On October 26, 2026, Ottawa residents will head to the polls to elect their next mayor and city councillors. The decisions made by the next municipal government will shape the future of our city’s natural spaces, and the birds that depend on them.
At Safe Wings, we believe that protecting birds must be part of building a healthy, sustainable city. We know first-hand that reducing bird-building collisions including through bird-friendly municipal policies can play an important role in making Ottawa safer for birds.
To help voters make informed decisions, we developed a candidate questionnaire asking those running for municipal office about their positions on bird-friendly measures. The questionnaire provides candidates with an opportunity to share their priorities and commitments, while helping residents understand how their potential representatives would approach bird conservation.
What did the candidates say?
We are actively compiling the responses we have received in the spreadsheet below.
We encourage residents to explore the responses, compare candidates’ positions, and consider their commitments to bird-friendly policies when deciding how to vote.
The future of Ottawa’s birds depends, in part, on the decisions we make today. By asking candidates to address bird conservation and holding elected officials accountable for their commitments, we can help build a city where both people and birds can thrive.
Before you vote on October 26, take a moment to review the results and make bird-friendly policies part of your election conversation.
Disclaimer: The information shared here is intended to inform voters about candidates’ positions on bird-friendly measures and does not constitute an endorsement of any particular candidate. We encourage voters to review the responses and make their own informed decisions.
Safe Wings Ottawa 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Survey Responses
| Full Name | What ward/position are you running for? | 1. What steps would you take to ensure that more new buildings in Ottawa are built following Ottawa’s bird-safe design guidelines, despite the effects of provincial bill 98? | 2. Would you champion a plan to make sure that all developments that receive funding from the city (e.g. Ottawa Community Housing) are required to follow Ottawa’s bird-safe design guidelines? | 3. What steps would you take to ensure that city buildings with known collision problems (e.g. City Hall, Constellation Drive) are made bird-friendly through retrofitting and compliant with the federal Migratory Bird Regulations? | 4. Currently City of Ottawa bylaw officers will not respond to any calls about birds, even on city property or when the bird causes a hazard (e.g. injured goose on a road). Would you champion changes to bylaw’s mandate so they can respond to calls about birds in some situations, just as they respond to calls about injured mammals? | 5. What would you do if elected to make Ottawa a safer place for wildlife? |
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| Ali Shayvard | Mayor | Bill 98 is legislation passed by the Ontario government that limits what municipalities like Ottawa can require from developers in certain areas, including some enhanced environmental and green-building standards. As Mayor, I would be very clear that Ottawa should use every authority it still has to protect the public interest and our environment. For too long, I believe developers have had too much influence over how our city grows. The City should be setting the standards and holding developers accountable, not the other way around. I would hold developers to the highest standards Ottawa is legally able to establish, including promoting bird-safe glass, safer building designs, responsible lighting and landscaping that reduces risks to birds and other wildlife. For City-owned and City-funded projects, Ottawa should lead by example and apply strong bird-safe standards. Where provincial legislation prevents us from making a requirement mandatory, I would use incentives, procurement policies and cooperation with developers, while advocating to the Province to give municipalities stronger authority. We need new housing and development, but we can build responsibly. There is extensive research and experience from cities around the world that Ottawa can learn from to protect wildlife while still building the homes and infrastructure people need. | Yes. For new developments receiving City funding, including Ottawa Community Housing projects, I would support requiring bird-safe design guidelines to be incorporated from the beginning. For existing buildings, I also support improving bird safety where it is practical, but I would not support spending large amounts of money retrofitting every building immediately. Ottawa has major priorities that residents deal with every day, including unreliable transit, deteriorating roads, potholes, infrastructure and affordability. My approach would be to include bird-safe design in all new City-funded construction and make improvements to existing buildings over time, based on need, cost and available funding. We can protect wildlife while also making sure taxpayers’ money is being spent responsibly and that Ottawa gets back to the standard people should expect from the capital of Canada. | Yes. As Mayor, I would work with both the federal and provincial governments to seek funding to help Ottawa address City buildings with known bird-collision problems. My first step would be to identify the highest-risk locations, including buildings where collisions are already documented, and look at practical measures such as bird-safe window treatments, reducing reflective glass hazards, improving lighting practices and other proven solutions. The City also has a responsibility to ensure its buildings comply with the federal Migratory Birds Regulations. At the same time, I have to be responsible with taxpayers’ money. Ottawa has urgent priorities, including transit reliability, roads, potholes, aging infrastructure and affordability. I would therefore prioritize retrofits based on collision risk, effectiveness, cost and available federal or provincial funding rather than committing to expensive renovations everywhere at once. For new City buildings, bird-safe design should be incorporated from the beginning. It is much more responsible to design buildings properly when they are being constructed than to pay for major retrofits later. We can reduce bird injuries and deaths while building a city that respects both taxpayers and our natural environment. | At this time, I would not support expanding Bylaw’s mandate if it requires significant new spending or additional staffing. In an ideal situation, I would like the City to be able to respond to injured birds and other animals whenever help is needed. However, Ottawa is facing serious problems with transit, roads, infrastructure, affordability and other basic services. My priority is to get those essential services back to the standard residents should expect before creating new programs that require additional taxpayer funding. That said, when an injured bird creates an immediate public-safety hazard, such as being on a roadway, I would support reviewing whether existing City services can coordinate a response without creating a major new cost. Once Ottawa’s finances and core services are in a stronger position, this is something I would be open to reviewing again. | One of the biggest ways I believe we can make Ottawa safer for wildlife is by changing how we manage development. For too long, developers have had too much influence over how and where Ottawa grows. As Mayor, I want the City to take back the lead. The City should be telling developers where they can build, what they can build, and what standards they must meet, not the other way around. We also need to stop continuously expanding outward and destroying more of the green space and natural habitat surrounding Ottawa. Instead, I would focus much more development inward, using areas that can already support responsible development and building complete communities with affordable housing, co-op housing and the services residents need. When development does happen, I would make sure projects are built to proper quality and environmental standards, with consideration for wildlife, natural habitats and Ottawa’s long-term future. One major difference with me is that I am not owned or funded by developers. I believe it is time for the City of Ottawa to take back the lead and start holding developers accountable to the standards that work for residents, taxpayers and our environment. Development is necessary, but it should not come at the expense of our wildlife and green spaces. |
| Queen Divine Priya Amber Yahweh Bakshi | Mayor | All of the new buildings in Ottawa should be built using the Ottawa's bird-safe design guidelines, despite the effects of the provincial bill 98. I love birds especially pigeons. They are beautiful love messengers and in UK they are used for helping construction workers. I wonder if we can use this concept here. Who knows? | Yes! | I would personally make sure that these voiceless birds are given respect and love by ensuring no problems are made for them through the retrofitting are compliant with the federal Migratory Bird Regulations. | Yes, it would be my privilege to champion this because it is not acceptable bylaw officers are not coming. | Create a working group called Wildlife safety and make sure Ottawa is safe this way talking to all in this setting and make evidence based decisions. |
| Bob Bell | Ward 1 | I think that council's role is twofold. First, continuing to advocate to the province to "get off our lawn" so to speak and let the municipality guide its own development. Second, we need to use the tools we have to incentivize development that meets our needs and disincentivizes what doesn't. For example, targetted development charge reductions for developments that meet green standards, could encourage better compliance with guidelines. | I would strongly support this initiative. | A step I would take would be to improve both council and public transparency about the issue. Having seen the Safe Wings exhibits in the past, I know it can be quite shocking how impactful buildings can be on bird populations. I think introducing discussion, measurement and impact analysis on the role our infrastructure decisions make on the environment would be a meaningful starting point in generating support for infrastructure investment to retrofit offending buildings. | I recently managed a similar situation with someone I met at the door. They had a falcon living nearby and didn't know what to do. It was embarrassing that the city had no way to help and I'd like to see that change. Whether that's through changes to bylaw officers' mandate or more effectively working with local bird groups, I know the city can do more. | I want to help change council's perspective as it relates to wildlife and our environment. We need to find ways to live harmoniously with our local flora and fauna, to make our city more sustainable and to find natural solutions to problems that plague our city. As an example, we have seen the raptor population grow in the east end, and seen the number of complaints about rats and other pests drop. Adopting policies that can allow local animal populations to rebound, can help restore some balance to our ecosystem and deal with some of our persistent, human made problems. |
| Sherif Rizk | Ward 1 | I support Ottawa's Bird-Safe Design Guidelines and would work to increase their adoption in new developments, while recognizing the limitations imposed by provincial legislation. My first priority would be to ensure that bird-safe design is discussed early in the development process, when architects and builders can incorporate appropriate glazing, lighting and landscaping measures without requiring expensive changes later. I would also work with City staff, developers and organizations such as Safe Wings Ottawa to identify opportunities to encourage voluntary adoption, particularly in larger developments and projects involving extensive glass surfaces. For City-owned buildings and municipal construction projects, I would support incorporating bird-safe design into project specifications wherever practical. The City should lead by example. Finally, I would ask staff to track and publicly report how frequently the guidelines are being incorporated into new developments, identify barriers to adoption, and examine whether additional provincial authority is needed to strengthen their implementation. My broader approach to responsible growth is to anticipate problems rather than address them after construction is complete. Bird-safe design fits that philosophy: it is generally easier and more economical to prevent a problem during the design stage than to retrofit a building afterward. | Yes, in principle. I believe the City should lead by example by incorporating its own bird-safe design guidelines into developments receiving municipal funding, including Ottawa Community Housing projects. I would support directing City staff to develop a practical implementation framework that makes bird-safe design a standard condition of municipal development funding, where legally permissible. This should include clear expectations at the design and procurement stages, reasonable provisions for technical feasibility, and an assessment of any additional costs. I would be particularly mindful of ensuring that these requirements do not unnecessarily delay affordable housing construction or reduce the number of homes that can be delivered within existing budgets. My approach would be to establish clear standards, incorporate them early in project planning, and measure compliance. If the City has adopted guidelines to address a recognized environmental concern, it should make a serious effort to apply those guidelines to projects it helps finance. Make my position more decisiveTie bird-safe design to accountability | I would support a targeted, evidence-based retrofit program for City-owned buildings where recurring bird collisions have been documented, including City Hall and the Constellation Drive complex. My first step would be to direct City staff to work with organizations such as Safe Wings Ottawa to identify and assess known collision hotspots, review existing mitigation measures, and prioritize buildings based on documented collision risks. For buildings requiring intervention, I would support incorporating proven bird-safe treatments, such as appropriate window films or glazing markers, into scheduled maintenance and capital renewal projects wherever practical. Where collision risks are particularly significant, I would consider earlier intervention rather than waiting for a major renovation. I would also ask staff to review the City's obligations under the federal Migratory Birds Regulations and ensure that appropriate measures are implemented to reduce foreseeable risks to protected birds. Finally, I would establish measurable targets and public reporting on the number of buildings assessed, retrofits completed, costs incurred and reductions in documented collisions. My approach is to address known problems proactively, prioritize resources where they will have the greatest impact, and measure whether our investments are producing results. The City should lead by example in maintaining buildings that are safe for both residents and wildlife. | Yes, in principle. I would support reviewing and expanding the mandate of Ottawa's By-law and Regulatory Services to allow officers to respond to injured birds in appropriate circumstances, particularly where an animal is in distress on City property or presents an immediate public safety hazard. I do not believe residents should be left without a clear point of contact simply because an injured animal happens to be a bird rather than a mammal. My first step would be to work with City staff, wildlife rehabilitation organizations such as Safe Wings Ottawa, and other relevant agencies to establish clear response protocols. These should identify which situations warrant a municipal response, what training and equipment officers would require, and when specialized wildlife professionals should be involved. I would also examine whether these responsibilities could be incorporated into existing animal welfare and public safety operations without creating unnecessary duplication or unreasonable demands on municipal resources. Ultimately, my goal would be to establish a clear, practical system so residents know whom to contact, injured wildlife receives appropriate assistance, and public safety hazards are addressed promptly. This reflects a broader principle in my platform: when residents identify a gap in municipal services, City Hall should examine how to address it rather than simply explaining why the existing system cannot help. | I would focus on making wildlife protection a practical part of how Ottawa plans, builds and maintains its communities. First, I would support stronger adoption of bird-safe design guidelines in new developments, incorporating these standards into municipally funded projects, and prioritizing retrofits of City-owned buildings where wildlife collisions are a documented problem. Second, I would work to protect natural habitats and wildlife corridors as Ottawa grows. My platform emphasizes responsible development that considers environmental impacts and existing infrastructure, rather than allowing growth to proceed without adequate planning. This includes protecting valuable green spaces, wetlands and rural areas, particularly in communities such as Cumberland. Third, I would support reviewing municipal wildlife response protocols so residents have a clear point of contact when injured wildlife is found on City property or creates a public safety hazard. Partnerships with wildlife rehabilitation organizations would be an important part of that approach. Finally, I would encourage wildlife-sensitive infrastructure planning, including identifying recurring wildlife-vehicle collision locations, considering appropriate crossing and warning measures, and incorporating habitat protection into road and infrastructure renewal projects. I believe the City should work collaboratively with organizations such as Safe Wings Ottawa, draw on their expertise, and establish measurable objectives so we can evaluate whether our efforts are making a difference. My guiding principle is simple: protecting wildlife should be incorporated into the decisions we already make about development, infrastructure and public services, rather than treated as an afterthought. |
| christine harrison | Ward 5 - West Carleton-March | yes | I'd love more education on this | yes | I'd love to hear what you propose. | |
| Spencer Radford | Ward 7 - Bay Ward | Given Bill 98, council does not have the same ability to ensure buildings are built following bird safe guidelines. I would, however, strive to ensure that council comes up with other ways to support safe building designs, as well as push the provincial government to give municipalities that ability back, at the very least in high impact cities. A specific thing I'd like to bring to council is the idea of an incentive program. While we cannot require new designs to be bird safe, I would like to look into ways that we could incentivize it happening anyway. | I believe all city funded housing should be bird safe. The city should be leading by example, as we can't expect other developers to want to practice safe design if we don't ourselves. | The most immediate, inexpensive thing we should do, and I would advocate for, is installing bird safe dot patterns on known collision areas. I would communicate with city staff to find out where those areas are, and then review any documented changes to see if more work would need to be done. The city generally needs data in order to convince other council members of the work that needs to be done. However, the dot patterns are inexpensive enough that I don't think there should be much difficulty getting them through council. | Bylaw officers should respond to calls regarding certain bird species. Some birds may carry avian diseases, but we should not blanket deny all calls regarding birds. I recently saw a post from someone who had found a goose with what appeared to be a broken leg. Almost no group would take it due to the health risks. The city should be prepared and have a list of resources ready for these situations so that either bylaw can support, or if not, residents know who to contact. | On top of everything listed above, we need to protect our habitats, increase our tree count, and make sure wildlife have a safe home to live in. |
| Theresa Kavanagh | Ward 7 Bay Ward | If re-elected, I will continue to work with the City’s planning department to ensure proposed developments adhere to the City’s Bird-Safe Design Guidelines. These guidelines include design features like treated glass to reduce the risk of collisions, designing interior and exterior lighting to minimize impacts on night migrating or nocturnal birds, and landscaping with native plant species that supply food and shelter to local bird species. | As a City we can encourage more bird-safe buildings by setting an example, and doing our utmost to ensure publicly funded developments are designed in a way that protect local wildlife, while also being fiscally responsible with public money. | I welcomed the modifications to the glass walkway at City Hall to reduce bird collisions, and would work with Council colleagues to ensure further retrofits were made, in order to reflect Ottawa’s status as a Bird-Friendly City. | When birds or any wildlife are posing a safety hazard on roads, it should always be reported to the police, as by-law doesn’t have the authority to close live lanes of traffic. I would work with the City’s Wildlife Resource Coordinator and By-law and Regulatory Services to explore how By-law’s mandate could be widened to respond to calls related to injured birds in specific situations, while also ensuring adequate resources are allocated to support by-law officers’ many other duties. | If re-elected, I am committed to working with City staff, Council colleagues, and not-for-profit organizations to advance initiatives to protect wildlife in our City. I was happy to see the City adopt a Wildlife Management Strategy that reflects modern day practices to coexist with wildlife in the city. I welcomed the hiring of a Wildlife Resource Coordinator by the city in early 2025, and my office regularly works with them to respond to resident questions regarding wildlife management. Last June, I also introduced a motion on nuisance lighting impacts, and, if re-elected, am looking forward to working with staff and residents on the development of a light pollution by-law next term, or amendments to the Property Standards By-law concerning light pollution and nuisance. The development of regulations around outdoor lighting will support both residents and local wildlife. |
| Cole Fraser Jones | Ward 9 | Bill 98 took away the City’s ability to require bird-safe design through site plan control, so Ottawa’s guidelines are now voluntary for private development. I will not pretend council can override provincial law. What council can do is make the voluntary path easy for builders to take: recognize compliant projects publicly, make bird-safe glazing part of pre-consultation so builders get the information before glass is specified, and track uptake so we know whether the guidelines are being followed or ignored. The more durable fix is provincial. Bird-safe glass adds very little to construction cost when it is specified at the outset, and a single standard in the Ontario Building Code, such as CSA A460, would give every builder in the province the same rules instead of a patchwork. I will make that case directly at Queen’s Park. | Yes. When the City funds a project, the City is not acting as a regulator. It is a steward of public money, and it is entitled to set conditions on how that money is spent. Every project the City funds, including Ottawa Community Housing, should meet the City’s own bird-safe guidelines as a condition of funding. We cannot reasonably ask private builders to follow standards that the City will not follow when it holds the purse. | City Hall and Constellation Drive belong to the residents of Ottawa, and the City has an obligation to look after what it owns. I would ask staff to report on the collision record at each City building, the cost of retrofitting the worst facades, and how that work fits into scheduled maintenance and window replacement. Film and marker retrofits are inexpensive relative to most building maintenance, and the worst problem areas should be addressed first. The City must also meet its obligations under the federal Migratory Birds Regulations, and should not expect private property owners to meet a standard that it fails to meet itself. | I would not expand the bylaw mandate without first giving the office the resources to carry it. Bylaw services are already stretched, and adding a new category of calls without staff or training would only lengthen response times for residents who are waiting now. Birds also raise a jurisdictional issue that mammals do not. Most species, Canada geese included, are protected under federal migratory bird law, and handling them requires authority and training that bylaw officers do not have. What I would support is a clear protocol for handling these calls. When a bird creates a hazard on a City road, that is a road safety matter and should be treated as one. An injured bird should be referred quickly to the wildlife rehabilitation organizations that are equipped to care for it. Residents should not have to call several numbers to find out that nobody is responsible. | I will make promises only where council has the authority and the budget to follow through. Within those limits, wildlife safety in Ottawa comes down mostly to land use and infrastructure. Natural features, tree canopy, and stormwater ponds and corridors should be treated as assets to be maintained, not as land waiting to be developed. That fits the scrutiny I have already committed to bringing to intensification in Ward 9. Roads designed so that the comfortable driving speed is lower are safer for both residents and wildlife. Where wildlife and development compete, council should make the decision openly and on the record. We hold this land in trust for the people who will come after us, and that obligation includes the living things that share it with us. |
| Donna Dickson | Ward 10 - Gloucester-Southgate | The city can reduce or waive development fees for projects that are willing to comply with bird-safe guidelines. With Bill 98 and lack of city control over privately funded projects, this is the only way that I can think of to try to enforce some kind of standard on this issue. | Make the funding conditional. Many of the ideas proposed in "Bird Safe Design Guidelines" seem low cost and not very difficult design wise to implement. This is something that the city can control despite changes to provincial regulations. | Work it into their annual maintenance budget. These aren't massive changes and rebuilds that are being asked for. Adding the patterned elements to outside glass and scheduling/adding external lighting is a relatively easy fix. | This city could do this, however, I'm not sure that by-law officers are equipped and qualified to handle this. Birds are very different from mammals and will need different care. In minor situations, yes, I'm sure that by-law could step in, but in more urgent or sensitive situations, I'm sure that working to allocate some additional funding towards local bird care and wildlife centres would be a better alternative. | Fighting for impact studies on new developments and infrastructure upgrades. |
| Cathryne Milburn | Ward 11 - Beacon Hill-Cyrville | Unfortunately, Bill 98 has removed municipal authority to require certain bird-safe building features. I would advocate to the provincial government to restore municipalities’ ability to make bird-safe design a requirement. In the meantime, I would encourage developers to voluntarily follow Ottawa’s bird-safe design guidelines and work with City staff and community organizations to promote bird-friendly construction. Councillors must continue advocating for municipal authority to make decisions that protect our environment and reflect the needs of our communities. | Yes, I would encourage a plan to ensure developments receiving City funding, including Ottawa Community Housing projects, follow Ottawa’s bird-safe design guidelines. Protecting birds and biodiversity should be a consideration in how we build our city. | I would encourage City staff to develop a plan to retrofit municipal buildings with known bird collision problems, such as City Hall and Constellation Drive, prioritizing effective solutions within available budgets. I would also advocate for staff reports on building upgrades and new construction to include consideration of bird-friendly design. This would help ensure bird safety is considered early in the planning process and that the City takes practical steps to protect birds and meet its responsibilities under the federal Migratory Birds Regulations. | Yes, I would support reviewing Ottawa’s bylaw mandate to allow appropriate responses to injured birds. This review should look to other cities such as Toronto where there are clear guidelines to protect public safety and ensure wildlife receives appropriate care. | I would support creating a Biodiversity Action Plan alongside the City of Ottawa’s other environmental action plans. Protecting wildlife, including birds, is essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems and preparing our communities for climate change. As Ottawa grows, we need responsible development that makes better use of existing urban areas while protecting natural spaces, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity. I would also advocate for bird-safe building design wherever possible and support measures that reduce risks to birds and other wildlife. Protecting green spaces and creating wildlife-friendly communities will help ensure Ottawa remains a healthy, vibrant place for people and wildlife to thrive. |
| Michael Tay | Ward 14 - Somerset | I support making Ottawa’s bird-safe design guidelines a more consistent part of how the City encourages and reviews new development. Where feasible and within municipal authority, I support practical measures that reduce bird collisions while also considering cost, housing needs and other development priorities. | Yes, where feasible and appropriate. I believe City-funded development should lead by example in incorporating bird-safe design. At the same time, requirements should be practical and consider cost, project type and competing priorities for public funding. | I support addressing City buildings with documented bird-collision problems through practical, cost-effective retrofits, particularly when work can be incorporated into planned maintenance or building renewal. I would prioritize measures based on demonstrated need, effectiveness and available resources. | I support reviewing this gap. Residents should have a clear way to report an injured bird and understand who is responsible for responding. I would want any changes to consider the appropriate role and capacity of bylaw, animal services and wildlife organizations rather than creating responsibilities the City cannot effectively deliver. | I support practical and cost-effective measures to make Ottawa safer for wildlife, including bird-safe design, habitat protection, public education and reducing avoidable hazards. At the same time, municipal resources are limited and Council has significant responsibilities related to housing, homelessness, public safety and essential services. I believe wildlife protection should be integrated thoughtfully into City planning and infrastructure wherever feasible, while balancing these competing needs. |
| Farah gulzar | Ward 17 - Capital | Yes. I would support using every municipal tool available to increase adoption of Ottawa’s Bird-Safe Design Guidelines, particularly for buildings and developments with a high risk of bird collisions. Where provincial legislation limits municipal authority, I would work within those limits by using City-owned land, municipal funding agreements, procurement standards, development review and other available tools to promote bird-safe design. I would also advocate to the provincial government for stronger province-wide bird-safe building standards. | Yes. If a development receives City funding or other significant municipal support, I believe it should meet Ottawa’s Bird-Safe Design Guidelines wherever legally and technically applicable. Public investment should help create safer, more sustainable communities. I would support clear requirements, accountability and reporting to ensure that bird-safe measures are actually incorporated into funded projects. | I would support a City-wide assessment of buildings with known or documented bird-collision problems and a prioritized retrofit program, beginning with the highest-risk locations such as City Hall and Constellation Drive. Measures could include bird-safe window treatments or glass, addressing fly-through conditions, reducing unnecessary nighttime lighting and incorporating bird-safe design whenever buildings undergo renovations or lifecycle renewal. I would also support monitoring collision data to measure whether retrofits are working and ensure compliance with applicable federal protections. | Yes. I would support reviewing and, where appropriate, changing the City’s mandate so that calls involving injured or hazardous birds can receive an appropriate municipal response, particularly when the bird is on City property or creating a public safety hazard. Residents should not be left without a clear point of contact simply because the injured animal has wings rather than four legs. I would also support clear protocols for working with qualified wildlife rehabilitation organizations when specialized care is required. | If elected, I would make wildlife protection part of responsible city planning and infrastructure decisions. I would support stronger implementation of Ottawa’s Bird-Safe Design Guidelines, bird-safe requirements for City-funded developments, a prioritized retrofit program for high-risk City buildings, and better municipal response protocols for injured wildlife. I would also advocate for better protection of natural areas, trees and green spaces, responsible lighting, safer roads and public education. Most importantly, I would support transparent reporting and measurable targets so residents can see what the City is doing to reduce wildlife deaths and protect Ottawa’s biodiversity. A growing city should not have to choose between building more housing and protecting nature. We can do both through better planning, responsible design and accountability. |
| Zahy A Adam | Ward 24 - Barrhaven East | 1. Enforce Standards via Municipal Approvals Embed bird-safe design criteria directly into Ottawa’s Site Plan Control requirements, municipal zoning conditions, and high-density urban design guidelines where local authority applies. 2. Mandate Compliance on City-Owned Projects Lead by example by requiring 100% adherence to bird-safe guidelines for all new municipal facilities, infrastructure, and publicly funded developments. 3. Incentivize Voluntary Adoption by Developers Partner with local builders to promote low-cost solutions (like visual glass treatments and light-pollution controls), offering expedited site-plan review for projects that voluntarily incorporate bird-safe measures. | Yes, I fully support and would champion this requirement. Lead by Public Example: Taxpayer-funded developments must set the standard for environmental responsibility. Requiring Ottawa Community Housing and city-funded projects to follow bird-safe guidelines ensures public investments protect local biodiversity. Cost-Effective Integration: Integrating bird-safe measures (such as patterned glass and dark-sky exterior lighting) during the initial design phase adds minimal cost while delivering permanent, long-term environmental benefits. | 1. Conduct Immediate Audits and Prioritize High-Risk Facilities Audit city-owned facilities—prioritizing known collision hotspots like Ottawa City Hall and Constellation Drive—to pinpoint high-risk glass facades and prioritize retrofits based on collision frequency. 2. Implement Fast-Track, Cost-Effective Retrofits Apply proven retrofitting solutions, such as visual window films, dot-matrix decals, and light-mitigation controls (e.g., automated blinds and dark-sky exterior lighting) during routine maintenance and building upgrades. 3. Ensure Federal Compliance and Dedicated Budget Allocations Align all municipal facility operations with the federal Migratory Birds Regulations and mandate that annual city capital maintenance budgets include allocated funds specifically for bird-safe retrofits on public assets. | Yes, I would advocate for updating the municipal mandate to cover bird safety and public hazards. Equal Treatment for Wildlife Hazards: It is inefficient and unsafe for bylaw officers to respond to injured mammals on city streets while ignoring birds like geese or swans, which create equal traffic hazards, public safety concerns, and animal welfare issues. Targeted Mandate Expansion: Updates should focus specifically on high-impact situations—such as injured birds blocking roadways, hazards on city property, or cases involving protected migratory species—without overwhelming municipal officers with minor calls. Inter-Agency Coordination: Establish direct protocols between Ottawa Bylaw Services, the National Capital Commission (NCC), and certified local wildlife rehabilitation centers (such as Safe Wings Ottawa and the Ottawa Humane Society) so officers can safely capture, transfer, or redirect injured birds to expert care. | 1. Integrate Wildlife-Sensitive Design iD14:G14nto Urban & Suburban Planning Ensure new residential and commercial developments, especially rapid growth areas in Ward 24, include wildlife corridors, natural buffer zones near green spaces, and bird-safe design standards to protect local habitats and reduce human-wildlife conflict. 2. Update Municipal Bylaws & Emergency Wildlife Response Advocate for expanding Ottawa Bylaw Services’ mandate to respond to injured or hazardous birds and wildlife on city property, establishing direct coordination protocols with certified local rescue organizations like Safe Wings Ottawa and the Ottawa Humane Society. 3. Protect and Restore Local Natural Ecosystems Support municipal tree canopy targets, wetland preservation, and dark-sky exterior lighting initiatives across city facilities to prevent light pollution, safeguard migratory species, and preserve biodiversity across Ottawa. |
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