Kate Porter

Reporter

Kate Porter covers municipal affairs for CBC Ottawa. Over the past two decades, she has also produced in-depth reports for radio, web and TV, regularly presented the radio news, and covered the arts beat.

Latest from Kate Porter

Ottawa city council votes on the 2025 budget today

With city spending under pressure, some city watchers would like more discussion about big-picture, longer-term themes affecting Ottawa.
Analysis

Transit throwback: The bumpy ride to Ottawa's 'new' north-south LRT

As opening day approaches for the O-Train's southern extension, we take a look at Ottawa's long journey toward north-south light rail.
Analysis

The mayor's many calculations for this 2025 budget

Ottawa's mayor has not followed the typical playbook for this 2025 city budget. But the city's finances are also more difficult than ever.
In Depth

Wetland protections are shifting, especially in Ottawa

CBC Ottawa spent time in the city's rural areas and reviewed many documents to learn how Ontario's controversial updated scorecard has affected three local wetlands.

Large wetland near Tewin development gets protected

While wetlands in the rural west have lost provincial protection, the City of Ottawa's move to evaluate wetlands near a big future development has led to a newly designated South Bear Brook wetland.

Plan to expand Stittsville quarry would remove wetlands

A quarry application by Tomlinson Group highlights two competing priorities in the province: the need for construction materials, and the need to protect wetlands and other natural features.

Wetland in west Ottawa lost status after land was cleared

A 41.5-hectare provincially significant wetland in Ottawa's rural west has lost its status after a property owner cleared brush and trees, and the owner now has to let it grow back. 

Ottawa wetlands cut from 'provincially significant' list

Fifty-five hectares of rural westn Ottawa wetlands have lost their provincial protections since a 2022 move by the Ontario government aimed at building more housing.

Tough city budget to be drafted on mayor's directions

The City of Ottawa's draft budget for 2025 will be crafted based on the mayor's approach of raising property taxes by 2.9 per cent and exploring an unknown mix of difficult cuts and price hikes on transit.
Analysis

'Raucous' budget season begins in Ottawa

The next few months of deliberations about the City of Ottawa's 2025 budget could bring either a thrilling high or some tough lows that will be hard to stomach.