Development Charges: The Broken Promise 
Everyone says “growth pays for growth.”
Ottawa’s Development Charges are supposed to make new homes and subdivisions fund their own roads, pipes, and parks. It’s not working.
2025: City collected $40 million less in DCs than planned.
Housing starts collapsed. That’s $40 million that was supposed to build infrastructure for new residents due to shortfall.
Average annual Development Charge DC haul: $204–250 million. When it drops, guess who pays? You do — through the levy or higher property taxes.
Meanwhile, senior governments are pressuring cities to slash DCs 30–50% in exchange for federal/provincial cash.
Ottawa is already waiving tens of millions for “affordable” deals. A recent SINGLE waiver created a $50 million shortfall — money meant for growth infrastructure.
Important: DCs only pay for new growth capital.
They do nothing for the $3.8 billion backlog on existing roads, arenas, and community centres. That’s why yesterday’s committee was debating a dedicated infrastructure levy. Other cities tie every DC dollar to transparent, measurable projects with 50-year viability checks. Ottawa? We keep deferring, waiving, and hoping growth catches up.
Result: existing neighbourhoods get “managed decline” while we chase new development that doesn’t fully pay its way.
My position as Rideau-Rockcliffe candidate:
DCs should protect your tax bill.
Right now they’re failing.
If you want a councillor who will call this out and demands better — drop your thoughts below. What’s the biggest infrastructure funding frustration in your area?#Ottawa #RideauRockcliffe #DevelopmentCharges #FixTheBasics #InfrastructureFirst
Everyone says “growth pays for growth.”
Ottawa’s Development Charges are supposed to make new homes and subdivisions fund their own roads, pipes, and parks. It’s not working.
2025: City collected $40 million less in DCs than planned.
Housing starts collapsed. That’s $40 million that was supposed to build infrastructure for new residents due to shortfall.
Average annual Development Charge DC haul: $204–250 million. When it drops, guess who pays? You do — through the levy or higher property taxes.
Meanwhile, senior governments are pressuring cities to slash DCs 30–50% in exchange for federal/provincial cash.
Ottawa is already waiving tens of millions for “affordable” deals. A recent SINGLE waiver created a $50 million shortfall — money meant for growth infrastructure.
Important: DCs only pay for new growth capital.
They do nothing for the $3.8 billion backlog on existing roads, arenas, and community centres. That’s why yesterday’s committee was debating a dedicated infrastructure levy. Other cities tie every DC dollar to transparent, measurable projects with 50-year viability checks. Ottawa? We keep deferring, waiving, and hoping growth catches up.
Result: existing neighbourhoods get “managed decline” while we chase new development that doesn’t fully pay its way.
My position as Rideau-Rockcliffe candidate:
- Demand full transparency on Development Charge reserves and forecasts before any more cuts or waivers.
- No net loss to infrastructure funding — if we reduce DCs, replace every dollar or delay the project.
- Fix the existing city first. Growth is great, but not if it leaves current taxpayers holding the bag.
DCs should protect your tax bill.
Right now they’re failing.
If you want a councillor who will call this out and demands better — drop your thoughts below. What’s the biggest infrastructure funding frustration in your area?#Ottawa #RideauRockcliffe #DevelopmentCharges #FixTheBasics #InfrastructureFirst
Our $3.8 billion infrastructure backlog, 99 crumbling facilities, and 25 arenas at end-of-life aren’t caused by the ocean. They’re caused by years of deferring repairs, waiving DCs without full replacement revenue, and building new stuff we can’t afford to maintain.
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