Here's what Ottawa mayoral candidates said on the campaign trail today
More transparency at city hall, making Ottawa a “music city,” and revisiting Ottawa’s environmental policy.
Those were the main promises that some Ottawa mayoral candidates promised on the campaign trail on Wednesday. Here’s a closer look at the details.
CATHERINE MCKENNEY
Coun. Catherine McKenney pledged Wednesday to bring more transparency at Ottawa City Hall and “end the influence of money in Ottawa city politics.”
McKenney said they would make the language in the annual budget easier for the public to understand and start public consultations on the budget earlier. They also pledged to make all city committees balanced in terms of gender and geography, if elected.
“It’s time to get the influence of money out of City Hall. Our decisions should be influenced by people, not money,” said McKenney. “We deserve a City Hall we can trust. As Mayor, I’ll change the culture at City Hall to put people first and build a city that works for all of us.”
McKenney would also create a chief architect for the city of Ottawa.
The Somerset Ward Councillor also said they would commit to a "three per cent approach to property taxes" if elected, calling it a "fiscal anchor" for the city. McKenney had previously been critical of Mayor Jim Watson's tax cap of three per cent, saying it limits flexibility.
Speaking on Newstalk 580 CFRA's "Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron", McKenney said the difference is that they will soon be releasing a full, fiscal plan that outlines their spending plans and priorities over the next term of council, to show where the funding for promises and priorities will come from.
McKenney said they were committed to keeping tax increases within that three per cent limit.
MARK SUTCLIFFE
Mark Sutcliffe is promising to make Ottawa a “music city.”
He says this would be achieved by reviewing city bylaws to help support musicians, including buskers, and by creating a music office, which would serve as a single point of contact for musicians looking to perform in Ottawa.
“Residents are tired of searching for their favourite artist’s tour schedules, only to see Ottawa not make the list - and I’d like to see that change. To build a world-class city, we need a community that is safe, reliable, and affordable. But we also need to build a city that excites people and offers diverse cultural experiences. Making Ottawa a Music City is one way we can achieve that vision,” Sutcliffe said.
He added that the last concert he attended was Sum 41 and Alexisonfire at Bluesfest.
In 2020, the city launched three core music programs: Music on Hold, OC Transpo Busking Program and City Sounds. Music on Hold gives local musicians the opportunity to have their music featured when callers to city phone lines are on hold. The OC Transpo Busking Program was meant to allow buskers to perform at O-Train stations, but it has been on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. City Sounds City Sounds is an annual streamable playlist featuring local musicians.
MIKE MAGUIRE
Mike Maguire is pledging to review the city’s environmental policy, saying city council has “allowed environmental considerations to take priority over too many other aspects of running a city including, livability and affordability.”
Maguire is proposing that Ottawa revisit its Official Plan, which was approved by council last October but has yet to be approved by the provincial government. He is critical of a plan to add wind turbines to the electrical grid and wants to reconsider the rush to transition to electric vehicles, particularly on public transit.
Ottawa’s energy evolution plan includes building approximately 710 large scale wind turbines by 2050. OC Transpo is aiming to have a zero-emission bus fleet by 2036.
He also says he would work with the provincial government to have Ottawa’s electrical grid powered by nuclear energy.
Ontario has three nuclear power plants: the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station northwest of Kitchener, the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station in Pickering, and the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station outside of Oshawa.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.