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
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.