WHO CAN APPLY AND WHAT THE MONEY WOULD FUND

Staff said eligible applicants would be local nonprofit community organizations, with funding available for preparedness planning, training, exercises, equipment and supplies. The pilot would provide up to $50,000 per year per eligible organization, with one application per organization annually and projects to be completed within a year.

Staff also said the program is unusual compared with what other municipalities offer. Beth, speaking for staff, noted that most municipalities deliver preparedness education and training rather than offering direct grants to community organizations.

Priority would go to organizations serving equity-deserving and priority populations, and councillors asked how that would work in practice.

3. GAPS IN COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS

Much of the discussion focused on what happens before formal emergency response arrives. Councillor Clarke Kelly said, "One of the more… important lessons we've learned… is that community resilience makes all the difference. local volunteers, community organizations, and neighbors are often the first source of support for residents long before any official recovery efforts are initiated."

Councillor Matthew Luloff said the issue is becoming more urgent because Ottawa has already faced "ice storms, flooding, tornadoes, prolonged power outages, severe winter weather, and more recently the mezzcale convective system that caused widespread damage across our city."

Councillor Laura Dudas highlighted prolonged outages in particular, saying, "I do worry about the silent emergencies… power outages are silent and we don't know what's going on at each house."

4. IMPLEMENTATION QUESTIONS: TRAINING, STORAGE, INSURANCE, AND RURAL NEEDS

Councillors pressed staff on how the pilot would work for volunteer-run groups and what kinds of support would be practical. Isabelle Skalski argued community centres should play a larger role in storing equipment rather than relying on private homes.

Councillor Laura Dudas asked whether the program could support storage at city facilities for items such as generators and supplies. Councillor Theresa Kavanagh said she wanted to understand the implications for other departments and groups that have previously been denied storage space in city facilities.

Rural and suburban differences also came up. Councillor Clarke Kelly said, "A disaster is a disaster whether it happens in the suburbs, downtown or in a rural community… the lens should be the disaster frankly," while adding that needs and supports will differ by community.

5. ACCOUNTABILITY, EQUITY, AND REPORTING

Councillors asked how staff would decide which applications had the greatest impact and whether the program would reach communities with fewer established organizations. Councillor Theresa Kavanagh asked about measures to ensure limited funds go to areas most susceptible to emergencies, specifically asking whether vulnerability mapping had identified flood-risk areas, heat islands, or places prone to longer outages.

Councillor Shawn Menard asked how the city would make sure community associations across Ottawa receive information and training even if they do not receive grants. Councillor Catherine Kitts framed the pilot as part of a broader shift in the city's approach, saying, "I see this as the next step in the evolution of the city's engagement and partnership with our community partners in terms of emergency preparedness."

Motions

Considered / requested by staff: - Approval of the Extreme Weather Preparedness Grant Program - Delegation of authority to the general manager of emergency and protective services to implement and administer the program - Direction for staff to report back to committee and council within three years on pilot findings

Discussed during committee debate: - Earlier reporting after one year on pilot uptake

Attendees

Councillors and officials specifically identified in the discussion materials:

• Jeff Leiper
• Theresa Kavanagh
• Matthew Luloff
• Laine Johnson
• Clarke Kelly
• Catherine Kitts
• Laura Dudas
• Shawn Menard
• Nicole Hoover-Bash
• Isabelle Skalski
• Mark Sutcliffe
• Beth