JChianello

Intensification and transit-oriented development are an existential imperative for North American cites, but who's thinking about the strip malls?! As it turns out, Toronto city planners are. Read my latest post here: kitchissippiward.ca/2025/07/18/t...

OC Transpo's regular and "help" accounts have both joined Bluesky!

YouTube video by Youth Ottawa Youth Policy: Ryan & Meghan | Empower Hour

I'm looking forward to attending tonight's Ottawa Youth Council policy forum open mic. Organizers have published a look at its genesis and aims below. Learn more about the event here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/youth-poli....

Muni Panel: Hot Takes on Lansdowne An extended discussion on one of the biggest decisions facing Ottawa Council.

An on-location of the Better Ottawa Muni Panel: Hot (in fact, sweltering) Takes on Lansdowne #ottnews open.substack.com/pub/the613/p...

firing bad politicians: gut-wrenching testimony at Bill 9 hearings 😲 bellscorners.wordpress.com/2025/07/16/f... #bellscorners @jchianello.bsky.social @tylerwatt.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @seandevine9.bsky.social @tkavanaghbayward.bsky.social @catmckenney.bsky.social

Chianello: How to fire bad councillors — Ontario isn't getting it right A bill to hold local politicians accountable for their behaviour looks like a procedural shield, not a real reform, says Joanne Chianello.

Bill 9 claims to offer a process to remove council members who've seriously contravened the code of conduct -- have harassed and harmed others. But the process is so convoluted and politicized, that removal will be all but impossible. My @ottawacitizen.com op-ed: ottawacitizen.com/opinion/fire...

Neil Saravanamuttoo on Substack Joanne has a PSA for Ottawa folks to speak in person to Ontario Bill 9 (Municipal Councillor Accountability) on July 17. SIGN UP BY JULY 9 at link on this page: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/b...

If you care about changing provincial law so that a councillor, like Rick Chiarelli, found to have committed "incomprehensible incidents of harassment," then you need to sign up to speak to law-makers by July 9! substack.com/@neilsara/no...

If it wasn't for the (consistently excellent) reporting of CBC Ottawa's Kate Porter we would never know that the city had to return MILLIONS OF DOLLARS in application fees. This council's conscious choice to discuss stuff in secret is not acceptable. #ottnews

But mostly, I am angered that this Council -- which seems to be in love with discussing stuff in secret -- went in camera to hear about this settlement, which was NEVER REPORTED PUBLICLY. 2.../ #ottnews

City of Ottawa settles with developers over 'excessive' $1.8M fees | CBC News Instead of facing a hearing at the Ontario Land Tribunal, the City of Ottawa has settled for accepting one-sixth of the application fees it planned to charge for possible urban expansions.

This story infuriates me in a number of ways. First, that the city's planning staff could be MORE THAN $1M OFF-BASE in what it wanted to charge applicants. 1.../
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #ottnews

Suzanne Obiorah, @cassiesmith.bsky.social, @jchianello.bsky.social and Sarah Button were very helpful panelists adding expert perspectives to the City staff presentations at the 2026 budget consultation that @arieltroster.com and I held last night. Thanks to each for agreeing to do it!

Coun. Jeff Leiper eyes mayoral run against Mark Sutcliffe | CBC News The three-term city councillor for Kitchissippi ward is seriously exploring a run for mayor in next year’s municipal election.

I am looking forward to this! www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #ottnews

Why are you trying to escape me @jleiper.bsky.social? Also, big thanks to you and your staff for support in booking Champlain Park for our first ever spring picnic!

Many thanks to @jleiper.bsky.social and staff for hosting this event. Excellent non-confrontational discussion of community issues!

Joanne Chianello, standing, with the Champlain Park Community Association provides an update on community happenings to people seated in an large, open industrial space.

Thanks to everyone from the community, community partners, OC Transpo, @yasirnaqvicdn.bsky.social and my staff for an invigorating ward forum tonight. It's good to see everyone. We talked a lot of transportation tonight - the ward's aspirations for a safe, connected, healthy community shone through.

I would like to point out that the annual city budget is LEGISLATIVELY the responsibility of the mayor. How did this happen? And is it this kind of shell game that lets Ottawa keep its tax increases lower than virtually every other Ontario municipality? #ottnews

We need clearer accounting for photo radar revenues College Ward

College ward Coun. @laine_johnson1 calls out (much more politely than I would have) that despite direction from council in 2019 and again last December, traffic camera revenue did NOT go to road safety initiatives. How did this happen? #ottnews
www.college-ward.ca/we_need_clea...

This needs to be addressed ASAP.

Coalition calls for Matthew Perry House plans to be halted | CBC News A local group wants plans for a new addiction recovery centre in honour of the Ottawa-raised actor to be halted, as it would eliminate green space in their community. But some who support the project ...

I have arranged for some follow-up meetings with the most immediately impacted residents to explore The Royal's decision-making on where to locate the MPH residence on their campus, but some things need to be clarified and said.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Pierre Poilievre just doubled down: "We will defund CBC." I left journalism two years ago, but the work I was proud to do with my CBC colleagues brought crucial information about our municipality to citizens of Ottawa that they would never have learned otherwise. Defund accountability? Why?

Municipal Panel: LRT East Coming Soon, But Still No Answer for Train Derailments Insights on the past week at Ottawa City Hall

Not gonna sugar-coat it - the Better Ottawa Municipal Panel with @JonathanWilling and hosted by Neil Saravanamuttoo is a hefty one this week: All things transit, road salt, battery storage and Tewin rears its head. Yeah, it's a lot! We dig in ... #ottnews open.substack.com/pub/the613/p...

Neil Saravanamuttoo on Substack Our take on the last week in Ottawa City politics. Our panel talks about the federal election call, Sprung, bike days, and the feedback we got on whether the city should post on X.

substack.com/@neilsara/no...

Municipal Panel: Should Ottawa Post on X? Insights from Joanne Chianello and Jon Willing.

open.substack.com/pub/the613/p...

Started the morning with conversations over breakfast at John’s Diner.

There’s lots of hard work ahead for Canadians — and we’re getting right into it.

Neil Saravanamuttoo on Substack The Better Ottawa Municipal Panel has launched! Watch it here, or listen on Apple or Spotify.

A little rusty, but excited as ever to be on new Municipal Panel hosted by @neilsara.bsky.social on his @betterOttawa Substack. Had so much fun with Neil and @jonathanwilling.bsky.social. If you give it a listen (or a watch), let us know what you think! #ottnews
substack.com/@neilsara/no...

Am very proud to be a small part of Salus Ottawa that will help provide supportive housing services at MPH. An amazing initiative #ottnews

This morning, the Matthew Perry Foundation announced that it will be building a Matthew Perry House supportive housing development on the campus of The Royal. They and I are hosting an open house to learn more on March 20. Visit kitchissippiward.ca/2025/03/04/m... for more details.

Introducing the Better Ottawa Podcast's Municipal Panel Analysis and commentary with Joanne Chianello and Jon Willing

Feeling a little rusty, but looking forward to talking City Hall with my old frenemy! open.substack.com/pub/the613/p... #ottnews

Why can’t we have nice things????

The 15-minute city is great—for those who can afford it But most people who work in a 15-minute city can’t afford to live there. We have to build more 15-minute cities to meet demand and make sure at least some housing in them is affordable.

But most people who work in a 15-minute city can’t afford to live there. We have to build more 15-minute cities to meet demand and make sure at least some housing in them is affordable.