The Draft Consultation Plan was provided to MPH Proponents in May 2025.
This plan is designed to guide the consultation and ongoing engagement processes surrounding the development of the Matthew Perry House (MPH), a post-treatment supportive residential facility for people with substance use disorders, proposed to be located on the grounds of the Royal Ottawa Hospital.
Consultation will provide an opportunity for proponents to address or mitigate concerns raised by community representatives. To ensure that decisions made by proponents reflect and take into consideration the feedback from consultation partners, no final decisions are to be made prior to concluding the consultation process.
This plan aims to inform the consultation process between proponents and the surrounding community to ensure transparency, repair and build trust, and support a successful integration of the facility within the neighborhood.
The MPH will serve individuals recovering from substance use disorders by providing post-treatment residential support services. The facility will be located near existing residential areas and a daycare centre, necessitating proactive community consultations.
● Provide timely and accurate information about the location, services, financing, sustainability, and scope of the project.
● Gather community feedback on key concerns, opportunities, and expectations.
● Provide an opportunity for proponents to address concerns raised during the consultation process, including around location, safety, traffic, accessibility, and long-term impacts.
● Facilitate open dialogue between proponents and the surrounding community.
● Establish a foundation for ongoing, collaborative community engagement.
● Rationale for site selection within the Royal Ottawa Hospital campus including reports,
environmental assessments and traffic studies, etc.
● Proximity to residential homes and green spaces used by the community
● Design, traffic flow, access points, and green buffers
● Feasibility of scale and scope of project
● Pilot project planning and assessment process
● Phased implementation
● Source(s) of funding (e.g., provincial/federal grants, health authority allocations, partnerships).
● Budget overview, business plan, and long-term financial sustainability.
● Residential treatment model
● Support programs (e.g., counseling, peer support, vocational training)
● Target population and intake process
● Safety and clinical protocols
● Mechanisms for ongoing input (advisory committees, feedback loops)
● Conflict resolution protocols
● Opportunities for neighborhood collaboration and inclusion
● Community representatives: local residents, business owners and neighborhood associations
● Project proponents: Matthew Perry Foundation Canada, the Royal Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Community Housing, Ottawa Salus, CAPSA, Rideauwood, Ottawa Black Mental Health Coalition, and Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition. One participant per proponent for in-person and virtual meetings.
● Ottawa Police Service and emergency responders
● School boards and local youth organizations
● Elected officials (municipal, provincial, federal)
● Experts such as: engineers, architects, city planners, environmental experts, mental health and addictions professionals, etc.
Community representatives must agree to the participation of invitee(s) in writing in advance of the meeting.
The consultation process will be structured into phases to allow for clear communication, feedback gathering, and collaborative dialogue.
Engagement Methods: Stakeholder mapping and outreach; initial meeting(s) on Draft Consultation Plan and process
Description: Identify key voices and create awareness; communication plan; agreement on roles and responsibilities; finalization of Consultation Plan
Engagement Methods: Reports, drawings, plans, proposals, letters of intent, permit or zoning applications, funding applications
Description: Share details on services, timeline, funding, infrastructure and location
Engagement Method: Topic specific community information sessions, town halls, focus groups
Description: Gather input on concerns and community priorities
Engagement Method: Topic specific small-group workshops, stakeholder roundtables
Description: Work directly with residents and local groups
Engagement Method: Advisory committee, feedback portal
Description: Maintain transparency and adjust based on input
● Accessible venues for all in-person events
● Safe space principles for all consultation events
● Consultation record for tracking questions, requests for information, responses and follow-up will be developed and maintained by community representatives and shared with all consultation partners
● Post-consultation report with clear outcomes and follow-up commitments as agreed to by all consultation partners will be developed by community representatives
● A final consultation summary report will be publicly released following review and agreement by all consultation partners
● Input will be clearly linked to decisions made (e.g., design modifications, safety protocols)
● One or more community liaison(s) will be appointed to serve as an ongoing point of contact
● Reasonable costs to support meaningful engagement will be incurred by the proponents (e.g.: facility rental, communications, mediator, etc.)
This consultation plan ensures that the development of the MPH reflects the values, concerns, and hopes of the Ottawa community. A collaborative and inclusive process will not only help address sustainability and safety concerns but also build a supportive environment that promotes healing, equity, and long-term community well-being.