Local organizations protest outside Ottawa city hall ahead of budget vote

Ottawa city councillors are meeting to vote on the 2022 draft budget.

The city's Finance and Economic Development Committee has approved the draft budget ahead of a final council vote set for Wednesday, December 8. 

The draft proposes a 3 per cent tax increase, which would see the average urban homeowner pay an additional $119 per year and the average rural homeowner pay an additional $91 per year.

Several social organizations have gathered in front of city hall to protest the budget, including the Ottawa Black Diaspora Coalition, Horizon Ottawa and Climate Justice Ottawa. 

“The budget we have in front of us is a repeat of budgets past,” Sam Hersh of Horizon Ottawa told CityNews' The Sam Laprade Show. “It's quite clear we have the resources, but city council just doesn't have its priorities straight.”

Hersh says the city's social service agencies are not receiving enough funding, compared to the city's police budget, and that the distribution of funding in the draft budget isn't equal, especially for services within the city's racialized communities.

The draft police budget for 2022 proposes a $14-million increase over 2021, a 2.86 per cent increase.

The rally began at 9 a.m. in front of Ottawa City Hall. 

Join us and others from @ott_alt_budget coalition as we rally in front of #ottcity hall Wednesday, Dec 8th at 9AM before the final @ottawacity budget vote to demand a budget in the public interest not one for the wealthy and well-connected!

RSVP below:https://t.co/luRf1Wz8wS

— Horizon Ottawa (@HorizonOttawa) November 29, 2021