Month: October 2022

For this election cycle, the Greenspace Alliance decided to endorse candidates for Mayor and City Council seats.

This is the list of candidates that, in our opinion, would be most likely to advance and take action on climate, environmental and greenspace issues in the next term of Council.

The upcoming municipal election is the first one to be held after the City’s declaration of a Climate Emergency. This gives us an opportunity to elect a mayor and council that will act as if it is real emergency, not just empty words

The following candidates have earned the GA’s green stamp of approval.

The GA also believes that such a Council should be led by Mayor Catherine McKenney. They know what the real issues are, know how the city works and can be counted on to take a stand and make the tough decisions on climate change and environmental policies.

The GA made its selection of preferred candidates based on information made available on campaign websites, viewing candidate debates produced by Rogers Television and candidate interviews conducted by vlogger Vincenzo Calla. It also consulted with its membership and subscriber base, and considered the voting records of incumbents and the GA’s own interaction with them on climate, environmental and greenspace issues over the last term of Council.

Urban sprawl continues in Ottawa, tree canopy and natural spaces are declining rapidly, and natural defenses against increasingly extreme weather events are eroding. The importance of voting for the candidates that prioritize these issues in the upcoming election is paramount.

If the last four years at city hall have taught us anything, it’s that there’s a deep need for transparency and accountability around the council table. Unfortunately we haven’t seen much of that.

Public confidence in city officials is at an all-time low, we have a record debt, and a transit system that isn’t meeting the needs of its riders. We are in the middle of adapting to a “new normal” after the COVID-19 pandemic, and many major projects are coming up for a review. There is no doubt the next term of council will have to make many crucial decisions, ones that will drastically change the landscape of this city.

My name is Jay Chadha and I am running to be your next city councillor in ward 3: Barrhaven West. I’ve worked at OC Transpo for the last 20 years, most recently in rail operations. I’ve seen first-hand the inner workings of our transit system. I am the only candidate in Barrhaven West who can bring my years of background and knowledge to the council table to create a faster, more reliable and more affordable bus and train system.