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Advocacy & issues

6 07, 2026

This By-law could help protect tenants. Your support this July 8 can make a difference.

2026-07-06T16:12:13-04:00

What is the Rental Renovation Bylaw? The Rental Renovation By-law is proposed by the City of Ottawa to help preserve affordable housing and protect tenants from unlawful and unfair evictions when a landlord says they need to renovate a building. The by-law will reinforce existing protections in the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act. This proposed draft by-law includes a request for landlords to: Obtain a rental renovation license from the City within seven days of asking a tenant to move out  Get a building permit before they can give a tenant a notice to move out. Landlords would also be prohibited from [...]

This By-law could help protect tenants. Your support this July 8 can make a difference.2026-07-06T16:12:13-04:00
10 06, 2026

Come to our Climate Action Party on July 9!

2026-06-17T09:35:59-04:00

Every corner of our city is feeling the impact of cost of living increases, extreme weather events and mounting uncertainties. Over the past year, CAWI and Ecology Ottawa have been building power together and in communities across Ottawa to understand how we can build an equitable, resilient, and caring city.  Do we have the power to influence change? Join us for an evening of community storytelling and art to celebrate residents and communities with the courage to act, learn, and imagine a climate equitable, sustainable, and caring future. Psst! The answer: come on July 9th and find out! To celebrate is [...]

Come to our Climate Action Party on July 9!2026-06-17T09:35:59-04:00
28 01, 2026

Building Power to Shape a Climate-Equitable Caring City

2026-01-28T12:22:05-05:00

Join Ecology Ottawa and Us for This Workshop Series   People with wealth, and specifically homeowners, are historically over-represented in City Planning consultations and civic engagement. This workshop series is intended to support those who are underrepresented in city planning decisions: low- and moderate- income folks, renters, people with disabilities, newcomers, Indigenous people, and other marginalized identities. Are you looking to influence change in your neighbourhood? Are you impacted by unreliable transit? Do you need better insulation in your apartment to lower your bills and be resilient to extreme weather events? Have you witnessed a loss of trees with new developments? [...]

Building Power to Shape a Climate-Equitable Caring City2026-01-28T12:22:05-05:00
20 11, 2025

CAWI’s Transit Therapy Line Preliminary Results

2025-11-20T15:50:08-05:00

You're speaking, we're listening.   Preliminary results from CAWI’s Transit Therapy Line are in, and the message is clear: We need reliable, accessible and affordable public transit in Ottawa.  "Unreliable transit is making living with a disability even harder." "I’m spending less time with my children because we all need to leave the house earlier to get to school or work." [Increase in travel time] "I’m needing to take a full day off work just to get to one medical appointment." [Increase in travel time] 97% of participants surveyed have said new ways to bus transit has not improved transit in [...]

CAWI’s Transit Therapy Line Preliminary Results2025-11-20T15:50:08-05:00
9 10, 2025

Participatory Gendered Budgeting Workshop

2025-10-09T09:27:56-04:00

Participatory Gendered Budgeting Workshop   Since 2008, the City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) has worked with residents to understand and influence the city budget through community workshops, training, and advocacy. Our annual Participatory Gendered Budgeting workshop continues this important work. This workshop is a space where community members can learn how the city budget works and how we can have a say in where public money goes. Participatory budgeting is about people coming together to make decisions, share ideas, and push for equitable use of public funds. This year, we will be guided by the Care Lens - a way [...]

Participatory Gendered Budgeting Workshop2025-10-09T09:27:56-04:00
11 06, 2025

Bill 6 received Royal Assent at the Ontario Legislature. Take action with CAWI.

2025-08-11T13:52:42-04:00

The Safer Municipalities Act introduces new penalties that criminalize people living in poverty and experiencing housing instability. It targets people with mental health challenges and those who use substances, while failing to offer the support proven to save lives and reduce harm. We believe that true public safety comes from housing, dignity, and income security. Criminalization does not solve systemic injustice. It makes it harder for people to feel safe, supported, or connected to their communities. That is why CAWI, in partnership with local organizations, is sending a letter to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe urging him to speak out against Bill 6 [...]

Bill 6 received Royal Assent at the Ontario Legislature. Take action with CAWI.2025-08-11T13:52:42-04:00
29 05, 2025

CAWI’s Submission to the Gender Housing Justice Review Panel

2025-07-22T12:10:50-04:00

The City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) is proud to have contributed to the Gender Housing Justice Review Panel, a national human rights review examining Canada’s failure to uphold the right to housing for women and gender diverse people. Our submission, Finding a Unicorn, responds to the panel’s open call for testimonials. Grounded in local data and the lived experiences of our members, CAWI’s submission exposes how systemic barriers and the feminization of poverty continue to drive housing precarity. We outline key recommendations including stronger tenant protections, investment in women and gender diverse led housing, expansion of non-market housing, and integrated [...]

CAWI’s Submission to the Gender Housing Justice Review Panel2025-07-22T12:10:50-04:00
5 06, 2023

CAWI hosts public consultation for the City’s first Anti-Racism Strategy

2023-06-05T11:19:07-04:00

The City of Ottawa will officially launch its first Anti-Racism Strategy soon in the spring, and CAWI is the host of one of this sessions! The community townhall is part of the City’s effort to demonstrate transparency, accountability, collaboration, and trust building with community members, leaders and organizations. It aims to communicate with the community its commitment to anti-racism and the journey ahead to integrate racial equity into all City operations. Come learn about the strategy and give your opinion on Wednesday, June 14th, from 4:30 t0 6:30 PM, at Rideau Community Hub - former Rideau High School (815 Saint Laurent [...]

CAWI hosts public consultation for the City’s first Anti-Racism Strategy2023-06-05T11:19:07-04:00

           

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