Stormwater Management Fees

As the Osgoode Ward and the other Rural Wards of Ottawa continue to deal with the issue of Stormwater Management Fees, I took an in depth review of the issue and reached out to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee [ARAC], chaired by Councillor David Brown, along with the other Rural Councillors for their position on the matter.

I also reached out to the Ontario Federation Of Agriculture for their support and professional opinion of this program, which will create a high degree of red tape and confusion for the residents of the Osgoode Ward, and in particular, our farmers and producers who will have increased fees, as a result.

When elected, I will join the coalition of Rural Councillors and bring you monthly updates and gather your opinions of this important implementation process. I will deliver clear facts on the process and partners who are deeply engaged in this issue.

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Gregory Vail

Candidate for City Council, Ward 20 - Osgoode

1874 Cedarlakes Way

Greely, ON K4P 0E4

Cell: 343-553-0078

Email: gvailottawa@gmail.com

Website: electgregoryvail.ca

Working on your behalf – City of Ottawa Stormwater Management Fee Program – Forecasted for 2026-2027. Rural Councillors forming a Coalition.

I would like to provide you with the details and current status of the implementation process for the Stormwater Management Fee Program that the City of Ottawa would like to have implemented before the end of 2027. Rural residents have been encouraging their City Councillors to abandon this program, as it represents a tax to rural residents who do not use City water and sewer. In particular, the Stormwater Management Fee Program will impact farmers and their families by adding another tax on their farms and place increased pressure on margins and profitability for many cash strapped food and commodity producers.

In a conversation with the president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture [OFA], Drew Spoelstra said, “We need to continue to support the network (of processors and producers) as part of the agricultural system.” The new tax system brought by the Stormwater Management Fee will have an adverse effect on the Ontario Agricultural Industry. Nowhere more important than right here in the Osgoode Ward. 

To see the original copy of this message sent to me by staff from Councillor David Brown’s office, please send me an email [gvailottawa@gmail.com] and I will forward you this email to connect the hyperlinks. Please visit my website for more information: electgregoryvail.ca

Good morning, Greg,

I work in policy for Councillor David [Brown] so I can respond here.

At present, the proposed stormwater management changes remain under consideration, and a number of recommendations will be advanced for approval through a joint meeting of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Environment and Climate Change Committees next Tuesday. These proposals are scheduled for implementation in 2027, pending Council approval.

To clarify the current direction:

· For properties within the urban boundary and in the villages of Manotick, Richmond, and Carp, a new stormwater rate structure based on impervious surface area (referred to as the “Blended option”) is proposed to take effect in 2027.

· For all other rural properties outside those three villages, instead of a stormwater fee, the City is proposing a roadside ditch maintenance special area levy, also beginning in 2027. This levy would be governed by ARAC.

Additionally, the report recommends creating a dedicated capital program for roadside ditch maintenance in both rural and urban areas, to be introduced through the 2026 budget process, with funding starting in 2027.

You may read the report and its full list of recommendations online here.

Thank you,

Liam