Signage alerting drivers to the use of Municipal Speed Cameras in Ottawa

Are Speed Cameras Exploiting Ottawa Residents Under the Guise of Safety?

 Property taxes are always a municipal election issue. During the 2022 Ottawa election campaign, then-candidate for mayor Mark Sutcliffe defended capping property taxes at 2.5 percent while his main rival, former Councillor Catherine McKenney, openly stated they would raise taxes.  It is unclear whether McKenney’s transparency accounted for her defeat.

Ottawa “Mark”-ed their ballots and the pollster got it wrong.

 Photo by Jean-Marc Carisse Ottawa’s 2022 election was the first real competition for mayor in eight years. The vote was Catherine McKenney’s to lose. Until election day, Mayor-elect Mark Sutcliffe seemed to be playing a game of catch-up. The results, however, were a surprise in the least, with Sutcliffe taking

OLM Podcasts with Walter Robinson – What’s Next for Ottawa.

 Ottawa residents head to the polls Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, to elect a new mayor, city councillors, and school board trustees. Ottawa Life Magazine has been following the race. Last week Managing Editor Dan Donovan sat down with Walter Robinson, former chief of staff to the mayor of Ottawa and an

A list of local candidates that actually listen to PWD

 Last Thursday, I watched the Mayoral debate on CTV Ottawa. Full disclosure: I get bored the few times I’ve watched debates. Sadly, I get bored because issues that people with disabilities face are rarely mentioned. Scratch that. They’re never mentioned. This was also the case during the debate on CTV

The top three mayoral candidates squared off during a CTV-hosted debate

 The frontrunners in Ottawa’s mayoral race, Bob Chiarelli, Mark Sutcliffe, and Catherine McKenney, met last night in a debate hosted by CTV News. With the remaining 11 candidates not included, the trio had time to share their visions for the city and why they are the best candidate to take Ottawa into the

Bob Chiarelli’s serious platform but strange campaign

 The deadline to register for municipal election is almost upon us. Only three candidates are resonating with the electorate among the thirteen competing for the top job in Ottawa.  As it stands, the campaign of mayoral candidate Catherine McKenney hits at the heart of their support base — young people, university educated,

Ottawa’s big change election yet three candidates running unopposed. 

 ABOVE: Laura Dudas, Rawlson King, and Tim Tierney will all be acclaimed if nobody steps up to run against them. (PHOTO: VIA OTTAWA.CA) With seven days left, the deadline to register to run for municipal elections in Ottawa is fast approaching. This election year will see the most dramatic turnover Ottawa

Past the expiry date—Renewal will be good for Ottawa City Council

 Nine councillors will not be returning to Ottawa City Council chambers in the fall. Eli El-Chantiry is the latest to announce that he will not run for re-election. This comes only a few days after Carol-Anne Meehan stated her decision to withdraw from the race. In all, nine councillors and

Empty trains and buses are the most significant issues now facing OC Transpo

 The Ottawa Transit Commission met today to discuss regular topics, including ridership, the launch of the new My Para Transpo website, and the e-bus pilot program. The transit systems has seen ups and downs and commission members shared their strong views. The bad news is that ridership is still well

Catherine McKenney: Ottawa’s “boots on the ground” councillor runs for mayor

 PHOTO: Neon Lilith Photography Catherine McKenney has been representing the citizens of Somerset Ward since 2014. Judging by how well they performed in the 2018 election, McKenney is well-liked by their community; Ottawa’s first non-binary councillor was re-elected in 2018 with a staggering 76.6 per cent of the vote.  This

Freedom convoy highlights differences between mayoral candidates

 FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Catherine McKenney, Diane Deans and Bob Chiarelli. (Photos: ottawa.ca, @bobchiarelli) The last two weeks in Ottawa have been some of the most memorable in recent history, albeit for all the wrong reasons. The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has received at best-irritated condemnation for its handling of

Mayor Watson gives his final State of the City Address

 Ottawa City Hall convened yesterday for the first time this year but the session marks the twilight of Jim Watson’s tenure as mayor. It is also the final year on the council for Catherine McKenney and Diane Deans. Both have thrown their hats in for the run to replace the retiring mayor

Adieu Jim Watson, hello . . . Bob Chiarelli?

 Ottawa will be saying adieu to Mayor Jim Watson this fall; that much is now a certainty. Watson, the popular mayor at election time in runs previous, has been more polarizing in his last term. He leaves behind the legacy of Ottawa’s longest-serving mayor. He has been at times both progressive

Budget season is almost over.

 The municipal budget has dominated the last month of Ottawa City Council committee meetings, but this chapter will be coming to a close on December 8th. There is no triumph of a balanced budget that Mayor Jim Watson was able to proclaim in years previous. This year's budget has shown that hard times

Expressing concern and making declarations is not an achievement

 Ottawa city councillor Catherine McKenney’s motion to declare a housing and homeless emergency in the national capital passed unanimously at city council on a cold night at the end of January. Typically, councillor’s changed the original motion to call it both a ‘crisis and an emergency’. According to city staff,

Hard Rock Casino Ottawa Set for Massive Expansion

 Rideau Carleton Raceway on Albion Road in Ottawa is set for a huge expansion, after council members voted 18-5 in favour of Hard Rock’s proposal to build a mega casino. Hard Rock Casino Ottawa is now free to build an extension to the raceway that includes a hotel and concert

After 20 Years of “Dithering” Library Finally Ready to Book It

 Photos by Andre Gagne The central branch of the Ottawa Public Library is heading west! Yesterday city council approved LeBreton Flats as the site for what is being called a "super library" set to replace the aging main branch currently at 120 Metcalfe Street. The 21-1 vote to partner with

Opening a Door for Canadian Newcomers

 On Monday, a group of educators and city officials came together to launch the YMCA-YWCA’s first ever Pre-Apprenticeship Home Renovation Program. They were surrounded by wooden work stations half covered in dry wall with colourful signs above them sporting the students’ names, or the names of the business they hope