New Ottawa city manager vows to restore trust after damning LRT report
Ottawa's interim city manager is vowing to restore the public's trust after a damning report on the city's problem-plagued LRT system identified "egregious violations of the public trust."
In her first public remarks since taking over as interim city manager following Steve Kanellakos's resignation, Wendy Stephanson told city council that the senior leadership team is taking the inquiry's lessons to heart.
"Sometimes, it really takes somebody from the outside to point out where change is needed," she said Wednesday morning. "I recognize that council and the public's trust has been eroded over the light rail over a number of years.
"The senior leadership team is taking lessons form the inquiry to heart, and we're committed to taking the necessary actions needed to restore full confidence in the city's public service, and to make sure that the public knows that we put them first."
The Ottawa LRT public inquiry's final report found that Mayor Jim Watson and senior city staff withheld information from city council about the problematic testing period, during which the criteria for the system was lowered.
The report, released last week, said former city manager Steve Kanellakos "deliberately misled council" about the trial running period.
"This conduct … is part of a concerning approach taken by senior City officials to control the narrative by the nondisclosure of vital information or outright misrepresentation," the report said. "Worse, because the conduct was wilful and deliberate, it leads to serious questions about the good faith of senior City staff and raises questions about where their loyalties lie.
"It is difficult to imagine the successful completion of any significant project while these attitudes prevail within the municipal government."
Kanellakos resigned last Monday, two days before the report was released. Council appointed Stephanson, who had been the city treasurer, to take over the job on an interim basis.
Stephanson said Wednesday that openness and transparency will be of "paramount importance" to the senior leadership team and the organization as a whole.
"We are actively looking at practical ways to enhance our processes and change any parts of the culture that lessen accountability," she said.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said in his opening remarks to council that Stephanson recognized "work needs to be done to help re-establish council's and the public's trust going forward."
Along with city staff, the commission's report takes LRT consortium Rideau Transit Group to task for deliberately misleading the city as to when the Confederation Line would be ready.
City councillors voted to establish a new light rail sub-committee to oversee non-operational matters related to the system.
NO CITIZEN TRANSIT COMMISSIONERS
There will be no citizen transit commissioners on the transit commission during the 2022-2026 term of council.
The Council Governance Review recommended only elected representatives sit on the transit commission this term, removing the four citizen transit commissioners from the committee overseeing OC Transpo and Para Transpo.
Council voted 18 to 6 against a motion from Coun. Sean Devine and Coun. Jessica Bradley to keep citizen transit commissioners for two years until the mid-term governance review.
"I absolutely agree with the proposal to remove resident commissioners from the transit commission," Coun. Jeff Leiper said. "The more councillor eyes we have on transit who are required to be engaged day-to-day with the work of OC Transpo the better."
The city will set up a citizen's advisory committee made up of transit riders, including at least one Para Transpo user. Council also approved a motion to ensure the committee has a seat for a member of an OC Transpo union.
Council approved the full Council Governance Review, outlining the committee structures and procedures for the 2022-2026 term. The nominating committee will meet next week to vote on the members for each committee.
Some of the changes include:
- The Community and Protective Services Committee separated into the "Community Services Committee" and the "Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee."
- The Finance and Economic Development Committee renamed the Finance and Corporate Services Committee
- The Built Heritage Committee becomes a full standing committee
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.