We need to stop the obsession with growth. More population means more crime, more sprawl, more pollution, more traffic, more housing insecurity, more costly infrastructure, and less greenspace. I have lived here for 25 years have seen a beautiful, culturally rich city become an ugly, aggressive concrete jungle thanks to out-of-control population growth.

We need to stop trying to attract more people to live here!

We have been withnessing encroachment of precious farmland and important greenspaces with the exponential growth of Orleans and other suburban areas on the outskirt of Ottawa for over 30 years without much intervention from our governments. It is overdue for our governments to tackle the issue to preserve the good soils so important for food production and the forested areas needed for clean air and adequate habitat to preserve the diversity of wildlife.

As an emphasis is placed on intensification, I believe the city should limit the height of residential buildings to avoid creating wind tunnels and ensure sunshine access for everyone. It should also require the inclusion of green spaces with trees near every building and mandate the use of environmentally friendly products for walking areas. There should also be community rooms in all highrises, and within short walking distance in low rise neighbourhoods.