More green thinking and less fighting with OC Transpo are two parts of the platform kicked off by Jim Watson -- a former mayor of Ottawa -- when he officially began his campaigning Sunday for another mayoral term.
"If I gain your trust on Oct. 25, I will work with council to set clear priorities - to clearly distinguish things we really need from those that are nice to have," Watson said in a speech at Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Hall on Byron Avenue.
"I will also work to instill a new culture of frugality at city hall. Everything that we do must be framed in the context of what is affordable for our taxpayers, for the city's bottom line, and for future generations' ability to pay."
As of Friday, there are nine candidates vying for the Ottawa mayor's chair in October: Watson, Bay Coun. Alex Cullen, Cesar Bello, Mike Maguire, Stanley Pioro, Sean Ryan, Jan Scharf, Charlie Taylor and Samuel Wright.
Incumbent Larry O'Brien hasn't announced if he is running; that decision will take place in June, he said in previous interviews.
Watson recently left his position as provincial cabinet minister and MPP of Ottawa West-Nepean to take on the campaign. He cited some of these issues as motivation:
- Tax increases are too high;
- Raw sewage repeatedly dumped in the Ottawa River;
- A need for improvements in crime prevention and homelessness;
- The two-month OC Transpo strike in 2009, and ongoing sour relations with its union;
- The need to attract "leading events" like the Junos and the Grey Cup to cement Ottawa's reputation as a capital city.
Election day is Oct. 25.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Stefan Keyes
