Sutcliffe releases plans for downtown revitalization
Ottawa mayoral candidate Mark Sutcliffe is proposing to revitalize Ottawa’s downtown core through building more housing, connecting the LRT with Gatineau, and attracting more events.
In a news release Monday, Sutcliffe said Ottawa is facing “significant challenges” in the downtown core.
"Small business owners I've spoken with have told me what they need is more people. We should be doing everything we can to get more people living and visiting downtown and eliminate anything that discourages it,” he said.
Sutcliffe said, if elected mayor, he would reduce or remove application fees and development charges to convert vacant office space to affordable housing, and would seek $30 million from the federal government to aid in converting its office buildings to housing.
He would also continue the city’s plan to reduce patio fees and relax rules that allow sidewalk patios and sidewalk sales for downtown businesses. He added that he would facilitate a Gatineau LRT connection to Ottawa’s LRT.
He also said he would “reject calls to raise parking fees or introduce ‘congestion charges’ to come downtown.”
Last week, candidate Brandon Bay proposed a $9-per-hour parking fee downtown to help cover transit costs and encourage more people to leave their cars at home and take transit or active transportation to the downtown core.
Finally, Sutcliffe said he would work with the federal government to create a vibrant parliamentary precinct that “serves as a grand national gathering place that invites Canadians and others from around the world to our capital city.”
Sutcliffe has said he would release his full financial plan in the coming days.
BYWARD MARKET REVIVAL
Sutcliffe also released specific plan for the ByWard Market.
“The ByWard Market used to be the crown jewel of Ottawa, for residents and tourists. Under my leadership, we will restore it to its past glory,” stated Sutcliffe. “We can’t continue to ignore the safety issues that are acutely felt in this neighbourhood. I am the only candidate with a targeted plan and a commitment that is focused on the ByWard Market.”
He said he would review the mandate and operations of the city’s Services Corporation that runs the ByWard Market; increase walkways, car-free zones and public seating; bring more farmers, artisans, and buskers to the area; and establish a permanent ByWard Market cleaning crew.
Sutcliffe also said he would strike a task force within 30 days of being sworn in to recommend solutions ahead of the 2023 budget process for responding to mental illness and substance use disorders, and reiterated his plan to increase police presence and install CCTV cameras in select areas to deal with crime.
Critics have argued Sutclfife’s plan to increase policing in the Market would put vulnerable people at risk of further marginalization and possibly violence. In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, his campaign said he would strike a balanced approach.
“Mark’s plan provides a balance between increasing the presence of law enforcement, as well as that of social services, in at-risk neighbourhoods,” the statement said. “In addition to hiring 100 more positions at OPS, Mark has also pledged to invest directly to community and social service organizations to support our most vulnerable, with a specific focus mental health and substance use disorder.”
The campaign said more details would be released this week.
Election Day is Oct. 24, but there will be advanced polls open this Friday and next Friday.
Correction
A previous version of this article included a quote from Sutcliffe's campaign that referred to "high-risk neighbourhoods." A representative from the campaign said it was a typo and should have read "at-risk neighbourhoods."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.