July 17, 2026
On Wednesday, City Council supported Cathy Curry and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe successfully passing their motion – Preserving of the Kanata golf lands and greenspace
On July 15, City Council supported Cathy Curry and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe successfully passing their motion – Preserving of the Kanata golf lands and greenspace (motion below for copy) [Time stamp 8:25 to 8:28] There was no discussion. Really, not that surprising given Council had just spent hours reviewing and grappling with the damage across our city after last week’s Canada Day storm. Well over twenty neighbourhoods including Beaverbrook locally were profoundly affected with residents not yet beyond identifying the damage and removing it let alone turning to replace their losses.
Councillors representing those hard-hit areas had lots to say but so did other Councillors who wanted to know where the city was in advance planning should their ward be less fortunate with the next storm. And we all know the next one is coming… and most probably sooner than we’d wish. Charlie Senack from The Ottawa Lookout spent some time with Councillor Curry and me yesterday looking specifically at our Kanata North situation and he published today.
Nonetheless, we are pleased that almost all our elected city representatives [short only Councillors Plante and Devine for reasons unstated] understand their duty to protect residents and city infrastructure by ensuring that the open spaces that their stormwater management system relies on are there for the long term, most especially those that are designed for that purpose. Now, we need to work to ensure that the Ontario government is positively contributing to the solution that is needed here and everywhere in our province. Forward leaning policy changes are required to be sure. But in the short term, active intervention is long overdue on several aspects of this situation: functional municipal oversight of the land use issue at the outset; the need to allow municipalities to protect infrastructure from inappropriate development when the public risks are demonstrable and, to protect public safety on matters such as mercury contamination when the development process as envisioned in regulations is sidetracked by administrative decisions from parties such as in this situation by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
In her short opening comments on Wednesday, Councillor Curry recognized that the time is now. Premier Ford has become more engaged of late, returning dozens and dozens of calls and texts and emails of our supporters resulting from our ongoing “Text Doug Ford” campaign. [ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with this program and others]. While the Premier continues to suggest to all that he supports Mayor Sutcliffe and that Sutcliffe has the power to ‘stop this thing’ [ his specifics on how seem to be lacking], he is reiterating ideas that have come forward from our community including land deals or ‘swaps’ (of which both the city and province have plenty to bring to the table). Ottawa cannot afford to lose this property as an integrated SWM asset for Kanata. We’ve said it before – All development is not bad. But all development sites are not good. Your turn Mr. Premier! Bring us what you’ve got!
A New Vision for the Kanata Greenspace Lands
In June, the KGPC, together with the Kanata Lakes Community Association (KLCA) and the Kanata Beaverbrook Community Association (KBCA), submitted a proposal entitled Ottawa Resilient: Protecting Vital Infrastructure and our Shared Greenspace to Mayor Sutcliffe’s Office outlining our vision for the future of the Kanata Greenspace Lands. Our intent was to encourage the city to begin the process to protect the land as permanent public greenspace and critical natural infrastructure through a feasibility study, a collaborative working group, and provincial and federal support, including a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) among other tools.
This proposal recognizes the crucial role these lands have played for decades in absorbing and managing stormwater, protecting the Kizell watershed, supporting biodiversity, and providing recreational and climate resilience benefits for our community.
We heard that our proposal was both well received and appreciated and would like to think that it contributed positively to yesterday’s motion as a first step to truly engaging the province in a solution. Preserving these lands as a publicly accessible urban park and protecting this critical natural infrastructure is a wonderful long-term investment in Ottawa’s future.
ClubLink Denied City Access for Independent Soil Testing on the Greenspace
The City of Ottawa has confirmed that it requested access to the land to conduct its own independent soil testing on the KGC lands. According to the City’s latest Engage Ottawa update, the proponent has “not permitted the city to conduct that testing,” allowing access only for inspection and enforcement purposes.
Because access to the site has not been granted, the city is now carrying out environmental work on nearby City-owned lands instead. This includes Phase I Environmental Site Assessments at seven surrounding parks and shallow soil sampling along eight pathway links connected to the land.
As you know, the WSP peer review identified deficiencies in the original environmental investigation, including concerns about whether sufficient sampling had been undertaken in areas that would historically have received the greatest applications of pesticides and other turf-management chemicals, such as tees and greens.
311 is your friend
Dozens and dozens of signs are popping up everywhere around the Kanata Greenspace Lands. Private Property. No trespassing. We do get it … after 7 years we get it. But it might be a better use of resources for ClubLink (soon to be Minto) to cut the grass to reduce the tick infestation and remove the noxious weeds ( like Dog Strangling Vine and Wild Parsnip) that are now overgrowing and moving onto the private property of others.
Just sayin’…
It was reported a few months back that ClubLink (or Minto) was to have someone cutting the grass, but it does not seem that it is consistent let alone widespread. Surely, they’re responsible for property maintenance too? Remember, call 311 to report poor property maintenance and other concerns. Also notify Engage Kanata Lakes on all matters relating to the KGC lands. We ALL have a responsibility to keep Kanata clean and safe.
And yes, it is summer. We truly hope you are finding some great activities to go with our very summery weather. Yes, we are volunteers and hope to squeeze in some vacation too, but the KGPC continues to monitor, work and advocate on this issue. No matter where you are, stay engaged by following our Facebook and Instagram pages and our e-News. Councillor Curry’s Kanata North Newsletter is a must read too.
Stay with us. This week’s good news only results when we stay strong and united.
We’re ALWAYS better together.
Happy summer from all of us at the KGPC! Stay safe!
Barbara
Chair, Kanata Greenspace Protection Coalition
E – chair@ourkanatagreenspace.ca
C – 613.725.4345 Get involved by following us on Facebook or Instagram.
MOTION: Preserving of the Kanata golf lands and greenspace
- Moved by C. Curry
Seconded by M. Sutcliffe
WHEREAS the lands municipally known as 7000 Campeau Drive – formerly the Kanata Lakes Golf and Country Club, and referred to throughout this motion as the Kanata golf lands and greenspace – comprise approximately 175 acres within the Kanata Lakes community, and were made subject to a 1981 agreement known as the 40% Agreement, requiring that 40 per cent of the area be preserved as open space; and
WHEREAS when the urban boundary was extended to allow this area to be developed, the community was promised a Central Park – one large, connected network of greenspace for the whole community; and
WHEREAS the community was allowed, under the Agreement, to use these lands as a winter park, and has done so for more than 40 years, a winter park it has now lost on top of never receiving the Central Park it was promised; and
WHEREAS the roads, water infrastructure, and school capacities in the area, along with the thousands of nearby new apartment units were all planned on the understanding that this land would remain parkland and storm water management for the area; and
WHEREAS hundreds of acres of nearby forests and greenspace were approved for housing development on the understanding that the Kanata golf lands would become the community’s permanent and protected park and greenspace; and
WHEREAS Council has already affirmed, on January 28, 2026, that building homes or other development on these lands does not fit with the plan the broader Kanata Lakes community was built around or the promises made to its residents, and the City has gone through the courts and exhausted its options to enforce the 40% Agreement meant to protect these lands; and
WHEREAS the Ontario Land Tribunal has approved a draft plan of subdivision and municipal zoning for development on these lands, establishing a precedent that long-standing commitments to preserve parkland and greenspace can be overridden through litigation, a precedent every Ontario municipality should want to avoid; and
WHEREAS the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) has written to the Attorney General of Ontario asking the Province to review the ClubLink decisions in Ottawa and ensure municipalities have the tools they need to protect open space; and
WHEREAS the Province has stepped in before in similar circumstances – intervening in 2021, after the Town of Oakville passed similar resolutions, to preserve the Glen Abbey Golf Course;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor write to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing requesting that the Province of Ontario consider using the following tools:
- An order under Section 47 of the Planning Act issued by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to ensure the preservation of the Kanata golf lands and greenspace as part of the 40 per cent greenspace; or
- Special legislation to ensure the conservation of the Kanata golf lands and greenspace as part of the 40 per cent greenspace lands.