Kitchissippi: Fitzgerald — Dreaming of good governance and making Ottawa a world-class city

People want Ottawa council to represent residents, not developers, and work in a non-partisan, cooperative manner to serve the city as a whole.

The Citizen invited candidates in the Oct. 24 municipal election to share their thoughts:

Canvassing Kitchissippi residents provides insight into their concerns about poor governance at city hall and their hopes for a sustainable, innovative and inclusive vision for their city.

Many residents have lost faith in city governance because of the LRT’s continued unreliability and revelations from the LRT inquiry about incompetent decision-making and lack of transparency. They are incensed that some politicians receive developer-backed funding and seem to act in the interests of developers, not residents. They are disheartened to see city council riven by factionalism and incapable of acting in the best interests of all Ottawa residents.

They want council to represent residents, not developers, and work in a non-partisan, cooperative manner to serve the interests of the city as a whole.

Residents are concerned about the housing affordability crisis, which touches everyone in multiple ways, contributing to stress and insecurity. They do not appreciate being taxed, “renovicted” or “demovicted” out of their homes. They are exhausted from having to muster opposition to multiple high-rise apartment projects.

Others are experiencing years of upheaval, with boarded-up homes and construction pits like gaping cavities on their streets, where once there were occupied, affordable rental units. Many residents, working from home but unable to afford to relocate, are bombarded all day long by the cacophony of endless construction.

Residents are keen on taking climate action at the local and individual level but frustrated to live in a city that declares a climate emergency but conducts business as if climate change were not real. Residents embrace intensification so more people can take advantage of public transit and the opportunities for active transportation to enjoy aspects of a “15-minute city.” However, they also see that intensification is coming at a high cost in terms of worsening and dangerous traffic (since many remain dependent on automobiles); unimaginative and unaffordable high-rise and infill construction; failing road and storm sewage infrastructure; and loss of shade cover, permeable ground, and green space, with nothing in the way of tangible benefits.

Residents favour denser, inclusive and affordable neighbourhoods with more tree shade, better local public amenities such as sports facilities, community gardens, accessible children’s parks, dog parks, safe and attractive walking and biking paths separated from commuter traffic, etc. for the growing population. Tackling the housing affordability crisis amid the climate crisis means that we need to embrace collaborative, innovative approaches to both financing and construction to foster clean, green and inclusive development. For example, encouraging developers and architects to use sustainable construction materials and techniques could contribute to developing an innovative, green, and circular local economy.

Residents want municipal politicians to provide good governance and embrace cooperative decision-making to make Ottawa a vibrant, sustainable, innovative, inclusive and affordable world-class city. Developers should be allies in implementing this ambitious vision. Just imagine what Ottawa could be if we galvanized everyone to realize a spectacular, sustainable and livable vision.

— Oonagh Fitzgerald (BFA LLB LLM SJD MBA), candidate for councillor, Kitchissippi.