Establishing a Wastewater-Based Early Warning System for Toxic Drug Supply Monitoring in Ottawa
Moved by S. Plante
Seconded byD. Brown
WHEREAS Ottawa continues to experience a toxic drug poisoning emergency, with fentanyl and other synthetic substances contributing to preventable deaths across the city; and
WHEREAS the local drug supply has become increasingly unpredictable and toxic, with many poisonings involving substances that are contaminated, adulterated, or contain unknown synthetic compounds; and
WHEREAS current surveillance methods, including police reporting, hospital data, and self-reporting, do not provide real-time information on emerging substances or toxic batches in circulation; and
WHEREAS wastewater analysis has proven to be an effective, anonymous, population-level public health surveillance tool, capable of detecting emerging substances, identifying trends in drug use, and providing early warning of dangerous contaminants in the supply; and
WHEREAS wastewater surveillance infrastructure was successfully deployed across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor variants and epidemiological trends in real time, demonstrating the viability of this tool for broader public health applications; and
WHEREAS supervised consumption and harm reduction sites have historically provided critical drug-checking services and frontline intelligence about the local drug supply, and the closure or reduction of these services creates a gap in Ottawa’s ability to monitor toxic substances in circulation; and
WHEREAS enhanced coordination between public health, law enforcement, and municipal operations is necessary to strengthen Ottawa’s response to the toxic drug poisoning crisis and improve rapid response capacity for frontline workers.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Ottawa City Council direct staff to work with:
Dr. Monty Ghosh, Physician and Associate Professor at the University of Alberta, in addiction, overdose prevention, harm reduction and health systems in the Department of Medicine; and
Dr. Robert Robert Delatolla, Professor, CIHR Applied Public Health Chair in Environment, Climate Change and One Health, and Director, Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Environmental Engineering;
To explore the implementation of a wastewater-based drug surveillance and early warning system in Ottawa; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Infrastructure and Water Services Department, work in conjunction with Ottawa Public Health, to examine the feasibility of identifying key geographic locations for wastewater sampling, establishing reporting protocols, and developing rapid notification mechanisms for frontline health and community safety partners when dangerous substances or toxic batches are detected; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff report back to Council on potential implementation options, partnership opportunities, costs, and funding sources, including provincial, federal, and settlement-based funding streams, to support the establishment of a long-term wastewater surveillance program as part of Ottawa’s public health and community safety response to the toxic drug poisoning emergency.
Motions Requiring Suspension of the Rules of Procedure
Notices of Motion (for Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)
Notice of Intent
Notice of Intent from Ottawa Community Housing Corporation to hold the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder at the Council meeting scheduled for June 10, 2026.
Notice of Intent from ByWard Market District Authority to hold the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder at the Council meeting scheduled for June 10, 2026.
Motion to Introduce By-laws
Three Readings
That the by-laws listed on the Agenda under Motion to Introduce By-laws, Three Readings, be read and passed.
a. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to designate certain lands at Deschâtelets Avenue on Plan 4M-1596, as being exempt from Part Lot Control.b. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2017-180 respecting the appointment of Municipal Law Enforcement Officers in accordance with private property parking enforcement.c. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to authorize the imposition of special charges on 111 Finn Crt (the "benefitting property")d. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to authorize the imposition of special charges on 4173 Alfalfa St (the "benefitting property")e. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to authorize the imposition of special charges on 81 Drouin Ave (the "benefitting property")f. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to authorize the imposition of special charges on 4 Wolmsley Cres (the "benefitting property")g. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to authorize the imposition of special charges on 743 White Alder Ave (the "benefitting property")h. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to authorize the imposition of special charges on 3500 Woodroffe Ave (the "benefitting property")i. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to authorize the imposition of special charges on 129 Waverly St (the "benefitting property")j. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to authorize the imposition of special charges on 14 Tanglewood Dr (the "benefitting property")k. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to authorize the imposition of special charges on 10 Hummingbird Cres (the "benefitting property")l. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2024-453 being a by-law of the City of Ottawa to provide for solid waste management and to repeal by-law No. 2012. m. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2020-340 being a by-law of the City of Ottawa respecting the protection of municipal trees and municipal natural areas in the City of Ottawa and trees on private property in the urban area of the City of Ottawa, and to repeal By-laws 2009-200 and 2006-279.n. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of part of the lands known municipally as 6041 Fernbank Road.o. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2026-50 to change the zoning of part of the lands known municipally as 6041 Fernbank Road.p. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change the zoning of lands known municipally as 391 Hilversum Lane.q. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2026-50 to change the zoning of lands known municipally as 391 Hilversum Laner. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to remove the holding symbol from lands known municipally as 2190 Mer Bleue Road. s. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2026-50 to remove the holding symbol from lands known municipally as 2190 Mer Bleue Road.t. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law 2024-229, the Shirley's Brook Stormwater Development Charges By-Law, 2024.u. A by-law of the City of Ottawa to designate certain lands at Quordon Road, Sintaluta Walk and Halflinger Row on Plan 4M-XXXX as being exempt from Part Lot Control.