Ottawa has earned a prestigious new title: the most liveable major city in Canada, according to the Globe and Mail's latest ranking. For residents who navigate the city's bike paths, picnic on NCC greenbelt land, and skate on the world's largest naturally frozen skating rink, it might not come as a complete surprise.
But Toon Dreessen, an Ottawa architect and longtime observer of city planning, argues in the Ottawa Citizen that the city's leadership deserves far less credit for this achievement than it's likely to claim.
The NCC Did the Heavy Lifting
Dreessen's argument is pointed: Ottawa's exceptional quality of life stems largely from decisions made not by City Hall, but by the National Capital Commission, the federal Crown corporation responsible for planning and managing Canada's capital region.
The NCC controls a remarkable share of Ottawa's most beloved assets. The greenbelt that rings the city, protecting it from suburban sprawl. The parkways and pathways along the Ottawa and Rideau rivers. Gatineau Park, one of the most spectacular urban green spaces in North America. The Rideau Canal corridor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws skaters in winter and paddlers in summer.
None of these assets were created by the municipal government. They reflect decades of federal investment in making Ottawa a capital worthy of the country.
What the City Actually Controls
That's not to say Ottawa's city government has done nothing. Municipal cycling infrastructure has expanded significantly in recent years, transit (however frustratingly) continues to develop, and neighbourhood revitalization projects have transformed areas like Hintonburg and Vanier.
But for a city that tops national liveability rankings, Ottawa's residents know the commute can still be a headache, that the LRT has had well-documented reliability issues, and that the housing crisis affecting the rest of Canada hasn't spared the capital.
Why This Still Matters
Regardless of who deserves the credit, Ottawa's top-ranked status is genuinely good news for residents and for the city's future. Liveability rankings influence where companies locate, where professionals choose to settle, and how the city attracts investment.
The challenge for Ottawa's city council is to build on this foundation, and to earn more of the credit the next time around.
Source: Ottawa Citizen (Opinion by Toon Dreessen)
