Accessibility and Access Keys [0]
With a federal election yet to be called, the City of Ottawa is already putting pressure on local candidates to cough up much-needed financial help.
Mayor Larry O’Brien already has a few questions that will be mailed out to candidates in coming days and has asked councillors to come up with more questions for candidates. The series of questions will culminate in an omnibus motion at a future council meeting.
O’Brien said “it’s all about money” and he wants council to come up with tough questions to gauge each candidate’s support and action plan on issues important to the nation’s capital.
“The upcoming federal election gives council a fresh opportunity to get a clear indication of each candidate’s position on the pressing issues facing our municipality,” O’Brien said.
RAPID TRANSIT
Although he will wait for councillors’ questions, the mayor already has four questions he wants included in a letter and questionnaire to be sent to federal candidates.
Topping O’Brien’s list is what is the candidates’ party position on creating long-term funding for rapid transit. He also wants to know each candidate’s position of funding for roads, sewers and bridges, investing in affordable social housing and uploading costs incurred by the city’s police department for national and international events.
Bay Coun. Alex Cullen said candidates who are running in the yet-to-be called federal election have a responsibility to answer the questions and provide their personal and party position on important municipal issues.
“If they don’t answer, they don’t deserve a vote,” said Cullen. “We need to know these answers.”
Last week, Environment Minister John Baird announced an additional $13 million on top of a previously committed $20 million to aid Ottawa in its attempt to upgrade its sewer system and halt the flow of raw sewage into the Ottawa River.
The provincial government transferred $77 million into the city’s bank account recently, also in an attempt to give the city a helping hand for its infrastructure projects.
—-
O’BRIEN’S QUESTIONS
– On May 28 the City of Ottawa approved a long-term vision for a new rapid transit network. What is your party’s position on establishing stable, long-term funding for Ottawa’s rapid transit network?
– The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has identified that Canada’s municipal infrastructure deficit today stands at an estimated $123 billion and is growing by about $2 billion a year. Municipalities build, own and maintain the majority of Canada’s infrastructure. The City of Ottawa will be investing a record $360 million in infrastructure alone in 2008. What is your party’s position in providing stable, long-term funding so that municipalities like Ottawa can address urgent rehabilitation of our roads, bridges and pipes?
– The City established a target of adding 500 low-income homes per year in 2004. As of 2007, the City has received funding for 586 housing units from the Canada/Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The City is still short 1,414 housing units of its target of 2,000 units. What is your party’s platform on investing in more affordable housing in Ottawa?
– In 2007, over $5 million of the City’s budget was diverted to covering unexpected security and policing costs for national and international events related to our role as the nation’s capital. What is your party’s plan to upload costs incurred by the City of Ottawa for these events?
(C) Ottawa Sun