Canada
This article was added by the user . TheWorldNews is not responsible for the content of the platform.

Dietchmann: And they set off! The fields are set for the next council in Ottawa

The last such transition at City Hall was 12 years ago. A lot has changed since then: LRT, COVID, "Freedom Convoy"

Ottawa's City Hall.
Ottawa City Hall. Photo by ERROL MCGIHON /Postmedia

Twelve years ago, Ottawa voters has 10 new legislators and a new mayor.

We are about to do it again. This time it's more by attrition than by choice, but the dangers are no less.

It is worth noting that on 25 October 2010 a handful of new MPs won seats. That's because voters historically content to let Sleeping Dogs rule have packed up his six incumbents for the first time since the merger. The incumbent aldermen were defeated except for the mayor. Four other rookies that year won seats in contests without incumbents.

followed a tumultuous period of holding the Most of that was while he was under investigation or responding to criminal charges. O'Brien indicated that he was having trouble finding a reason to run for re-election. He did so, but voters desperate to cut the pretentiousness got on his signal and agreed that there weren't enough reasons to get him re-elected.

But this newcomer was hardly a newcomer, but a reused mayor. Jim Watson, who held the top post prior to the merger, was reappointed and subsequently re-elected twice.

On Oct. 24, voters will elect a new slate of equal or greater rank, including a new mayor and her 11 or more new aldermen. One in the mayor's office), and one in the newly created Barrhaven East ward. Yet another - Kanata North - incumbent Kathy Curry faces her first seat election, appointed to the post after Jenna Suds stepped down for federal politics.

(Candidates had to register by 2pm on Friday, but the city promised to have a final list by Monday, so late additions will still be revealed.) Note that there is a possibility.)

This time the atmosphere is different. Twelve years ago, Lansdowne's development had just been approved and the LRT was still his pair of rails stretching toward an exciting future.

Today, the LRT is breakfast of dog failure. Lansdowne, well, that's what it is: improved cracked pavement from its original location.

Meanwhile, after months of occupation of the downtown core, we have an interim police chief. Residents are still at risk due to subsequent regular invasions. Affordable housing is a hopeless contradiction for many. Roads are a godsend for auto mechanics. The COVID-19 pandemic has little underfoot in Congress, yet many areas with little chance of relief from the constant cries to drain city coffers and get rid of new taxes. exposing and/or exacerbating social problems.

Worth it or not, this is the moonscape bequeathed to the new council, and voters would do well to heed . Turnout in municipal elections is generally low, at 40-45% in the last three campaigns, lower than in state and federal elections.

However, decisions that most affect the lives of residents, such as roads, snow removal, ordinances, social services, recreation, and land development, are made It's the city council. Public transportation, libraries, arts and culture, emergency responders, public health, and more are made. You owe it to yourself and your neighbors to learn about the candidates for mayor and your borough and to vote for the one who best reflects your concerns. 87} There's almost certainly a realistic chance that three mayoral candidates will slip into Watson's robes and chains. Katherine McKechnie gave up her Somerset seat to run for office and is perhaps the most socially active viable candidate to run for mayor since Alex Munter in 2006. And Mark Sutcliffe, a community volunteer and entrepreneur-turned-politician, made his first run in elected office.

Recall that O'Brien did not get along with others.While Watson repeatedly declared that he received only one vote out of 24 seats on the Council, Despite his efforts, he regularly piled up and supported the committee.His agenda removed many councilors from the circle of power.

But overall, he has 14 candidates for mayor, and he has at least 101 other candidates for council. He has homework to do and he has 66 days left to finish it.

Ottawa Citizen Headline News logo

Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

By clicking the Sign Up button, you agree to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. Post Media Networks Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300