Delivering on priorities, not political games = real change

As we approach the mid-year mark, I wanted to share some progress updates. As a full participant at eight Committees and Council, I continue to be an active and engaged voice, while staying grounded in my core values of being accessible, available and transparent to residents.

Continuing to push access-ibility forward in our parks, my motion to embed the creation of a public-facing tool for park accessibility into the City’s four-year accessibility plan was recently approved. This long-term commitment will help families and caregivers find inclusive amenities across Ottawa – and ensure that accessibility in our outdoor spaces becomes a City-wide priority.

Speaking of outdoor spaces, the Navan Pavilion has officially hit 100% of its fundraising goal, thanks to the extraordinary work of the Navan Community Association, the Pavilion Project Team, and the Bradley Cup. What started as an idea a year ago is now a fully funded community hub – built through multiple city grants, fundraisers, and local pride.

Also in Navan, the Cumberland Township Agricultural Society just received over $19,000 through the Rural Community Building Grant Program to modernize operations at the Navan Fair.

On the transportation front, you know I’ve continued pushing for east-end priorities through my extensive work on the Transportation Master Plan. I advocate daily for our fair share of infrastructure dollars, the Cumberland BRT, and long-overdue capacity-building on Brian Coburn Blvd.

I’ve been reviewing, questioning, commenting on, and improving development proposals to ensure we protect quality of life. Recently, I negotiated changes to underground infrastructure for a major development at Brian Coburn and Navan, avoiding weeks of full closures on both roads.

From hundreds of temporary traffic calming community requests and installments, to unlocking historic road resurfacing funds annually, advancing multiple intersection upgrades, to pushing forward long-stalled projects like the François Dupuis District Park expansion and finding a permanent home for the Cumberland Cricket Club – I remain focused on delivering daily for Orléans South-Navan.

This work isn’t always flashy – but it’s focused and it’s steady. It’s how you make real change.

 

Setting the record straight on what’s happening with Hwy. 174

As your city councillor, I believe in transparency and ensuring our community is well-informed. Recent discussions around the province’s decision to upload Hwy. 174 have sparked confusion. Let’s be clear about what’s happening – and what’s not.

Hwy. 174 was once a provincial responsibility. In the late 1990s, it was downloaded to the municipality, shifting the cost of maintenance and upgrades to Ottawa taxpayers. For decades, this has placed an unfair burden on our city – especially for residents of Orléans who rely on this critical route every day.

On March 28, 2024, the Ontario govern-ment announced a $543 million deal with the City of Ottawa that includes taking back responsibility for Hwy 174. This is a major win for our community.

Some critics claim the upload isn’t hap-pening, or isn’t happening fast enough. That’s disingenuous. Previous municipal leaders had plenty of time to advance this work—but it was all talk. Transportation Chair Tim Tierney, Catherine Kitts, Laura Dudas, Mayor Sutcliffe and I rolled up our sleeves, did the work, and brought the province to the table. This Council is getting it done.

There’s a difference between quiet leadership and political bluster. Real leadership isn’t about making the most noise – it’s about doing the hard, often unseen work of building relationships and moving projects forward. That’s what we’ve done here. You attract more flies with honey than vinegar and you can’t make a partner out of someone you constantly undermine and beat upon.

With the province assuming control of the highway, Ottawa can redirect resources to local roads, transit, and community services. For Orléans, this means real improvements in road quality, safety, and reliability.

This isn’t just a promise – it’s a signed agreement. It’s real progress for the east end.

And while others may shout from the sidelines, I’ll keep doing what I was elected to do: deliver results for our community.

 

Nominations for the Orléans West-Inness Ward Gems Awards are now open

As your voice at City Hall, I am always focused on how we can better support our local economy. With ongoing trade tensions and new U.S. tariffs impacting businesses across Ottawa, it is more important than ever to keep our support close to home. That’s why I am proud to back the City’s new “Shop Local. Buy Canadian.” campaign.

This initiative encourages all of us to choose Canadian-made products and services and to support our community’s small businesses. From local cafés and retailers, to homegrown service providers, every dollar spent locally helps protect jobs and strengthen Ottawa’s economy.

To further support this project, Mayor Sutcliffe convened a task force of economic partners to share strategies, develop tools, and promote local-first thinking. City coun-cil also passed a motion ensuring that any municipal contract under $125,000 must include at least one bid from a local supplier – a meaningful step in prioritizing Ottawa businesses first.

You can find resources like the Shop Ottawa Directory, the Savour Ottawa Food Guide, and a new Tariff Toolkit at ottawa.ca/economic-support. Local Business Improvement Areas, such as our own Heart of Orléans BIA, are also stepping up, helping spread the word through events and signage.

In that same spirit of community recognition, I am thrilled to announce the return of my Annual Gems Awards. The awards began as a way to honour those who stepped up during the pandemic and have grown into a celebration of the everyday organizations and businesses that help Orléans shine.

Nominations for the Gems Awards open on May 1. Be sure to visit lauradudas.ca to nominate your favourites as soon as the site goes live!
Let’s continue supporting one another, and celebrating what makes Orléans so special.

 

Turning Boulevards Into Gardens: A Greener Future

I’m excited to share some fantastic news with you! Ottawa has officially approved a change that will allow residents to grow food on the boulevards – the strips of land between the sidewalk and the road. This is a huge win for those of us who are passionate about gardening, sustainability, and food security. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for anyone looking to grow their own food in a space they might not have thought of before.

Boulevards aren’t just empty patches of grass; they play an important role in our city. They house trees, utility boxes, mailboxes, and even snow storage in the winter. While they’re essential for keeping the city running smoothly, we’ve also realized that these spaces have the potential to benefit the community in new ways. After hearing feedback from residents like you, the City has now approved growing food on boulevards – something that wasn’t allowed previously.

For many people, especially those living in apartments or homes without a lot of yard space, this is an exciting opportunity.

Growing your own food can be incredibly rewarding, whether it’s the joy of harvesting fresh vegetables or the satisfaction of knowing exactly where your food comes from. Of course, we still need to ensure that these gardens don’t interfere with the other important functions boulevards serve. That’s why the City is introducing guidelines to help maintain safety, accessibility, and address concerns like soil quality and pest control.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how this change brings our neighbourhoods closer together and helps us become more self-sufficient and sustainable. It’s a small change with the potential for a big impact, and I can’t wait to see more people growing fresh produce right outside their homes.

Let’s embrace this opportunity to make Ottawa a greener, healthier, and more con-nected city!