Instead of maintaining and improving public investments, we have seen the reduction of essential services such as paramedics, police, fire service, roads and infrastructure.
The Citizen invited candidates in the Oct. 24 municipal election to share their thoughts:
My name is Nagmani Sharma, and I was born and raised in India.
Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Ottawa Citizen Headline News will soon be in your inbox.
I don’t have a political background. I spent half of my life in agricultural farming. Seema, my supportive wife, and our son, Manav, live with me. We immigrated to Canada in 2007 and faced the same difficulties as other immigrants: working in factories, gas stations, pizza deliveries, restaurants, and hospitals before I landed a job as a software engineer.
In addition, I volunteered for many community and non-profit organizations like post-pandemic Red Cross mental health and well-being support, flood relief assistance, Food Bank drives, seniors’ care, refugee settlements, assisting newcomers and immigrants, and a variety of other causes.
Ward 5 is unique, and needs attention!
In recent years, the ward was affected by several natural disasters like floods, tornadoes, storms and COVID. The resulting impacts on the retail economy, failed municipal services, and stressed daily life plunged rural wards further down. On top of that, with high inflation and raised prices for diesel, gasoline, propane tanks, fertilizers and seeds, our farmers are suffering. Local businesses are in terminal decline.
The ward has been abandoned since the area’s merger with Ottawa. For decades, like other rural wards, we contributed heavily to the City of Ottawa purse with little return. Noticeable are the unrepaired local roads, slow internet and phone connectivity, a lack of grocery stores and businesses, and no shuttle or transportation services.
Instead of maintaining and improving the minor investments, we have seen the reduction of essential services such as paramedics, police, EMS, fire service, roads and infrastructure.
We must work on a long-term environmental program. Keep green spaces in good condition. Our beach areas require revitalization to become popular tourist destinations. More parking hubs and community parks are needed.
In recent debate(s), I advocated for:
• Increasing funding to hire and support more paramedics, police officers, and emergency response teams. Set up hubs where ambulances with paramedics, PCR, and EMR teams can stay connected. It will provide the community with faster service.
• Changing specific city bylaws for rural areas to ease severances, allow people to build another house on their property for their children, and so on.
• Before making decisions, seek public input.
• Show accountability and manage funds in a resourceful way. We are in a huge deficit and need to be more transparent and manage expenditures only for necessary services.
• I believe I am the only candidate in Ottawa who has proposed delaying or freezing Phase 3 of the LRT for a few years and emphasizing rural infrastructure.
• We need to focus on a sustainable environment and minimize damaging the climate.
I understand that strong, unwavering leadership is required. I am ready to accept challenges and have plans to execute and make them better.
I implore all electors to turn out on Oct 24 and vote for me.
If you have questions, I am available around the clock. Contact me at info@nagmanisharma.ca or visit our website, www.nagmanisharma.ca
