Ottawa City Hall: New rules would allow councillors to solicit developer donations [Video]

Ottawa councillors will be allowed to “solicit and/or facilitate” donations from developers for the community’s benefit, under proposed new rules at Ottawa City Hall.

A report for Wednesday’s Council meeting outlines a proposed policy framework for voluntary donations for community benefits, looking at councillors involvement in donations to the city. Council created a working group to review a policy after councillors raised questions about a $300,000 donation to Capital Ward by developer Katasa Group for traffic calming and affordable housing in the ward.

Staff say the proposed new policy for voluntary donations for community benefits ensure councillors “donation-related activities are separate from decision-making processes and provide for fairness, consistency, transparency and flexibility.”

Under the proposed new rules, councillors would be allowed to “solicit and/or facilitate” donations from developers at “arm’s length from decision-making processes”, including …

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