Ottawa Is Building — But Who Benefits?
Ottawa is undergoing one of the most significant infrastructure expansions in its recent history, with large-scale construction projects reshaping neighbourhoods across the city. But as cranes dot the skyline and shovels hit the ground, United Way East Ontario is raising an important question: who actually benefits from all this building?
The organization is actively working to ensure that marginalized communities — including low-income residents, newcomers, people with disabilities, and others who are too often left out of economic growth — have a real shot at thriving during this construction wave, not just surviving it.
What Are Community Benefit Agreements?
At the heart of United Way's push is the concept of community benefit agreements (CBAs) — formal commitments from developers, contractors, and governments to deliver specific social and economic outcomes alongside physical infrastructure.
Think local hiring requirements, apprenticeship programs for equity-seeking workers, affordable housing set-asides, or investments in nearby community services. These aren't charity — they're negotiated terms built into project contracts that ensure public dollars create public value beyond just roads, rails, and buildings.
For a city like Ottawa, where the gap between its wealthiest and most vulnerable residents continues to widen, CBAs represent a meaningful lever for change.
Why Now Matters
The timing couldn't be more critical. Ottawa is currently navigating a dense pipeline of large infrastructure projects — transit expansions, housing developments, public facilities, and more. Once contracts are signed and shovels are in the ground, the window to negotiate community benefits largely closes.
United Way East Ontario's position is clear: the moment to bake equity into these projects is before they break ground, not after.
The organization is engaging with city officials, developers, and community partners to make the case that smart city-building isn't just about what gets built — it's about who gets to participate in building it, and who gets to live well once it's done.
The Stakes for Ottawa's Most Vulnerable
For residents in Ottawa's lower-income neighbourhoods — many of which sit directly in the path of new development — large construction projects can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, they can bring jobs and revitalization. On the other, they can accelerate displacement, inflate rents, and disrupt the social fabric of established communities.
United Way's intervention aims to tip that balance toward opportunity. By advocating for structured community benefits, the organization hopes to help residents gain job training, employment pipelines, and neighbourhood investments that outlast the construction period itself.
A Model Worth Watching
Other Canadian cities — Toronto, Vancouver, Hamilton — have seen community benefit frameworks gain traction alongside major infrastructure investment. Ottawa has an opportunity to learn from those models and build something that reflects the specific needs of this city's communities.
United Way East Ontario's work here is part of a broader effort to ensure that economic growth in Ottawa is equitable growth — where the rising tide actually lifts all boats, not just the ones already floating high.
As Ottawa's build-out continues, the organization's advocacy is a timely reminder that infrastructure isn't neutral. Every project is a choice about what kind of city we want to be.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal / OBJ.ca
