Lawyers are filing Ottawa's first ever application under a section of the Ontario Municipal Act that would force the motel to close.

The City of Ottawa wants to shut down a Nepean motel that they say is a haven for criminal activity and a 'public nuisance', and they want a judge to do it for them.

They filed an application in July that requested the New Highway Inn Motel at 2279 Prince of Wales Dr. be closed for two years under the Ontario Municipal Act.

The 14-page notice of application cites a high volume of calls for emergency first responders. The city references 353 calls for service to Ottawa police and 61 calls to paramedics since January 2016.

It was the site of a stabbing Wednesday evening, as well as another in May.

This is the first time the municipality has ever attempted to close a location by filing an application under section 447.1 of the Municipal Act. In an emailed response to questions, City Clerk and Solicitor Rick O'Connor said this type of application has only ever been done twice. The first instance was in Newmarket in 2006 and the second was in Kenora in 2018.

The Councillor for the area Keith Egli tells 1310 NEWS the problem wasn't going away so they had to look at other options.

"This is another tool in the toolbox that could be tried," said the city councillor for Knoxdale-Merivale. "Our legal department looked at it and said, this may well be a candidate."

It's been a haven for criminal activity, which has affected residents in the surrounding community. Egli said people simply don't feel safe anymore in their own neighbourhoods.

"There have been complaints of people finding people in their backyards, or on their driveways."

The councillor explained that if a judge decides to shut down the property, he hopes it sends a message to criminals who might be looking at setting up shop somewhere else.

"This is the type of thing that can happen. I think it could have a deterrent effect."

One of Egli's main concerns with the application was what would happen to people who are relying on the motel for housing, but he says the city has reassured him that they will be taken care of.

"We will kick into gear and assist people in transitioning to more sustainable, appropriate housing." explained Egli.

No date has been set for a hearing.



