OLIP’s Contribution to the City’s Community Safety & Well-being Plan

Moving forward towards a Community Safety & Well-being Plan required under the Province’s 2018 Safer Ontario Act, the City of Ottawa consulted its residents on the best ways for people, organizations and government to work together to address well-being and safety issues in our communities.

As part of the Consultation process, OLIP presented the challenges and barriers faced by immigrant, newcomer and racialized populations, along with some recommendations where our community and the City can collaboratively take action to tackle issues identified in the 6 priority areas: 1) discrimination, marginalization and racism; 2) financial security and poverty reduction; 3) gender-based violence and violence against women; 4) housing; 5) integrated and simpler systems and 6) mental well-being.

Accessible, culturally appropriate policies and programs that are congruent with the realities and needs of immigrant and racialized populations are essential to address compounding challenges in low-income neighborhoods, such as over-policing, high school dropout, poor health, limited access to recreation and limited opportunities for economic mobility.

Considering that immigrants make up almost a quarter of the City’s population, while a Conference Board of Canada study estimated that immigration will account for more than 65 per cent of Ottawa-Gatineau’s population growth by 2036, it is essential that we plan ahead for the equitable integration of our newcomers, while addressing the unresolved challenges faced by those who have been here longer.

The City of Ottawa will summarize the feedback received in this second phase of consultation with a complete “What we heard” report that will be available in spring 2021.