Meeting Zoom 7:00PM – Link Provided Here Closer to Date
Background
Dear MP Naqvi,
Thank you for your thoughtful response of May 20 regarding 1100 Canal Woods Terrace and the Southern Corridor, including McCarthy Woods. We appreciate your continued engagement with residents and your recognition of the importance of meaningful community dialogue as these discussions move forward (referenced below).
On behalf of the Riverside Park Community Association Board of Directors, I would like to invite you to participate in a Zoom discussion with the Board, community stakeholders, and residents on June 10, 2026, at 7:00 PM.
The purpose of this discussion is to explore how our “existing” community(s) can work constructively with the new “forming community” of federal partners, including the NCC and BCH initiatives, to advocate for the prioritization of the vast already flattened, paved, and underutilized federal lands within Confederation Heights before considering the loss of significant natural greenspaces such as 1100 Canal Woods Terrace, the Southern Corridor, McCarthy Woods and Confederation Heights.
To our community(s), these natural lands are not vacant, underutilized or surplus spaces. They are important ecological corridors and valued public greenspaces that support biodiversity, active transportation, mental wellness, and the long-term vibrancy of future BCH sites and broader community-building initiatives.
Many residents remain concerned that development pressure is being directed toward intact greenspaces while substantial areas of disturbed and paved federal lands remain available for redevelopment. We believe this raises important questions about environmental stewardship, long-term planning priorities, and how affordable housing objectives can be balanced alongside the preservation of critical urban greenspace.
We believe an open discussion with you would help:
- Clarify the federal process and opportunities for community advocacy;
- Explore how residents can participate constructively in NCC and BCH planning discussions;
- Discuss balancing affordable housing objectives with environmental and community priorities; and
- Consider how existing paved and underutilized lands within Confederation Heights could be prioritized for redevelopment before natural areas are impacted.
We greatly appreciate your willingness to remain engaged on these matters and sincerely value your participation in this important discussion.
Referenced letter:
From: “Naqvi, Yasir – M.P.” yasir.naqvi@parl.gc.ca
Subject: RE: Need meeting – NCC – Canal Woods Terrace, Southern Corridor
Date: May 20, 2026 at 2:39:41 PM EDT
Good afternoon all,
Thank you for taking the time to write to me about the proposed sale and development at both 1100 Canal Woods Terrace and the Southern Corridor, including McCarthy Woods. I know these areas are valued by many in the community, and I appreciate the care and concern residents have shown for both our neighbourhood and our environment.
Canal Woods is currently owned by the National Capital Commission (NCC). My team and I are in regular contact with the NCC to better understand the process of any future development at this site. As such, I want to share some important context about this site and the process currently underway.
The sale of the land at 1100 Canal Woods Terrace is being considered through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Federal Lands Initiative, which is focused on helping address the housing crisis by bringing forward affordable housing on underutilized federal lands. The goal is to deliver urgently needed housing, including affordable homes, in a central, transit-dense location, close to existing municipal infrastructure and major employment hubs. Given the proximity of Carleton University and the O-Train, this site meets many of those criteria.
At this stage, no development partner has been selected. CMHC is conducting a public tender process to identify a partner who must commit to strong social outcomes. Most importantly, the aim is a minimum of 30% affordable housing units on site. Any selected partner will also be required to pursue municipal planning approvals, complete full environmental reviews, and conduct public consultation, meaning there will be opportunities for residents to provide input as the project evolves.
Any necessary tree removals would be subject to environmental review and must be offset through a robust replacement plan that strengthens the urban tree canopy. Importantly, 30% of the land on this site will remain under the NCC stewardship, and there will be opportunities for additional on-site planting. If planting cannot occur directly on the site, the NCC has committed to planting native trees on nearby NCC lands, ensuring a net gain in tree canopy cover and biodiversity for the surrounding area.
Regarding the future of lands within the Southern Corridor, including McCarthy Woods, I want to reassure you at the outset that the existing McCarthy Woods greenspace will continue to be protected. Your concerns about transparency and community input are appreciated. Based on information from the NCC, any consideration of lands within the Lower Rivergate Corridor is part of a longer-term process and would not result in immediate development. The zoning changes discussed through the City’s review have placed certain lands into a “development reserve,” meaning future planning processes, including the proper public consultation, would still be required before any decisions are made.
I hope you find this information helpful. I also believe there needs to be meaningful engagement with the community. I have heard from many residents about the need for more direct dialogue with the NCC. I am in contact with Councillor Shawn Menard, as well as MP David McGuinty, the MP for Ottawa South, to host an information session with the NCC and City staff to provide further information and answer questions about the process of the proposed sale and development. I will share the date, time and location of the meeting as soon as it is organized.
In the meantime, I am sure you are aware, but I would encourage you to share with your networks, and participate in the NCC’s National Capital Greenbelt Master Plan Review open houses, which are an important opportunity to share your views on land use and conservation in our region. You can find more information about those open houses at https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/events/community-open-house-national-capital-greenbelt-master-plan-review.
I hope you find this information to be helpful. I remain committed to staying engaged as this process moves forward and to ensuring that community voices are heard. Thank you again for reaching out and for advocacy and engagement on behalf of our community.
Regards,
Yasir
