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Mike Maguire
Mike Maguire is running to become mayor of Ottawa.
ISSUES PAST
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2013 Transportation Master Plan that includes a $3-billion plan for the second phase of light rail?
I wouldn’t have voted for this. The economics of the proposal never made sense and the failure to actually address the key traffic congestion points in Ottawa with this horribly expensive solution would have made voting against it a no-brainer.
Was the outcome of the city’s casino deliberations generally positive or negative? Why?
I’d say negative. We saw a confused and indecisive Mayor and Council fumble the siting of the casino while at the same time, there was a failure to secure the same economic deal with OLG that Toronto seems to have done. Overall, the discussion seemed to lack any coherent structure wherein a deliberative body, like Council, would normally arrive at a logical conclusion.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the move to biweekly garbage?
I’d have voted against this. Garbage pick-up is a core service and although the public motivation for moving to bi-weekly was to save $10M we now have fairly convincing evidence that the real reason for the move was to try and disguise the substantial failure of the Green Bin program to collect anything approaching the contracted tonnages of organics.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the $100-million plan to redevelop Arts Court?
I don’t know how I would have voted as we have nowhere near the information necessary to make a decision, I’ve done as much research as a private citizen can and I have no idea what the full nature of our commitment is.
I see that Ottawa taxpayers are contributing $36M to the re-development but to decide if this is a good idea or not I’d need to know what our equity participation is in the project. I’d also need to know what (if any) our revenue participation is and lastly, what considerations were made to the other partners for the overall project. E.g. Loan guarantees, tax abatements, preferred legislative treatment, accelerated approval through the Planning process.
Based on our recent experience with the numerous surprises with the Green Bin contract, the financing and property aspects of the Lansdowne project and, the alarming financing structure put in place for Phase I LRT – I think a reasonable person should be cautious about any of these mega-project proposals.
What’s been the greatest success of the current council over the past four years?
There has been a return of some civility to Council discussions — I say that cautiously because there have been precious few discussions taking place in public at least but, it is better than the chaos of the previous administration.
What’s been its greatest failure?
Generally, I’m concerned with the lack of transparency which is a necessary factor to encourage accountability. As we saw from the Green Bin audit, it’s not just the public that are in the dark, it was made quite clear that Council didn’t have a clue what was going on either. Astonishing really.
YOUR WARD
What are the two most important issues for the city? Why?
Issue 1:
Getting our financial house in order. (The various costs of things related to running the City as well as our Debt and other financial liabilities)
Issue 2:
What specific measure will be your top priority if you’re elected?
First, open the books on all the major capital projects that have been initiated in the last 4 years. Considering the astonishing amounts of tax dollars that have been committed, an entire generation of Capital dollars just for Phase 1 LRT for example, we know far too little about the financial and administrative details of these procurements. Based on the revelations that emerged from the Green Bin audit it’s obvious that the general public need to have far more oversight into City financial activities.
If you are the incumbent, of what decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
What do you wish the council had dealt with better?
If you’re not the incumbent, say something nice about the incumbent.
His enthusiasm for Ottawa is genuine.
Now say what you’d do differently, if elected.
Being the Mayor of Ottawa is far more than the largely ceremonial figurehead role that the present incumbent has made of it. My particular focus is policy and solution driven in nature and I see the role of Mayor as one where the Mayor articulates an encompassing vision for the City and then provides the direct leadership to achieve that vision. This includes involving Council in the multiples stages of the decision making process as opposed to the practice today of delegating vast authority to the unelected senior staff who, in light of Green Bin, have demonstrated that even really smart people can make dumb mistakes if there’s no oversight.
CITY ISSUES
Taxes. Are they too high? Just about as high as they should be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?
Taxes have risen beyond the level where they are sustainable. We have to see Ottawa in the larger context of the province we live in – it’s not just our financial problems we need to worry about, we need to worry about the financial pressures of our main funding partners as well.
Please list some city services you consider “core” and any you consider “frills” that could be cut back.
Core services are: Emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, paramedic), basic infrastructure (roads, bridges, ditches – anything that gets you from A to B), Public Transit, Social programs for the needy including maintaining the City of Ottawa housing stock.
Frills: I’m going to cheat and say that a frill is anything that the City does that private enterprise could do at the same service level for less money. e.g. The social housing stock which has been run into the ground by a massive and inefficient City apparatus — no one has been service by this decision and I would quickly move to a portable rent supplement to free those most in need from being shackled to substandard City housing.
Development issues continue to be controversial. What would make the planning process smoother?
The entire planning process is broken and needs to be re-build from the ground up — from the practice of “spot rezoning” to the complete disconnect between City Infrastructure planning and Official/Secondary planning we have become known only for our chaotic process and not as a place that welcomes investment. Break it down and build it up again using the best practices of such municipalities as the former Kanata or Nepean.
The city is now constructing the first phase of LRT, the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is all but complete, and council just approved the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery expansion. What other “city building” projects do you think council should consider in the next term?
Restoration of a commuter rail service by expanding the O-Train to include Orleans, Riverside South, Barrhaven and Kanata.
GOVERNANCE
Roughly how many council meetings have you attended in the past year?
5 I think – I used to go more often but there’s little in the way of discussion in this last term and I get more information from reading Committee minutes.
Should the transit commission include “citizen” commissioners who are not elected officials? Why or why not?
Absolutely — we have a wealth of expertise in the community that needs to be utilized. In many cases we have retired individuals who have vastly more experience in the areas being addressed than staff do — why not use every tool at your disposal?
What would make the goings-on at City Hall — whether at council or in the bureaucracy — more transparent?
Transparency is key — you can’t keep someone honest if you don’t know what they’re doing. I’m terribly concerned with the backroom details from all the major capital projects that have occurred during this term of Council.
Should councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?
I don’t know. BUT … if we banned donation from corporations and unions it would be infinitely easier to challenge a sitting Councillor.
There is a ward-boundary review coming up in the next term of council. Do you think we have too few, too many or just the right number of wards?
We have serious problems in the City and the number of wards isn’t one of them.
Is your campaign willing to accept corporate and/or union contributions? Yes or no?
Yes, I’m running to win and I’m against a machine that will outspent me 35 to 1. But I’m in favor of banning these types of donations going forward — they send all the wrong signals to the electorate that City politics is for sale.
Some people think those sorts of contributions should be banned. What do you think?
Above.
Some people are interested in the city moving a ranked-ballot system of voting. If the provincial government allows municipalities to adopt this system, would you be in favour of it?
No. We used to have it in the old Rideau Township and it allowed clever candidates a means of gaming the system by “plumping the vote”. (I can explain if you’d like
ABOUT YOU
What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?
Graduate of Algonquin College with diploma in Computer Programming, TOGAF certified Enterprise Architect, PMI certified project manager, ITIL certified Service Manager, countless other technical certifications, decades of political campaign experience as an organizer and candidate, also, I’m a trained Heritage Miller (I make flour)
If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?
Me
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Yes
Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?
We moved here in ’66 from a wee town north of Quebec City.
What’s the most significant position of responsibility you’ve ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?
Parent, VP Service Delivery with my present company, former President of the Manotick and District Kinsmen
Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids? How old are you?
Married, 2 kids, 53
Who’s the best municipal politician in Ottawa you know of? Why?
Andy Haydon/Ben Franklin — they ran Nepean like every dollar was their own. Dignified competent men in an age when such qualities are alarmingly rare.
When did you last take OC Transpo to work or to run an errand?
I took a bus from Barrhaven to Bayshore and back last year for a lark.
How often to do you take transit?
(I’m pretty sure you meant City transit here…) Rarely, I live in the country and have an unpredictable schedule so public transit isn’t really an option for me.
Anwar Syed
Anwar Syed is a candidate for mayor of Ottawa.
ISSUES PAST
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2013 Transportation Master Plan that includes a $3-billion plan for the second phase of light rail?
Having a brief look at it, I would have sent it back for amendment as the Master Plan is too slow for projections in to year 2031. The plan should aim for year 2020, which is 6 years from now to connect Kanata to Downtown, Rockland-Orleans to Downtown and Downtown to Airport. I would have voted for its amendment.
Was the outcome of the city’s casino deliberations generally positive or negative? Why?
The outcome has been negative due to insensitive view of incumbent mayor pushing forward his agenda of revenue generation with total disregard for its impact on the financial wellbeing of Ottawa public.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the move to biweekly garbage?
I would have voted to retain the weekly garbage pickup services. I would vote against the move to make it biweekly.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the $100-million plan to redevelop Arts Court?
I would have voted against it and would have triggered and initiated a debate in council to use the $100m to first solve the issues of homelessness and decrepit housing in various parts of Ottawa
What’s been the greatest success of the current council over the past four years?
I don’t believe it has achieved any great success, on par with other great cities of the world and how they solve the citizen’s problems. That’s the reason I am running to bring a change for the better for the city.
What’s been its greatest failure?
Its failure to keep its expenses contained and increasing the property taxes which makes for higher costs of living for both home owners and renters.
YOUR WARD
What are the two most important issues for the city? Why?
Issue 1: Reducing the property taxes and keeping the city from spiraling upwards like Toronto in real estate markets, which in turn is a potential to cause havoc in house residential prices and its impact on banks, mortgages and financial stability should the inflated bubble burst and cause a real estate housing market crash similar to what happened in USA.
Issue 2: Improve the living, commuting conditions of tax paying public
What specific measure will be your top priority if you’re elected?
If you are the incumbent, of what decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
What do you wish the council had dealt with better?
If you’re not the incumbent, say something nice about the incumbent.
The incumbent has great friends amongst the developers in Ottawa.
Now say what you’d do differently, if elected.
I would cultivate conflict free business relationship with corporate world in the interest of city development, but I would not allow corporate donations in a potential Quid Pro Qua arrangement in an election process. In short, I will initiate legislation to ban corporate donations on same principles as being currently implemented in Toronto
CITY ISSUES
Taxes. Are they too high? Just about as high as they should be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?
Stop the growth of taxes, roll back the property taxes. Yes they are high now
Please list some city services you consider “core” and any you consider “frills” that could be cut back.
I have no plans of cutting back any existing city services but improve their deliveries in a cost effective manner.
Development issues continue to be controversial. What would make the planning process smoother?
Time has come to start building city inwards and focus less on outwards and newer agricultural areas which the city keeps on rezoning year after year for residential and commercial purpose. The planning process will become smoother when the goals are clearly outlined by a visionary like me for the betterment of Ottawa.
The city is now constructing the first phase of LRT, the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is all but complete, and council just approved the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery expansion. What other “city building” projects do you think council should consider in the next term?
For me the order of priority of expenses would be People, Environmental/Ecology, Sustainability, Infrastructure, Heritage projects, Hobby Projects..and so on
GOVERNANCE
Roughly how many council meetings have you attended in the past year?
None & Not Applicable
Should the transit commission include “citizen” commissioners who are not elected officials? Why or why not?
One or two veteran experts from field of professional engineering who have made a name for themselves in transit system in Ontario or any part of the world but now resident in Ontario should be included in the transit commission. Right now it is made up of Council members who may not have all the expertise to adjudicate the transit commission proceedings in a fair manner. For above reasons, I believe that an ad hoc Citizen commissioners should not be part of transit commission.
What would make the goings-on at City Hall —whether at council or in the bureaucracy — more transparent?
Disclosures of the command structure of operation of the City Hall for Council and bureaucrats and sharing of their activities once every few month by live webcast/TV broadcast of their internal meetings so that public gets to know them.
Should councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?
No, I believe the term limits are decided at ballot and public can judge their performance.
However, to make the election process fairer all Councilors & Mayor should be relieved of their executive duties and thus the habit of garnering undue advantage over non-incumbent contenders in media. This relief should be burdened by salaried bureaucrats starting 2 months before the 1st election date and end one day after the election day.
There is a ward-boundary review coming up in the next term of council. Do you think we have too few, too many or just the right number of wards?
Right the number and the strength of people living in each ward is all right. I am in favour of maintaining the status quo.
Is your campaign willing to accept corporate and/or union contributions? Yes or no?
No Corporate donations for my campaign as I do not want to have a situation of Quid Pro Qua, I am a bit lenient towards Union donations as Unions represent mass of people with a common cause and not individual family members or shareholders who may have limited public vision.
Some people think those sorts of contributions should be banned. What do you think?
I am in favor of banning both Corporate and Union donations to ensure a level playing field for all candidates in an election process and also to prevent incumbents sitting at finish line with hordes of cash over non-incumbents. I believe this will be good for the municipal democracy of Ottawa for all future generations
Some people are interested in the city moving a ranked-ballot system of voting. If the provincial government allows municipalities to adopt this system, would you be in favour of it?
I will have to study the impact it will have on the cost on our tax dollars for expenses that this new system will incur. I do not have a clear opinion on this subject until I study the costs involved if it is going to cost the tax payer more, then the answer is NO.
ABOUT YOU
What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?
Professional Engineering with Global experience on complex & mega engineering construction projects worldwide across cultures, geographic boundaries working on budgets, schedules and accelerated time frames.
If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?
Myself, as I will make the best Mayor that City of Ottawa has seen so far.
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
I live in Ward # 2 but I am standing as Mayor for all the 23 wards of Greater Ottawa.
Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?
I vacillated my options between Toronto and Ottawa prior to my migration to this city in 1999. My experience of living and working in various cities worldwide has taught me that living in smaller cities is better than living in bigger cities for the better quality of life one enjoys by getting more family time, less commuting and it has a benefit of living in a village and in short while one can develop great friendships and social life. Plus smaller cities are good for a growing family of kids which is why Ottawa proved an ideal place for me to settle down
What’s the most significant position of responsibility you’ve ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?
Being the eldest of a family of 5 siblings, led my family from front, leaving home when I was 18 to study in Bombay (Mumbai), leaving my country of birth at age 23 to take responsible positions overseas in middle east, ensuring tour family’s well being. Getting married to a lovely women, now my wife of 29 years and raising two lovely boys who are now poised to start their own independent life. Finally taking good care of my parents all along
Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids? How old are you?
Married- 29 years- 2 boys- I am now 54 years young and bursting with energy.
Who’s the best municipal politician in Ottawa you know of? Why?
I have observed Diane Holmes as Councilor representing Somerset ward & we used to live in her ward for 7 years from 1999-2006 until we moved to Orleans since our arrival as the best and she represents a breed of fast-vanishing politicians.
When did you last take OC Transpo to work or to run an errand?
Last weekend was my most recent trip downtown to & fro from Orleans, I have taken OC Transpo quite regularly since my arrival to Ottawa. In fact for many months-years, it was my chief mode of transport when we lived in apartment buildings at Maclaren-Bank and Waverley-O’Connor in downtown Ottawa
How often to do you take transit?
Regularly as and when needed but not for daily commute.
Jim Watson, Incumbent
Mayor Jim Watson is running for re-election as mayor of Ottawa.
ISSUES PAST
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2013 Transportation Master Plan that includes a $3-billion plan for the second phase of light rail?
I voted for the plan. I’m pleased this passed City Council unanimously, as it helps to gives us certainty and credibility when requesting funding from other levels of government. Now is not the time to press the reset button – we need to move forward, to extend LRT farther east to Place d’Orleans, west to Algonquin College and Bayshore, and south to Riverside South.
Was the outcome of the city’s casino deliberations generally positive or negative? Why?
Positive, as we were able to protect the 1,000 direct and indirect jobs at the racetrack and Council approved my original proposal to add tables to the existing slots at Rideau Carleton Raceway. The process should have been conducted better.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the move to biweekly garbage?
I voted for the change. We need to continue to divert organic materials from the landfill to reduce the need for another dump. Ottawa joined 12 Ontario municipalities, with 2 others soon to come, in making this change. The green bin is still picked up weekly and the reality is that if you use the green, blue, and black bins for their intended purposes, what’s left over as garbage is not that much. By extending the life of the City’s landfill as long as possible, we can avoid at least $250 million in cost and the divisive debate over a new location – no one wants a dump in their backyard.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the $100-million plan to redevelop Arts Court?
I voted for the project. This will be a public-private partnership that relies on a private-sector funds to ensure we can deliver this project at a lower cost to taxpayers. It also has the added benefit of providing much-needed classroom and auditorium space for the University of Ottawa.
What’s been the greatest success of the current council over the past four years?
I’m pleased we finally got shovels in the ground for the light rail transit system, after years of cancellations and delay. For the first time in our city’s history, we finally have our act together on our transit plan.
What’s been its greatest failure?
Two problematic bridge projects we inherited from the previous Council have been frustrating to all. As Mayor and as a taxpayer, seeing the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge (SAB) and the Airport Parkway Bridge plagued by delays, bankruptcies, and false starts was frustrating. The SAB is now complete and looks great, and the Airport Parkway Bridge is soon to be finished, and I believe we have learned important lessons in tendering and procurement that will serve us well going forward. While I was not on Council when the contracts were signed, I took responsibility to fix the problems and get these projects back on track.
YOUR WARD
What are the two most important issues for the city? Why?
Issue 1:
Residents tell me that transportation is their number one issue. We need to build more transit to ensure we don’t let gridlock catch up with us, and to keep our economy and people moving. Our light rail plan has a fixed price and it is on budget. In tandem with this, there is also great concern from residents about speeding on residential streets and the danger this poses to families, children, and seniors which must be addressed with stepped-up enforcement.
Issue 2:
I’m very focused on the state of our local economy, especially in the face of continued federal job cuts. My first term saw the creation of Invest Ottawa, our economic development agency, which is helping put Ottawa on the map as the best place to do business in Canada. We need to continue this progress by supporting our small and medium sized businesses in their quest to create jobs. I’m also committed to continuing the work we’re doing with local tourism and event organizations – our third-largest industry.
What specific measure will be your top priority if you’re elected?
Finish the Confederation Line on time and on budget, then move forward with Stage 2 of light rail (expanding LRT farther east to Place d’Orleans, west to Bayshore and Algonquin College and south to Riverside South).
If you are the incumbent, of what decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
Passing four unanimous budgets with successively lower tax rate increases, all below 2.5%, as I had promised. This year’s rate at 1.9% was the lowest in 7 years and while we did not have to slash vital city services and infrastructure to achieve it, we were able to reduce staffing in each of the last 3 budgets.
What do you wish the council had dealt with better?
I had hoped that we would be able to sign a deal to have a Blue Jays farm team, but ultimately the cost would have been too much for taxpayers. Fortunately we have been able to secure the Ottawa Champions who will be able to get good use from our stadium at a much more reasonable cost.
CITY ISSUES
Taxes. Are they too high? Just about as high as they should be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?
I’m pleased that I kept my commitment to limit tax changes to no more than 2.5% for four consecutive budgets, after the previous Council hiked taxes almost 15% over three years. I believe we’ve struck the right balance between affordability and responsibility. For example, 2014 was the lowest tax change in seven years, at 1.9%. I’m not making some irresponsible pledge to freeze or cut taxes because as a growing city we need to ensure we provide residents in growth areas with parks, fire stations, community centres, etc.
If re-elected, I will lower the annual cap to a maximum of 2% and continue to invest in community priorities. This is in line with inflation.
Please list some city services you consider “core” and any you consider “frills” that could be cut back.
Our core services include road maintenance, transit, parks/recreation/culture, public health, housing, waste management, police, fire, paramedics, and libraries among others.
In my first term, we saved significant taxpayer funds by getting out of the equestrian and golf course businesses. For my second term, I’ve put forward a few new ideas of how we can find better value for taxpayer dollars. For example, I’d like to strengthen the role of our audit committee to ensure more frequent updates are provided on the status of accepted audit recommendations. We should also conduct a physical space review of all municipally owned and leased properties, as well as a city-wide strategy for energy retrofits for our buildings and vehicles.
Development issues continue to be controversial. What would make the planning process smoother?
It is my hope that the changes we’ve made to the Official Plan and the zoning by-law will provide us with greater consistency and certainty in the years ahead. Certainty and predictability are what residents want when it comes to growth in their communities and I believe these changes help us towards those ends.
We have halted the urban boundary’s expansion and the sprawl that comes with it. Intensification must be compatible with local communities; and we need to ensure greater intensification near transit hubs.
The city is now constructing the first phase of LRT, the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is all but complete, and council just approved the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery expansion. What other “city building” projects do you think council should consider in the next term?
Don’t forget we are also working on the Innovation Centre at Bayview Yards which will help facilitate job creation in our city. An affordable public-private partnership for a new central library that meets the needs of residents in the 21st century.
GOVERNANCE
Roughly how many council meetings have you attended in the past year?
All of them.
Should the transit commission include “citizen” commissioners who are not elected officials? Why or why not?
It should. These people add a valuable citizen’s perspective from outside the bureaucracy and that is useful when our transit system makes hundreds of thousands of trips each day. Adding citizen members was one of my campaign commitments in 2010, and I’m pleased Council adopted the recommendation.
What would make the goings-on at City Hall — whether at council or in the bureaucracy — more transparent?
I’m pleased that we have put in place the most comprehensive accountability measures in the province: a lobbyist registry, a gift registry, an integrity commissioner and posting our expenses online. I think we need to continue to monitor and strengthen these tools.
Should councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?
No. The public does a good job at deciding when it is time for somebody to go.
There is a ward-boundary review coming up in the next term of council. Do you think we have too few, too many or just the right number of wards?
I attempted to review this issue earlier in our term with a view to reducing the number of seats, while respecting the rural wards, and was not successful. I will await the coming review on boundaries but will not support increasing the size of council.
Is your campaign willing to accept corporate and/or union contributions? Yes or no?
Yes. According to the Ontario law governing election finances we accept all legal donations.
Some people think those sorts of contributions should be banned. What do you think?
They should not be banned. Small businesses for instance, pay taxes and they should be allowed to be part of the electoral process.
Some people are interested in the city moving a ranked-ballot system of voting. If the provincial government allows municipalities to adopt this system, would you be in favour of it?
I believe we should focus on getting more people out to vote before changing how they vote.
ABOUT YOU
What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?
A bachelor of Arts from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communications.
If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?
I believe the current mayor is doing a very good job, but I am a little biased!
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
I live in Bay Ward but I have a keen interest in all 23 wards in Ottawa.
Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?
I moved to Ottawa to attend Carleton University and have stayed since.
What’s the most significant position of responsibility you’ve ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?
My current job as Mayor of the City of Ottawa. I have also been a Cabinet Minister and the President and CEO of a Federal Crown Corporation.
Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids? How old are you?
No. I’m 53.
Who’s the best municipal politician in Ottawa you know of? Why?
Jim Durrell. He is a big picture thinker and caring person who always put the city above himself and I am proud to call him a friend. Through his leadership we have a new airport, Convention Centre, and our NHL hockey team, to name a few of his accomplishments.
When did you last take OC Transpo to work or to run an errand?
Last week: route 87 from home to work.
How often to do you take transit?
3-4 times per month.
Robert White
Robert White is a candidate for mayor of Ottawa.
ISSUES PAST
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2013 Transportation Master Plan that includes a $3-billion plan for the second phase of light rail?
I would vote against the 2013 TMP
Was the outcome of the city’s casino deliberations generally positive or negative? Why?
The casino deliberations were generally negative given the fact that the Senator’s owner Eugene Melnyk’s input was ignored by the Mayor of Ottawa and council. Clearly, the City of Ottawa should have made concessions to include Melnyk’s ideas.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the move to biweekly garbage?
I would vote no to biweekly garbage pickup given the complaints by residents during summer months.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the $100-million plan to redevelop Arts Court?
I would have voted yes to helping Arts Court.
What’s been the greatest success of the current council over the past four years?
Council has had success with Landsdowne Park redevelopment.
What’s been its greatest failure?
Hydro Ottawa complaints regarding over-billing and the Mayor’s lack of redress with regard to complaints filed with the city.
YOUR WARD
What are the two most important issues for the city? Why?
Issue 1: Preventing the go-ahead with LRT Phase 2 without industry estimates or signed contractual agreements in place before deals are permitted to go ahead.
Issue 2: Lack of oversight on Hydro Ottawa over-billing and a number of botched contracts with the city. Orgaworld, Strandherd Armstrong bridge delay and the Airport Parkway bridge delay.
What specific measure will be your top priority if you’re elected?
Top priority would be sound fiscal policy regarding expenditures the City of Ottawa is engaged in for the next term. LRT Phase 2 is not sound fiscal policy in light of the deficit spending by the province of Ontario.
If you are the incumbent, of what decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
What do you wish the council had dealt with better?
Hydro Ottawa over-billing of residents that cannot seem to find redress with city of Ottawa bureaucrats.
If you’re not the incumbent, say something nice about the incumbent.
Mayor Watson is great at collecting money from developers and corporatists that lobby city hall bureaucrats.
Now say what you’d do differently, if elected.
I would cancel the LRT Phase 2 proposal entirely to save residents over $3.0 billion dollars. I would sell off large portions of the social housing portfolio that are not being sufficiently maintained by council or the mayor. Moreover, I would bring business prospects to Ottawa to increase employment for our residents that are suffering downturns in the employment sector. I would support the arts community much more than the present council is doing and I would restore weekly garbage pickup for summer months only. Orgaworld would get a re-negotiation to the next grade of SSO and the residents would find that this system would work more effectively for their tax dollars. I would provide oversight on the excessive Ottawa Hydro billing.
CITY ISSUES
Taxes. Are they too high? Just about as high as they should be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?
I am proposing a 2.1% tax cap that would help the Ottawa Police Services budgeting much more than the incumbent is doing at a 2% cap.
Please list some city services you consider “core” and any you consider “frills” that could be cut back.
Snow plowing, weekly garbage pickup during summer, policing, EMS, road maintanence, transportation. Provincial downloading for police services in provincial courts is a frill that should be uploaded back to the province. Bike lane investments are frills that I would not invest in whatsoever.
Development issues continue to be controversial. What would make the planning process smoother?
Appropriate oversight on contracts is non-existing with the present council. Developers have too much leverage with the OMB and council is not acting in the best interests of residents on intensification issues. Streamlining the planning process with less cost and delays would be a start.
The city is now constructing the first phase of LRT, the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is all but complete, and council just approved the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery expansion. What other ‘city building’ projects do you think council should consider in the next term?
A new tertiary care teaching hospital is needed to replace the current Civic Hospital Campus that is out-dated and pretty well a toxic waste dump with SUPERBUGS that are not be addressed appropriately by the Local Heath Integration Network.
GOVERNANCE
Roughly how many council meetings have you attended in the past year?
Should the transit commission include “citizen” commissioners who are not elected officials? Why or why not?
A neutral arbiter is unbiased with regard to transit issues and could be useful for oversight purposes. Citizen commissioners are most aptly able to protect the interests of residents if they are not tied to agreements made through a seat on council.
What would make the goings-on at City Hall — whether at council or in the bureaucracy — more transparent?
Legislated transparency so that we do not have to pay money to get information through Access to Information laws.
Should councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?
Term limits are unsound given that some councillors with much experience are usefull to provide education to new councillors that are voted in each electoral round.
There is a ward-boundary review coming up in the next term of council. Do you think we have too few, too many or just the right number of wards?
Municipal governance could be made more economical if we downsized the council members with fewer wards to oversee. Management is key, but over-managed wards are proving to be costly for rate-payers.
Is your campaign willing to accept corporate and/or union contributions? Yes or no?
My campaign will accept all legal donations, and I believe unions, and corporations, are valued contributors to our democracy even if they do not contribute to my campaign.
Some people think those sorts of contributions should be banned. What do you think?
Unions and corporations are representative of a myriad of interests that benefit our city. Their collective involvement in our democracy is necessary and appreciated by myself. I do disagree with much of their collective input, but I am willing to work with them to resolve issues that crop up from time-to-time.
Some people are interested in the city moving a ranked-ballot system of voting. If the provincial government allows municipalities to adopt this system, would you be in favour of it?
First past the post is most equitable in my opinion.
ABOUT YOU
What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?
I was raised by a Chartered Accountant from infancy. I am an empiricist, and formally trained in empiricism through my Honours B.A. in Experimental Psychology from Carleton University, and a diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ottawa. I have been writing contracts in small business for over thirty years and I am well versed in terms of contemporary business practices which lends well to serving the residents of Ottawa on city council. I have spent years studying leadership issues and I am well versed in terms of the political sphere in Ottawa.
If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?
I will vote for myself given that I know that LRT Phase 2 is a boondoggle promulgated by a corrupt provincial government that is seriously up-to-it’s-eyeballs in debt and deficit.
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?
The Federal Government of CANADA poached my father from Bay Street in Toronto when I was 11 years old. My father moved me to Ottawa in 1971 and I have attended Fielding Drive Public School, Brookfield High School, Algonquin College, and Carleton University in Ottawa whilst being raised in Ottawa since I was 11.
What’s the most significant position of responsibility you’ve ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?
Small business owner since young adulthood. Teaching Assistant at Carleton University.
Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids? How old are you?
I’m 54 and single due to a lack of funds to get married or have children. I have lived in abject poverty for most of my adult life and would not ever get married without first having the funds to do so. Ottawa has been a very poor place to find employment for myself and others throughout the last thirty years. Mechanical Engineering positions in Ottawa have not been forthcoming with my credentials. A lack of bilingualism has thwarted much of my working life in this area. If I am not elected I will move away from this backwater of a city.
Who’s the best municipal politician in Ottawa you know of? Why?
Out of all our politicians I would have to go with Andrew Haydon because he is an adept Civil Engineer that is concerned with our transit issues and wasteful spending on the LRT Phase 2 proposal that is wastefull with regard to tearing up perfectly good transit work that was done years previous by more fiscally responsible governance that he worked in.
When did you last take OC Transpo to work or to run an errand?
Last summer when I had to drop my car off at my mechanic who is based in the south of Ottawa. Andrew Haydon’s ‘Rapid Bus Network’ worked so well that I phoned CFRA to give it accolades because of the quick time that I made it home in.
How often to do you take transit?
Once every 30 years or so when my car has to go into my mechanic unexpectedly.
Darren Wood
Darren Wood is a candidate for mayor of Ottawa.
ISSUES PAST
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2013 Transportation Master Plan that includes a $3-billion plan for the second phase of light rail?
Stop after the completion of phase one.
Was the outcome of the city’s casino deliberations generally positive or negative? Why?
Negative, we got short changed on a real casino thanks to bickering of council and the horse track.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the move to biweekly garbage?
Restore Weekly Garbage Pick Up!
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the $100-million plan to redevelop Arts Court?
Un-necessary waste of tax dollars. Should have been completely funded by private enterprise and donations.
What’s been the greatest success of the current council over the past four years?
This council has been a complete failure and has no successes to tout.
What’s been its greatest failure?
Removing weekly garbage, increasing our debt exponentially and lack of fiscal control.
YOUR WARD
What are the two most important issues in your ward (or the city, if you’re running for mayor)? Why?
Issue 1: Restoring weekly garbage as this is the wish of the people.
Issue 2: Discontinuing the practice of giving city contracts or spending of taxpayer money for companies outside of Ontario. We need to protect and invest in our local economy.
What specific measure will be your top priority if you’re elected?
Implementing Issues 1 & 2 from the previous question.
What do you wish the council had dealt with better?
Fiscal matters, debt and garbage.
If you’re not the incumbent, say something nice about the incumbent.
Jim Watson is 2nd to none when it comes to chasing photo ops.
Now say what you’d do differently, if elected.
Restore weekly garbage, eliminate the debt, stop LRT after phase one, keep tax dollars with Ottawa owned/operated companies and enact a “transparency act”.
CITY ISSUES
Taxes. Are they too high? Just about as high as they should be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?
Without a doubt too high.
Please list some city services you consider “core” and any you consider “frills” that could be cut back.
Garbage, snow removal, police, fire, EMT and public transportation are core services.
Development issues continue to be controversial. What would make the planning process smoother?
Development must include input from the people living in the proposed building site.
The city is now constructing the first phase of LRT, the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is all but complete, and council just approved the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery expansion. What other “city building” projects do you think council should consider in the next term?
Council should consider spending tax dollars more wisely. We are billions in debt and have no money for frill expenditures outside of core services and paying off our debt. When we are in the black we can consider projects.
GOVERNANCE
Roughly how many council meetings have you attended in the past year?
N/A
Should the transit commission include “citizen” commissioners who are not elected officials? Why or why not?
Yes, if for nothing else accountability.
What would make the goings-on at City Hall — whether at council or in the bureaucracy — more transparent?
Allowing people easier access to address council directly.
Should councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?
No because it defeats the democratic system. That is why there are no term limits on any political office at any level. The will of the people cannot be interfered with.
There is a ward-boundary review coming up in the next term of council. Do you think we have too few, too many or just the right number of wards?
The wards need to be drawn up and representative of the number of people in each riding to make representation proportionate.
Is your campaign willing to accept corporate and/or union contributions? Yes or no?
NO!
Some people think those sorts of contributions should be banned. What do you think?
I believe in democracy and therefore believe candidates should be allowed to accept those donations. Whether accepting those donations is morally right, is another question.
Some people are interested in the city moving a ranked-ballot system of voting. If the provincial government allows municipalities to adopt this system, would you be in favour of it?
Not in favour of a ranked-ballot system. Democracy is first horse past the gate. Not combining choices to make the appearance of a majority representation.
ABOUT YOU
What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?
20yrs in politics. Proven track record for helping the underdog and winning.
If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?
Darren W. Wood
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Mayoral Candidate… so every ward is my ward.
Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?
No. Came here for a girl and got married.
What’s the most significant position of responsibility you’ve ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?
Owner/operator of a business that employed 24 full time workers.
Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids? How old are you?
Married. Five kids all girls, ages 24, 21, 16, 9, 6 and two grandchildren.
Who’s the best municipal politician in Ottawa you know of? Why?
I don’t know of one personally. I would say any politician who actually answers his own phone and takes on the problems of his electorate.
When did you last take OC Transpo to work or to run an errand?
Three weeks ago to run an errand. OC does not come out into the country or at least not into Kinburn.
How often to do you take transit?
Rarely, see previous answer.
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Mike Maguire is running to become mayor of Ottawa.
ISSUES PAST
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2013 Transportation Master Plan that includes a $3-billion plan for the second phase of light rail?
I wouldn’t have voted for this. The economics of the proposal never made sense and the failure to actually address the key traffic congestion points in Ottawa with this horribly expensive solution would have made voting against it a no-brainer.
Was the outcome of the city’s casino deliberations generally positive or negative? Why?
I’d say negative. We saw a confused and indecisive Mayor and Council fumble the siting of the casino while at the same time, there was a failure to secure the same economic deal with OLG that Toronto seems to have done. Overall, the discussion seemed to lack any coherent structure wherein a deliberative body, like Council, would normally arrive at a logical conclusion.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the move to biweekly garbage?
I’d have voted against this. Garbage pick-up is a core service and although the public motivation for moving to bi-weekly was to save $10M we now have fairly convincing evidence that the real reason for the move was to try and disguise the substantial failure of the Green Bin program to collect anything approaching the contracted tonnages of organics.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the $100-million plan to redevelop Arts Court?
I don’t know how I would have voted as we have nowhere near the information necessary to make a decision, I’ve done as much research as a private citizen can and I have no idea what the full nature of our commitment is.
I see that Ottawa taxpayers are contributing $36M to the re-development but to decide if this is a good idea or not I’d need to know what our equity participation is in the project. I’d also need to know what (if any) our revenue participation is and lastly, what considerations were made to the other partners for the overall project. E.g. Loan guarantees, tax abatements, preferred legislative treatment, accelerated approval through the Planning process.
Based on our recent experience with the numerous surprises with the Green Bin contract, the financing and property aspects of the Lansdowne project and, the alarming financing structure put in place for Phase I LRT – I think a reasonable person should be cautious about any of these mega-project proposals.
What’s been the greatest success of the current council over the past four years?
There has been a return of some civility to Council discussions — I say that cautiously because there have been precious few discussions taking place in public at least but, it is better than the chaos of the previous administration.
What’s been its greatest failure?
Generally, I’m concerned with the lack of transparency which is a necessary factor to encourage accountability. As we saw from the Green Bin audit, it’s not just the public that are in the dark, it was made quite clear that Council didn’t have a clue what was going on either. Astonishing really.
YOUR WARD
What are the two most important issues for the city? Why?
Issue 1:
Getting our financial house in order. (The various costs of things related to running the City as well as our Debt and other financial liabilities)
Issue 2:
What specific measure will be your top priority if you’re elected?
First, open the books on all the major capital projects that have been initiated in the last 4 years. Considering the astonishing amounts of tax dollars that have been committed, an entire generation of Capital dollars just for Phase 1 LRT for example, we know far too little about the financial and administrative details of these procurements. Based on the revelations that emerged from the Green Bin audit it’s obvious that the general public need to have far more oversight into City financial activities.
If you are the incumbent, of what decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
What do you wish the council had dealt with better?
If you’re not the incumbent, say something nice about the incumbent.
His enthusiasm for Ottawa is genuine.
Now say what you’d do differently, if elected.
Being the Mayor of Ottawa is far more than the largely ceremonial figurehead role that the present incumbent has made of it. My particular focus is policy and solution driven in nature and I see the role of Mayor as one where the Mayor articulates an encompassing vision for the City and then provides the direct leadership to achieve that vision. This includes involving Council in the multiples stages of the decision making process as opposed to the practice today of delegating vast authority to the unelected senior staff who, in light of Green Bin, have demonstrated that even really smart people can make dumb mistakes if there’s no oversight.
CITY ISSUES
Taxes. Are they too high? Just about as high as they should be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?
Taxes have risen beyond the level where they are sustainable. We have to see Ottawa in the larger context of the province we live in – it’s not just our financial problems we need to worry about, we need to worry about the financial pressures of our main funding partners as well.
Please list some city services you consider “core” and any you consider “frills” that could be cut back.
Core services are: Emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, paramedic), basic infrastructure (roads, bridges, ditches – anything that gets you from A to B), Public Transit, Social programs for the needy including maintaining the City of Ottawa housing stock.
Frills: I’m going to cheat and say that a frill is anything that the City does that private enterprise could do at the same service level for less money. e.g. The social housing stock which has been run into the ground by a massive and inefficient City apparatus — no one has been service by this decision and I would quickly move to a portable rent supplement to free those most in need from being shackled to substandard City housing.
Development issues continue to be controversial. What would make the planning process smoother?
The entire planning process is broken and needs to be re-build from the ground up — from the practice of “spot rezoning” to the complete disconnect between City Infrastructure planning and Official/Secondary planning we have become known only for our chaotic process and not as a place that welcomes investment. Break it down and build it up again using the best practices of such municipalities as the former Kanata or Nepean.
The city is now constructing the first phase of LRT, the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is all but complete, and council just approved the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery expansion. What other “city building” projects do you think council should consider in the next term?
Restoration of a commuter rail service by expanding the O-Train to include Orleans, Riverside South, Barrhaven and Kanata.
GOVERNANCE
Roughly how many council meetings have you attended in the past year?
5 I think – I used to go more often but there’s little in the way of discussion in this last term and I get more information from reading Committee minutes.
Should the transit commission include “citizen” commissioners who are not elected officials? Why or why not?
Absolutely — we have a wealth of expertise in the community that needs to be utilized. In many cases we have retired individuals who have vastly more experience in the areas being addressed than staff do — why not use every tool at your disposal?
What would make the goings-on at City Hall — whether at council or in the bureaucracy — more transparent?
Transparency is key — you can’t keep someone honest if you don’t know what they’re doing. I’m terribly concerned with the backroom details from all the major capital projects that have occurred during this term of Council.
Should councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?
I don’t know. BUT … if we banned donation from corporations and unions it would be infinitely easier to challenge a sitting Councillor.
There is a ward-boundary review coming up in the next term of council. Do you think we have too few, too many or just the right number of wards?
We have serious problems in the City and the number of wards isn’t one of them.
Is your campaign willing to accept corporate and/or union contributions? Yes or no?
Yes, I’m running to win and I’m against a machine that will outspent me 35 to 1. But I’m in favor of banning these types of donations going forward — they send all the wrong signals to the electorate that City politics is for sale.
Some people think those sorts of contributions should be banned. What do you think?
Above.
Some people are interested in the city moving a ranked-ballot system of voting. If the provincial government allows municipalities to adopt this system, would you be in favour of it?
No. We used to have it in the old Rideau Township and it allowed clever candidates a means of gaming the system by “plumping the vote”. (I can explain if you’d like
ABOUT YOU
What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?
Graduate of Algonquin College with diploma in Computer Programming, TOGAF certified Enterprise Architect, PMI certified project manager, ITIL certified Service Manager, countless other technical certifications, decades of political campaign experience as an organizer and candidate, also, I’m a trained Heritage Miller (I make flour)
If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?
Me
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Yes
Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?
We moved here in ’66 from a wee town north of Quebec City.
What’s the most significant position of responsibility you’ve ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?
Parent, VP Service Delivery with my present company, former President of the Manotick and District Kinsmen
Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids? How old are you?
Married, 2 kids, 53
Who’s the best municipal politician in Ottawa you know of? Why?
Andy Haydon/Ben Franklin — they ran Nepean like every dollar was their own. Dignified competent men in an age when such qualities are alarmingly rare.
When did you last take OC Transpo to work or to run an errand?
I took a bus from Barrhaven to Bayshore and back last year for a lark.
How often to do you take transit?
(I’m pretty sure you meant City transit here…) Rarely, I live in the country and have an unpredictable schedule so public transit isn’t really an option for me.
Anwar Syed
Anwar Syed is a candidate for mayor of Ottawa.
ISSUES PAST
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2013 Transportation Master Plan that includes a $3-billion plan for the second phase of light rail?
Having a brief look at it, I would have sent it back for amendment as the Master Plan is too slow for projections in to year 2031. The plan should aim for year 2020, which is 6 years from now to connect Kanata to Downtown, Rockland-Orleans to Downtown and Downtown to Airport. I would have voted for its amendment.
Was the outcome of the city’s casino deliberations generally positive or negative? Why?
The outcome has been negative due to insensitive view of incumbent mayor pushing forward his agenda of revenue generation with total disregard for its impact on the financial wellbeing of Ottawa public.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the move to biweekly garbage?
I would have voted to retain the weekly garbage pickup services. I would vote against the move to make it biweekly.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the $100-million plan to redevelop Arts Court?
I would have voted against it and would have triggered and initiated a debate in council to use the $100m to first solve the issues of homelessness and decrepit housing in various parts of Ottawa
What’s been the greatest success of the current council over the past four years?
I don’t believe it has achieved any great success, on par with other great cities of the world and how they solve the citizen’s problems. That’s the reason I am running to bring a change for the better for the city.
What’s been its greatest failure?
Its failure to keep its expenses contained and increasing the property taxes which makes for higher costs of living for both home owners and renters.
YOUR WARD
What are the two most important issues for the city? Why?
Issue 1: Reducing the property taxes and keeping the city from spiraling upwards like Toronto in real estate markets, which in turn is a potential to cause havoc in house residential prices and its impact on banks, mortgages and financial stability should the inflated bubble burst and cause a real estate housing market crash similar to what happened in USA.
Issue 2: Improve the living, commuting conditions of tax paying public
What specific measure will be your top priority if you’re elected?
- Roll back property taxes to keep this city affordable and in step with economic growth of similar cities in North America.
- Improve transit systems, revisit Master plan 2013 for Transportation etc
If you are the incumbent, of what decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
What do you wish the council had dealt with better?
If you’re not the incumbent, say something nice about the incumbent.
The incumbent has great friends amongst the developers in Ottawa.
Now say what you’d do differently, if elected.
I would cultivate conflict free business relationship with corporate world in the interest of city development, but I would not allow corporate donations in a potential Quid Pro Qua arrangement in an election process. In short, I will initiate legislation to ban corporate donations on same principles as being currently implemented in Toronto
CITY ISSUES
Taxes. Are they too high? Just about as high as they should be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?
Stop the growth of taxes, roll back the property taxes. Yes they are high now
Please list some city services you consider “core” and any you consider “frills” that could be cut back.
I have no plans of cutting back any existing city services but improve their deliveries in a cost effective manner.
Development issues continue to be controversial. What would make the planning process smoother?
Time has come to start building city inwards and focus less on outwards and newer agricultural areas which the city keeps on rezoning year after year for residential and commercial purpose. The planning process will become smoother when the goals are clearly outlined by a visionary like me for the betterment of Ottawa.
The city is now constructing the first phase of LRT, the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is all but complete, and council just approved the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery expansion. What other “city building” projects do you think council should consider in the next term?
For me the order of priority of expenses would be People, Environmental/Ecology, Sustainability, Infrastructure, Heritage projects, Hobby Projects..and so on
GOVERNANCE
Roughly how many council meetings have you attended in the past year?
None & Not Applicable
Should the transit commission include “citizen” commissioners who are not elected officials? Why or why not?
One or two veteran experts from field of professional engineering who have made a name for themselves in transit system in Ontario or any part of the world but now resident in Ontario should be included in the transit commission. Right now it is made up of Council members who may not have all the expertise to adjudicate the transit commission proceedings in a fair manner. For above reasons, I believe that an ad hoc Citizen commissioners should not be part of transit commission.
What would make the goings-on at City Hall —whether at council or in the bureaucracy — more transparent?
Disclosures of the command structure of operation of the City Hall for Council and bureaucrats and sharing of their activities once every few month by live webcast/TV broadcast of their internal meetings so that public gets to know them.
Should councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?
No, I believe the term limits are decided at ballot and public can judge their performance.
However, to make the election process fairer all Councilors & Mayor should be relieved of their executive duties and thus the habit of garnering undue advantage over non-incumbent contenders in media. This relief should be burdened by salaried bureaucrats starting 2 months before the 1st election date and end one day after the election day.
There is a ward-boundary review coming up in the next term of council. Do you think we have too few, too many or just the right number of wards?
Right the number and the strength of people living in each ward is all right. I am in favour of maintaining the status quo.
Is your campaign willing to accept corporate and/or union contributions? Yes or no?
No Corporate donations for my campaign as I do not want to have a situation of Quid Pro Qua, I am a bit lenient towards Union donations as Unions represent mass of people with a common cause and not individual family members or shareholders who may have limited public vision.
Some people think those sorts of contributions should be banned. What do you think?
I am in favor of banning both Corporate and Union donations to ensure a level playing field for all candidates in an election process and also to prevent incumbents sitting at finish line with hordes of cash over non-incumbents. I believe this will be good for the municipal democracy of Ottawa for all future generations
Some people are interested in the city moving a ranked-ballot system of voting. If the provincial government allows municipalities to adopt this system, would you be in favour of it?
I will have to study the impact it will have on the cost on our tax dollars for expenses that this new system will incur. I do not have a clear opinion on this subject until I study the costs involved if it is going to cost the tax payer more, then the answer is NO.
ABOUT YOU
What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?
Professional Engineering with Global experience on complex & mega engineering construction projects worldwide across cultures, geographic boundaries working on budgets, schedules and accelerated time frames.
If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?
Myself, as I will make the best Mayor that City of Ottawa has seen so far.
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
I live in Ward # 2 but I am standing as Mayor for all the 23 wards of Greater Ottawa.
Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?
I vacillated my options between Toronto and Ottawa prior to my migration to this city in 1999. My experience of living and working in various cities worldwide has taught me that living in smaller cities is better than living in bigger cities for the better quality of life one enjoys by getting more family time, less commuting and it has a benefit of living in a village and in short while one can develop great friendships and social life. Plus smaller cities are good for a growing family of kids which is why Ottawa proved an ideal place for me to settle down
What’s the most significant position of responsibility you’ve ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?
Being the eldest of a family of 5 siblings, led my family from front, leaving home when I was 18 to study in Bombay (Mumbai), leaving my country of birth at age 23 to take responsible positions overseas in middle east, ensuring tour family’s well being. Getting married to a lovely women, now my wife of 29 years and raising two lovely boys who are now poised to start their own independent life. Finally taking good care of my parents all along
Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids? How old are you?
Married- 29 years- 2 boys- I am now 54 years young and bursting with energy.
Who’s the best municipal politician in Ottawa you know of? Why?
I have observed Diane Holmes as Councilor representing Somerset ward & we used to live in her ward for 7 years from 1999-2006 until we moved to Orleans since our arrival as the best and she represents a breed of fast-vanishing politicians.
When did you last take OC Transpo to work or to run an errand?
Last weekend was my most recent trip downtown to & fro from Orleans, I have taken OC Transpo quite regularly since my arrival to Ottawa. In fact for many months-years, it was my chief mode of transport when we lived in apartment buildings at Maclaren-Bank and Waverley-O’Connor in downtown Ottawa
How often to do you take transit?
Regularly as and when needed but not for daily commute.
Jim Watson, Incumbent
Mayor Jim Watson is running for re-election as mayor of Ottawa.
ISSUES PAST
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2013 Transportation Master Plan that includes a $3-billion plan for the second phase of light rail?
I voted for the plan. I’m pleased this passed City Council unanimously, as it helps to gives us certainty and credibility when requesting funding from other levels of government. Now is not the time to press the reset button – we need to move forward, to extend LRT farther east to Place d’Orleans, west to Algonquin College and Bayshore, and south to Riverside South.
Was the outcome of the city’s casino deliberations generally positive or negative? Why?
Positive, as we were able to protect the 1,000 direct and indirect jobs at the racetrack and Council approved my original proposal to add tables to the existing slots at Rideau Carleton Raceway. The process should have been conducted better.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the move to biweekly garbage?
I voted for the change. We need to continue to divert organic materials from the landfill to reduce the need for another dump. Ottawa joined 12 Ontario municipalities, with 2 others soon to come, in making this change. The green bin is still picked up weekly and the reality is that if you use the green, blue, and black bins for their intended purposes, what’s left over as garbage is not that much. By extending the life of the City’s landfill as long as possible, we can avoid at least $250 million in cost and the divisive debate over a new location – no one wants a dump in their backyard.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the $100-million plan to redevelop Arts Court?
I voted for the project. This will be a public-private partnership that relies on a private-sector funds to ensure we can deliver this project at a lower cost to taxpayers. It also has the added benefit of providing much-needed classroom and auditorium space for the University of Ottawa.
What’s been the greatest success of the current council over the past four years?
I’m pleased we finally got shovels in the ground for the light rail transit system, after years of cancellations and delay. For the first time in our city’s history, we finally have our act together on our transit plan.
What’s been its greatest failure?
Two problematic bridge projects we inherited from the previous Council have been frustrating to all. As Mayor and as a taxpayer, seeing the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge (SAB) and the Airport Parkway Bridge plagued by delays, bankruptcies, and false starts was frustrating. The SAB is now complete and looks great, and the Airport Parkway Bridge is soon to be finished, and I believe we have learned important lessons in tendering and procurement that will serve us well going forward. While I was not on Council when the contracts were signed, I took responsibility to fix the problems and get these projects back on track.
YOUR WARD
What are the two most important issues for the city? Why?
Issue 1:
Residents tell me that transportation is their number one issue. We need to build more transit to ensure we don’t let gridlock catch up with us, and to keep our economy and people moving. Our light rail plan has a fixed price and it is on budget. In tandem with this, there is also great concern from residents about speeding on residential streets and the danger this poses to families, children, and seniors which must be addressed with stepped-up enforcement.
Issue 2:
I’m very focused on the state of our local economy, especially in the face of continued federal job cuts. My first term saw the creation of Invest Ottawa, our economic development agency, which is helping put Ottawa on the map as the best place to do business in Canada. We need to continue this progress by supporting our small and medium sized businesses in their quest to create jobs. I’m also committed to continuing the work we’re doing with local tourism and event organizations – our third-largest industry.
What specific measure will be your top priority if you’re elected?
Finish the Confederation Line on time and on budget, then move forward with Stage 2 of light rail (expanding LRT farther east to Place d’Orleans, west to Bayshore and Algonquin College and south to Riverside South).
If you are the incumbent, of what decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
Passing four unanimous budgets with successively lower tax rate increases, all below 2.5%, as I had promised. This year’s rate at 1.9% was the lowest in 7 years and while we did not have to slash vital city services and infrastructure to achieve it, we were able to reduce staffing in each of the last 3 budgets.
What do you wish the council had dealt with better?
I had hoped that we would be able to sign a deal to have a Blue Jays farm team, but ultimately the cost would have been too much for taxpayers. Fortunately we have been able to secure the Ottawa Champions who will be able to get good use from our stadium at a much more reasonable cost.
CITY ISSUES
Taxes. Are they too high? Just about as high as they should be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?
I’m pleased that I kept my commitment to limit tax changes to no more than 2.5% for four consecutive budgets, after the previous Council hiked taxes almost 15% over three years. I believe we’ve struck the right balance between affordability and responsibility. For example, 2014 was the lowest tax change in seven years, at 1.9%. I’m not making some irresponsible pledge to freeze or cut taxes because as a growing city we need to ensure we provide residents in growth areas with parks, fire stations, community centres, etc.
If re-elected, I will lower the annual cap to a maximum of 2% and continue to invest in community priorities. This is in line with inflation.
Please list some city services you consider “core” and any you consider “frills” that could be cut back.
Our core services include road maintenance, transit, parks/recreation/culture, public health, housing, waste management, police, fire, paramedics, and libraries among others.
In my first term, we saved significant taxpayer funds by getting out of the equestrian and golf course businesses. For my second term, I’ve put forward a few new ideas of how we can find better value for taxpayer dollars. For example, I’d like to strengthen the role of our audit committee to ensure more frequent updates are provided on the status of accepted audit recommendations. We should also conduct a physical space review of all municipally owned and leased properties, as well as a city-wide strategy for energy retrofits for our buildings and vehicles.
Development issues continue to be controversial. What would make the planning process smoother?
It is my hope that the changes we’ve made to the Official Plan and the zoning by-law will provide us with greater consistency and certainty in the years ahead. Certainty and predictability are what residents want when it comes to growth in their communities and I believe these changes help us towards those ends.
We have halted the urban boundary’s expansion and the sprawl that comes with it. Intensification must be compatible with local communities; and we need to ensure greater intensification near transit hubs.
The city is now constructing the first phase of LRT, the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is all but complete, and council just approved the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery expansion. What other “city building” projects do you think council should consider in the next term?
Don’t forget we are also working on the Innovation Centre at Bayview Yards which will help facilitate job creation in our city. An affordable public-private partnership for a new central library that meets the needs of residents in the 21st century.
GOVERNANCE
Roughly how many council meetings have you attended in the past year?
All of them.
Should the transit commission include “citizen” commissioners who are not elected officials? Why or why not?
It should. These people add a valuable citizen’s perspective from outside the bureaucracy and that is useful when our transit system makes hundreds of thousands of trips each day. Adding citizen members was one of my campaign commitments in 2010, and I’m pleased Council adopted the recommendation.
What would make the goings-on at City Hall — whether at council or in the bureaucracy — more transparent?
I’m pleased that we have put in place the most comprehensive accountability measures in the province: a lobbyist registry, a gift registry, an integrity commissioner and posting our expenses online. I think we need to continue to monitor and strengthen these tools.
Should councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?
No. The public does a good job at deciding when it is time for somebody to go.
There is a ward-boundary review coming up in the next term of council. Do you think we have too few, too many or just the right number of wards?
I attempted to review this issue earlier in our term with a view to reducing the number of seats, while respecting the rural wards, and was not successful. I will await the coming review on boundaries but will not support increasing the size of council.
Is your campaign willing to accept corporate and/or union contributions? Yes or no?
Yes. According to the Ontario law governing election finances we accept all legal donations.
Some people think those sorts of contributions should be banned. What do you think?
They should not be banned. Small businesses for instance, pay taxes and they should be allowed to be part of the electoral process.
Some people are interested in the city moving a ranked-ballot system of voting. If the provincial government allows municipalities to adopt this system, would you be in favour of it?
I believe we should focus on getting more people out to vote before changing how they vote.
ABOUT YOU
What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?
A bachelor of Arts from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communications.
If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?
I believe the current mayor is doing a very good job, but I am a little biased!
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
I live in Bay Ward but I have a keen interest in all 23 wards in Ottawa.
Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?
I moved to Ottawa to attend Carleton University and have stayed since.
What’s the most significant position of responsibility you’ve ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?
My current job as Mayor of the City of Ottawa. I have also been a Cabinet Minister and the President and CEO of a Federal Crown Corporation.
Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids? How old are you?
No. I’m 53.
Who’s the best municipal politician in Ottawa you know of? Why?
Jim Durrell. He is a big picture thinker and caring person who always put the city above himself and I am proud to call him a friend. Through his leadership we have a new airport, Convention Centre, and our NHL hockey team, to name a few of his accomplishments.
When did you last take OC Transpo to work or to run an errand?
Last week: route 87 from home to work.
How often to do you take transit?
3-4 times per month.
Robert White
Robert White is a candidate for mayor of Ottawa.
ISSUES PAST
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2013 Transportation Master Plan that includes a $3-billion plan for the second phase of light rail?
I would vote against the 2013 TMP
Was the outcome of the city’s casino deliberations generally positive or negative? Why?
The casino deliberations were generally negative given the fact that the Senator’s owner Eugene Melnyk’s input was ignored by the Mayor of Ottawa and council. Clearly, the City of Ottawa should have made concessions to include Melnyk’s ideas.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the move to biweekly garbage?
I would vote no to biweekly garbage pickup given the complaints by residents during summer months.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the $100-million plan to redevelop Arts Court?
I would have voted yes to helping Arts Court.
What’s been the greatest success of the current council over the past four years?
Council has had success with Landsdowne Park redevelopment.
What’s been its greatest failure?
Hydro Ottawa complaints regarding over-billing and the Mayor’s lack of redress with regard to complaints filed with the city.
YOUR WARD
What are the two most important issues for the city? Why?
Issue 1: Preventing the go-ahead with LRT Phase 2 without industry estimates or signed contractual agreements in place before deals are permitted to go ahead.
Issue 2: Lack of oversight on Hydro Ottawa over-billing and a number of botched contracts with the city. Orgaworld, Strandherd Armstrong bridge delay and the Airport Parkway bridge delay.
What specific measure will be your top priority if you’re elected?
Top priority would be sound fiscal policy regarding expenditures the City of Ottawa is engaged in for the next term. LRT Phase 2 is not sound fiscal policy in light of the deficit spending by the province of Ontario.
If you are the incumbent, of what decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
What do you wish the council had dealt with better?
Hydro Ottawa over-billing of residents that cannot seem to find redress with city of Ottawa bureaucrats.
If you’re not the incumbent, say something nice about the incumbent.
Mayor Watson is great at collecting money from developers and corporatists that lobby city hall bureaucrats.
Now say what you’d do differently, if elected.
I would cancel the LRT Phase 2 proposal entirely to save residents over $3.0 billion dollars. I would sell off large portions of the social housing portfolio that are not being sufficiently maintained by council or the mayor. Moreover, I would bring business prospects to Ottawa to increase employment for our residents that are suffering downturns in the employment sector. I would support the arts community much more than the present council is doing and I would restore weekly garbage pickup for summer months only. Orgaworld would get a re-negotiation to the next grade of SSO and the residents would find that this system would work more effectively for their tax dollars. I would provide oversight on the excessive Ottawa Hydro billing.
CITY ISSUES
Taxes. Are they too high? Just about as high as they should be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?
I am proposing a 2.1% tax cap that would help the Ottawa Police Services budgeting much more than the incumbent is doing at a 2% cap.
Please list some city services you consider “core” and any you consider “frills” that could be cut back.
Snow plowing, weekly garbage pickup during summer, policing, EMS, road maintanence, transportation. Provincial downloading for police services in provincial courts is a frill that should be uploaded back to the province. Bike lane investments are frills that I would not invest in whatsoever.
Development issues continue to be controversial. What would make the planning process smoother?
Appropriate oversight on contracts is non-existing with the present council. Developers have too much leverage with the OMB and council is not acting in the best interests of residents on intensification issues. Streamlining the planning process with less cost and delays would be a start.
The city is now constructing the first phase of LRT, the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is all but complete, and council just approved the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery expansion. What other ‘city building’ projects do you think council should consider in the next term?
A new tertiary care teaching hospital is needed to replace the current Civic Hospital Campus that is out-dated and pretty well a toxic waste dump with SUPERBUGS that are not be addressed appropriately by the Local Heath Integration Network.
GOVERNANCE
Roughly how many council meetings have you attended in the past year?
Should the transit commission include “citizen” commissioners who are not elected officials? Why or why not?
A neutral arbiter is unbiased with regard to transit issues and could be useful for oversight purposes. Citizen commissioners are most aptly able to protect the interests of residents if they are not tied to agreements made through a seat on council.
What would make the goings-on at City Hall — whether at council or in the bureaucracy — more transparent?
Legislated transparency so that we do not have to pay money to get information through Access to Information laws.
Should councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?
Term limits are unsound given that some councillors with much experience are usefull to provide education to new councillors that are voted in each electoral round.
There is a ward-boundary review coming up in the next term of council. Do you think we have too few, too many or just the right number of wards?
Municipal governance could be made more economical if we downsized the council members with fewer wards to oversee. Management is key, but over-managed wards are proving to be costly for rate-payers.
Is your campaign willing to accept corporate and/or union contributions? Yes or no?
My campaign will accept all legal donations, and I believe unions, and corporations, are valued contributors to our democracy even if they do not contribute to my campaign.
Some people think those sorts of contributions should be banned. What do you think?
Unions and corporations are representative of a myriad of interests that benefit our city. Their collective involvement in our democracy is necessary and appreciated by myself. I do disagree with much of their collective input, but I am willing to work with them to resolve issues that crop up from time-to-time.
Some people are interested in the city moving a ranked-ballot system of voting. If the provincial government allows municipalities to adopt this system, would you be in favour of it?
First past the post is most equitable in my opinion.
ABOUT YOU
What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?
I was raised by a Chartered Accountant from infancy. I am an empiricist, and formally trained in empiricism through my Honours B.A. in Experimental Psychology from Carleton University, and a diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ottawa. I have been writing contracts in small business for over thirty years and I am well versed in terms of contemporary business practices which lends well to serving the residents of Ottawa on city council. I have spent years studying leadership issues and I am well versed in terms of the political sphere in Ottawa.
If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?
I will vote for myself given that I know that LRT Phase 2 is a boondoggle promulgated by a corrupt provincial government that is seriously up-to-it’s-eyeballs in debt and deficit.
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?
The Federal Government of CANADA poached my father from Bay Street in Toronto when I was 11 years old. My father moved me to Ottawa in 1971 and I have attended Fielding Drive Public School, Brookfield High School, Algonquin College, and Carleton University in Ottawa whilst being raised in Ottawa since I was 11.
What’s the most significant position of responsibility you’ve ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?
Small business owner since young adulthood. Teaching Assistant at Carleton University.
Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids? How old are you?
I’m 54 and single due to a lack of funds to get married or have children. I have lived in abject poverty for most of my adult life and would not ever get married without first having the funds to do so. Ottawa has been a very poor place to find employment for myself and others throughout the last thirty years. Mechanical Engineering positions in Ottawa have not been forthcoming with my credentials. A lack of bilingualism has thwarted much of my working life in this area. If I am not elected I will move away from this backwater of a city.
Who’s the best municipal politician in Ottawa you know of? Why?
Out of all our politicians I would have to go with Andrew Haydon because he is an adept Civil Engineer that is concerned with our transit issues and wasteful spending on the LRT Phase 2 proposal that is wastefull with regard to tearing up perfectly good transit work that was done years previous by more fiscally responsible governance that he worked in.
When did you last take OC Transpo to work or to run an errand?
Last summer when I had to drop my car off at my mechanic who is based in the south of Ottawa. Andrew Haydon’s ‘Rapid Bus Network’ worked so well that I phoned CFRA to give it accolades because of the quick time that I made it home in.
How often to do you take transit?
Once every 30 years or so when my car has to go into my mechanic unexpectedly.
Darren Wood
Darren Wood is a candidate for mayor of Ottawa.
ISSUES PAST
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2013 Transportation Master Plan that includes a $3-billion plan for the second phase of light rail?
Stop after the completion of phase one.
Was the outcome of the city’s casino deliberations generally positive or negative? Why?
Negative, we got short changed on a real casino thanks to bickering of council and the horse track.
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the move to biweekly garbage?
Restore Weekly Garbage Pick Up!
How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the $100-million plan to redevelop Arts Court?
Un-necessary waste of tax dollars. Should have been completely funded by private enterprise and donations.
What’s been the greatest success of the current council over the past four years?
This council has been a complete failure and has no successes to tout.
What’s been its greatest failure?
Removing weekly garbage, increasing our debt exponentially and lack of fiscal control.
YOUR WARD
What are the two most important issues in your ward (or the city, if you’re running for mayor)? Why?
Issue 1: Restoring weekly garbage as this is the wish of the people.
Issue 2: Discontinuing the practice of giving city contracts or spending of taxpayer money for companies outside of Ontario. We need to protect and invest in our local economy.
What specific measure will be your top priority if you’re elected?
Implementing Issues 1 & 2 from the previous question.
What do you wish the council had dealt with better?
Fiscal matters, debt and garbage.
If you’re not the incumbent, say something nice about the incumbent.
Jim Watson is 2nd to none when it comes to chasing photo ops.
Now say what you’d do differently, if elected.
Restore weekly garbage, eliminate the debt, stop LRT after phase one, keep tax dollars with Ottawa owned/operated companies and enact a “transparency act”.
CITY ISSUES
Taxes. Are they too high? Just about as high as they should be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?
Without a doubt too high.
Please list some city services you consider “core” and any you consider “frills” that could be cut back.
Garbage, snow removal, police, fire, EMT and public transportation are core services.
Development issues continue to be controversial. What would make the planning process smoother?
Development must include input from the people living in the proposed building site.
The city is now constructing the first phase of LRT, the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is all but complete, and council just approved the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery expansion. What other “city building” projects do you think council should consider in the next term?
Council should consider spending tax dollars more wisely. We are billions in debt and have no money for frill expenditures outside of core services and paying off our debt. When we are in the black we can consider projects.
GOVERNANCE
Roughly how many council meetings have you attended in the past year?
N/A
Should the transit commission include “citizen” commissioners who are not elected officials? Why or why not?
Yes, if for nothing else accountability.
What would make the goings-on at City Hall — whether at council or in the bureaucracy — more transparent?
Allowing people easier access to address council directly.
Should councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?
No because it defeats the democratic system. That is why there are no term limits on any political office at any level. The will of the people cannot be interfered with.
There is a ward-boundary review coming up in the next term of council. Do you think we have too few, too many or just the right number of wards?
The wards need to be drawn up and representative of the number of people in each riding to make representation proportionate.
Is your campaign willing to accept corporate and/or union contributions? Yes or no?
NO!
Some people think those sorts of contributions should be banned. What do you think?
I believe in democracy and therefore believe candidates should be allowed to accept those donations. Whether accepting those donations is morally right, is another question.
Some people are interested in the city moving a ranked-ballot system of voting. If the provincial government allows municipalities to adopt this system, would you be in favour of it?
Not in favour of a ranked-ballot system. Democracy is first horse past the gate. Not combining choices to make the appearance of a majority representation.
ABOUT YOU
What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?
20yrs in politics. Proven track record for helping the underdog and winning.
If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?
Darren W. Wood
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Mayoral Candidate… so every ward is my ward.
Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?
No. Came here for a girl and got married.
What’s the most significant position of responsibility you’ve ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?
Owner/operator of a business that employed 24 full time workers.
Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids? How old are you?
Married. Five kids all girls, ages 24, 21, 16, 9, 6 and two grandchildren.
Who’s the best municipal politician in Ottawa you know of? Why?
I don’t know of one personally. I would say any politician who actually answers his own phone and takes on the problems of his electorate.
When did you last take OC Transpo to work or to run an errand?
Three weeks ago to run an errand. OC does not come out into the country or at least not into Kinburn.
How often to do you take transit?
Rarely, see previous answer.
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