COUNCILLOR’S MESSAGE
Some good news stories...for a change
Since it’s the last newsletter of the year, and as we’re less than two weeks away from Christmas, I wanted to start off this newsletter on a high note, with a pair of “good news stories” that I wanted to share. Each of them is a reminder of why I got into public service; it’s about how making an impact at the human level can be just as valuable as a significant accomplishment at a policy level.
For these two stories, I want to thank OC Transpo – and especially Troy Charter, Pat Scrimgeour, and Cathy Holt – for listening, caring, and going to the extra mile.
The story of Sadaqa Food Bank
Back in June, I got an invitation to meet with Salim Jam, the manager of Sadaqa Food Bank. Located on Colonnade Road, Sadaqa Food Bank is one of Ottawa’s 5 emergency food banks, which means it serves customers from across the city. And since Sadaqa Food Bank is one of the few food banks that cater specifically to Muslim communities, there’s a great demand on its services.
Back in April, when OC Transpo introduced the controversial New Ways to Bus service changes, there were disruptive service changes across Ward 9. One change had a particularly harmful impact on Sadaqa Food Bank and its customers.
OC Transpo’s Route 189 is the only bus that runs along Colonnade Road, with a stop near Sadaqa. Prior to the changes that came last April, Route 189 ran seven days a week. New Ways to Bus changed that, turning Route 189 into Monday – Friday service only.
Since the majority of businesses on Colonnade Road are only open during weekdays, OC Transpo assumed that this change would be tolerable. Of course, Route 189 also provides the only service that runs along Chesterton Road, and so losing weekend service to that important collector road brought its own challenges.
But here’s why these changes had such a negative impact on Sadaqa. This vital food bank is only open to serve customers on Saturdays and Sundays. And so, Sadaqa’s hundreds of customers no longer had an accessible bus route to get to this food bank for their monthly collection.
When I met with Salim Jam in June, he described the impact that this was having on his customers, many of whom didn’t have their own vehicle. They either had to take a taxi (which they could hardly afford to do), or they had to walk twenty minutes each way from the nearest stop for a different bus route. This meant that some of these families were walking twenty minutes back to the bus, carrying over fifty pounds of food!
That’s when I began to have conversations with Pat Scrimgeour and Troy Charter at OC Transpo about the various challenges that Ward 9 was experiencing due to New Ways to Bus, and how this impact on Sadaqa Food Bank was having the unanticipated impact of adding to the burden of some of our city’s most vulnerable residents. Of course, most of us should be aware that any diminishment of service to public transit will invariably have the greatest adverse impact on those of us who can least afford the change.
After several months and many discussions, I am happy to announce that we have found a solution!
Effective December 21st, Route 189 will resume seven days a week service, on the entire route. On Mondays – Fridays, the 189 will run according to its current schedule. On Saturdays and Sundays, the 189 will run once per hour from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
You can join in the excitement and watch a heartwarming video of Sadaqa Food Bank learning the good news.
The story of the missing walker
Last Saturday evening, I was listening to some of the voice mails that residents leave me, when I heard one concerning message from an older gentleman named Peter.
Peter is a regular user of Para Transpo, which he uses several times a week for important medical appointments. And Peter uses a mobility walker, as it’s too difficult to get around without support.
On Friday evening, Peter had been driven home from one of his appointments in a Para Transpo accessible taxi, along with two other passengers. All three passengers were picked up from the same hospital. Two of them had similar looking walkers. Peter was the first passenger who was dropped off.
It was only after Peter was back in his home, long after the driver had left, that he noticed he’d been given the wrong walker, and one that was far too large for him to use.
Normally, Peter wouldn’t have been too anxious about this. But he had surgery scheduled for Monday morning, and he wasn’t sure how to get his walker back, certainly not over the weekend. And if Peter had been given the wrong walker, then the other passenger had been given the wrong walker, too!
Peter tried calling Para Transpo’s customer service number, as well as the Lost & Found number that he was directed to. None of that helped. Either the phone didn’t get answered, or those who answered said that there was nothing they could do until Monday morning. But by that time, Peter would be having surgery.
That’s when Peter called my office and left a message explaining his situation. Am I ever glad I listened to that voicemail!
I got in touch with Peter and his wife Nancy on Saturday evening and got all of the details about what happened: details about their trip, about the walker, everything I could think of. I started calling every service number at Para Transpo, and their Lost & Found, their booking department, their logistics department, I couldn’t get through to anyone, because it was the weekend.
That’s when I reached out to OC Transpo General Manager Troy Charter, asking if he could do me a big favor. And did he ever come through!
Thanks to Troy Charter, as well as Cathy Holt, Program Manager of Para Transpo Operations, Peter had his beloved Stella Rollator mobility walker hand-delivered by Para Transpo early Sunday morning. Even better, Para Transpo was also able to return the other mistaken walker to its rightful owner, too.
I went and paid a visit to Peter and Nancy shortly after the walker had been returned and sat down for a coffee. Needless to say, they were relieved to get the walker back, and grateful for Para Transpo for going the extra mile to locate it.
Budget 2026: The risk of bad politics getting in the way of good policy
At last week’s Council meeting, the City of Ottawa’s 2026 Capital & Operating Budgets passed. I was one of the few councillors who did not support it. But I would rather have found myself excited to support a budget that truly reflected the city’s needs, as well as our capacity to meet those needs.
I’m not going to repeat my speech on the budget here. If you read these newsletters, you’re likely aware of my concerns. If you’d like to hear my speech – and I was told by some of my colleagues that it was a good one – you can watch the YouTube recording here.
But I will share one segment in this newsletter, since it encapsulates much of my position:
“There can be good reasons for saying “no” to a budget. Many people in my ward—and across the City—compassionate, intelligent, well-reasoned people—hold great doubts about this budget and many before it. Those voices deserve representation, even if only from a small minority of Council.
In their minds, and mine, this budget is not moving Ottawa to where it needs to be—whether far enough, fast enough, or even in the right direction. Moving forward does not necessarily mean progress. One can move forward in the wrong direction.”
On the morning after our Council meeting, CBC Radio did a “wrap-up” of our 10-hour long budget debate. The story made a point of indicating which councillors voted against the Mayor’s budget, including myself. What I found interesting was that after quoting a segment of Mayor Sutcliffe’s comments, they then played a rather long section of my own budget speech, to show a contrast with the Mayor’s position. I was pleased to know that my concerns about wishing we could approach our budget process differently resonated.
If you follow municipal politics in Ottawa, you’ve probably heard media commentary about how Mayor Sutcliffe has been using this budget, and several other recent policy announcements, as part of his unofficial campaign for next year’s election. I can’t say that I blame him, since most councillors have started to become hyper-aware of next year’s contest. And I’ve seen a shift in tone at City Hall over the past few months, where things are starting to be just a little more fractured. Frankly, it was inevitable to see relationships frayed after the extremely divisive vote on Lansdowne 2.0. For all 15 Councillors and the Mayor who supported Lansdowne 2.0., it must’ve stung to see this saga play out in the national news, when the Globe & Mail ran a scathing piece on Lansdowne 2.0 from their Editorial Board.
If Council starts to become more contentious due to the upcoming election, the risk is that it puts us into a different mindset, where bad politics get in the way of good policy. We can’t afford to do that.
During the budget debate, in addition to voting against the overall budget, I also voted in favor of the police budget, and against the transit budget. Those are typically the three big votes. I’ve already provided info on my vote for the overall budget, so I thought I’d provide a summary of my votes for the police and transit budgets.
Police Budget: Voted in Favor
This was a tough one. I’ve already said publicly that I don’t believe that Ottawa Police Service (OPS) was more deserving of a 5% budget increase than any other department, which only saw 2% increases. But that’s not to say that OPS didn’t need that increase. I supported the budget even though I’ve had some challenges with getting targeted responses from OPS on some local Ward 9 issues.
Here are four reasons why I supported the Ottawa Police Services budget:
- Although there was a minor decrease in Ward 9’s overall crime rate from 2023 to 2024, as well as a decrease in the non-violent crime rate, there were also significant increases in the violent crime rate, the crime severity index, as well as in the number of service calls.
- From our recent survey of Ward 9 residents, it was clear that there was some support for increasing Ottawa Police Service’s budget, although it didn’t rise to the same degree as other budget priorities, e.g. infrastructure investment.
- I am eager to see the potential benefits from their New District Model, and I know that for this new operational model to work, they’ll need additional resources.
- I have an ongoing concern with how much OPS pays in salaries and benefits to officers on long-term suspension. Currently, 4.5% of the police budget (or $19 million) covers long-term absences. While other cities have it far worse (13% of Kingston’s police budget goes towards long-term absences), Ottawa’s problem is still a growing concern. Adding new officers will help reduce the overtime that contributes to long-term absence.
Transit Budget: Voted against
While I am certainly grateful for some improvements and solutions that have come to Ward 9 transit service recently (see below for updates), and I applaud some of the significant changes on youth fares and LRT frequency, I voted against the proposed Transit budget to respect the significant remaining concerns of Ward 9 residents. While I remain cautiously optimistic about the future of transit in Ottawa, my vote was more a reflection of transit’s current, unsatisfactory state.
Here are four reasons why I did not support the Transit budget:
- I find it unconscionable to raise fares considering the consistently diminishing service. Toronto’s Transit Commission just froze transit fares for 2026, after also freezing fares for 2025.
- The changes brought about by New Ways to Bus were particularly hard on Ward 9. As discussed below, we are still looking to identify solutions to addressing the extreme unreliability of Route 82, for which OC Transpo has said that there are “limited opportunities to make changes”.
- I would prefer to wait and see what comes of the Auditor General’s upcoming report on her audit of OC Transpo’s bus schedules. My belief is that the current system for scheduling the shifts of our bus operators may be playing a significant role in bus unreliability.
- The proposed budget for OC Transpo has a $46 million “placeholder” revenue, where we expect the federal or provincial governments to fill that gap. We’ve used this strategy before, only to produce significant deficits. It’s irresponsible to approve budgets that have such gaps, and we know that if this money is not provided to us by other levels of government, then the City’s recourse will be to further deplete our already-starved Transit reserves.
Good news on housing
There were two pieces of excellent news for housing affordability in Ottawa last week, one of which I was integrally involved in. First, it was great to attend last Monday’s “fireside chat” meeting between Mayor Sutcliffe and PM Carney. The big announcement was the $400 million joint federal / municipal partnership for the development of 3,000 affordable housing units, to be constructed on federal and municipal lands. More details in this announcement are expected in early 2026, but this is a major step in achieving our housing goals.
The second announcement that came out last Monday was for a new Habitat for Humanity project coming to Ward 9, which will see 33 new townhomes on Beechcliffe Street in Craig Henry. Under this "attainable home ownership" program, 33 qualifying families will now own their first home. Originally, the City's plans for this municipally owned land was exclusively for the future LRT Stage 3. The site would have space for the station, obviously, as well as a large "promenade" area. I believed that we could do more, since the City has a stated goal of using surplus municipal land for housing. And so, I worked with City staff to turn over a small segment of that large parcel to be developed as housing, designed in a similar style to the area’s existing housing, and with plenty of room left for greenspace and the future use for LRT Stage 3.
The joys of raising other nations’ flags
Over the past few months, but coming to an end soon, I’ve been proud to have served as Deputy Mayor. Without a doubt, the most enjoyable part of my duties has been to host the flag-raising ceremonies of the various foreign embassies celebrating the national days of their home countries. It’s been a great experience to hear insights about so many countries, as provided by each ambassador in their public remarks. But it’s also been heartwarming to see such collegiality among “the brotherhood and sisterhood of the diplomatic corps”. Last week, I got to participate in what will be my final flag-raising, for the Republic of Kenya. I leave you with some photos of that event.
CITY WORKS
Update on snow plowing
With winter here in full force, we know that many residents have concerns and frustrations over how and when their streets get plowed, or eventually, when the snow gets removed. Councillor Devine absolutely understands the feeling of frustration one gets when, just after shoveling the driveway, the snowplow comes by and leaves a massive windrow. That’s not bad service, that’s just unlucky timing.
Our office recognizes that for some residents, especially older adults or persons with disabilities, clearing snow can be a real challenge. The City of Ottawa does have some programs in place to assist older adults and persons with disabilities, including subsidies for hiring private contractors.
Get the inside scoop on snow plowing and subscribe to electronic email alerts. If you subscribe to e-Alerts, you will receive notification each time a winter weather parking ban is put in place, extended or lifted. There is no charge for this service, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Follow on Facebook, Bluesky and X to receive updates. Residents can also download the City of Ottawa app on their Android or Apple device to receive up-to-date information on winter parking bans and other City news. For more winter parking information, please visit the winter parking web page. You can continue supporting our operations by finding off-street parking options. If you can, please ask a friend or neighbour if you can share their laneway. When vehicles are removed from our streets, the Roads and Parking Services team can clear snow efficiently to create a wide-open roadway.
Update on the provincial recycling transition
Get ready for an enhanced recycling program this January, Ottawa! Here’s what’s changing in January: Your recycling questions should be directed to Miller Waste at 1-888-852-2374 or [email protected].
Update on OC Transpo improvements and changes for Ward 9
Over the past several months, our office has been actively engaging with OC Transpo staff and pressing for answers as residents continue to experience increasing service cancellations and declining reliability across many routes. The volume of feedback we are receiving makes it clear this is no longer an isolated issue affecting only a handful of routes, but a broader operational challenge that is impacting riders throughout the network.
As part of these ongoing discussions, we want to share several upcoming service changes and updates we received regarding some Ward 9 routes.
Route 86
During weekday peak hours, Route 86 will continue to operate every 15 minutes. However, only every second trip will continue to Antares Drive, with the remaining southbound trips terminating at Colonnade Road. This means the 86 at Antares will run approximately every 30 minutes during peak periods.
Route 189
We are pleased to report that Route 189 has returned to weekend service, along the entire route between Baseline and Colonnade approximately once per hour on Saturdays and Sundays (between 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM). We know this route was missed by many residents, and we are very encouraged by its return and the important role it plays in connecting communities.
Route 53
Riders continue to report frequent cancellations and significant delays. Our office is awaiting detailed performance data to fully understand the scope and impact of these service disruptions.
Route 82
In reviewing detailed performance data, it is clear that Route 82 is heavily affected by car traffic congestion. During off-peak periods, the route can complete its full length in approximately 33 minutes, but during weekday rush hours the same trip can take up to 66 minutes—twice as long. These delays significantly undermine reliability and discourage ridership. OC Transpo has provided our office with a detailed analysis of Route 82’s service, which will be reviewed at a meeting in January. At that meeting, we will discuss potential solutions, including transit-priority measures or possible route adjustments to improve consistency.
Beyond individual routes, riders continue to report frequent cancellations across the system. At recent Transit Commission meetings, OC Transpo staff indicated that the anticipated early-2026 opening of the O-Train Line 1 east extension is expected to improve fleet flexibility and help stabilize operations. While we hope this will materialize, we also recognize that riders were previously told the New Ways to Bus changes would deliver improvements; benefits that have yet to seen.
Road Safety Action Plan: impaired driving
Impaired driving is one of the most dangerous and preventable choices a driver can make. Whether impairment is caused by alcohol, cannabis, medications, or other drugs, it slows reaction time, affects judgement, and greatly increases the risk of serious or fatal collisions.
From 2019 to 2023, 62 impaired drivers were involved in collisions in Ottawa that resulted in a fatality or major injury. These incidents have lasting impacts on families, first responders, and the broader community.
Here’s how you can play a role in keeping our roads safe:
- Plan ahead. Use a designated driver, taxi, rideshare, or public transit. If you’re walking, make sure you’re visible and dressed for the conditions.
- Speak up. If someone is about to drive impaired, say something and help them find a safer way home.
Impaired driving is a criminal offence and can result in a minimum one-year license suspension, fines, mandatory education or treatment programs, ignition interlock requirements, and a criminal record.
Don’t be another statistic—drive safely and choose wisely.
Flooding survey: Carleton Heights & General Burns
As part of our ongoing efforts to address historic flooding incidents in Carleton Heights & General Burns, our office is coordinating a survey in collaboration with the City of Ottawa, the General Burns Community Association, and the Carleton Heights Resident Advisory Group. Recently, the City of Ottawa, at the request of our office, has launched a process to assess and address historic flooding incidents in the areas of Carleton Heights and General Burns. The City of Ottawa would like your help to gather more information about flooding at your property and area to assess the impact of large rainfall events. Please only complete this survey if you live in Carleton Heights or Genera Burns. Submissions from outside that area will not be reviewed, as they are outside the area of this study. We ask that you take a few minutes to complete our simple survey.
Kindergarten registration at the Ottawa Catholic School Board
If your child was born in 2022, it's time to register them to start Kindergarten in September 2026. Registering is easy, simply complete the online registration form and upload your documents. If you have questions, please email the Admissions team and they will be happy to help. And be sure to Take a Peek Inside your Classroom: they have virtual 3D tours of their Kindergarten classrooms. No need to wait — visit your child's class today!
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
OC Transpo / Loblaw Annual Holiday Food Drive
Over the weekend Councillor Devine once again joined in for the annual OC Transpo / Loblaw Holiday Food Drive, taking place across the city. For Ward 9, the work took place at the Loblaw in the Merivale Triangle. This was the Councillor’s 4th year doing this event, and he’s mastered the technique of getting the $10 donation. Thanks to all of the volunteers, and of course the residents who gave generously.
Extending the Canada Strong Pass
Ingenium is proud to join the Canada Strong Pass this winter! From Dec. 12, 2025, to Jan. 15, 2026, kids under 17 enjoy free admission, and young adults (18–24) get 50% off at our three Ottawa museums. Explore science, aviation, and agriculture—affordable learning for all!
Christmas Exchange - How You Can Help!
Over 11,000 families in Ottawa need a helping hand this holiday season. Please consider donating to the Caring and Sharing Exchange, so everyone can enjoy a warm meal for the holidays.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
Stay Off the Ice: No Ice Is Safe Ice
As winter sets in, Ottawa’s emergency services are reminding residents that what often looks like solid ice can be dangerously deceptive. They are reminding residents that “No ice is safe ice.” Every winter, emergency crews respond to calls for people who have fallen through thin or unstable ice—sometimes with tragic outcomes.
Fast-moving rivers create weak ice, and even ponds may not freeze thick enough to support weight. Snow cover can make ice more brittle and hide hazards.
If you do fall in, experts suggest the 1-10-1 principle:
- 1 minute to control your breathing and reduce panic
- 10 minutes of meaningful movement to escape
- 1 hour to rewarm after getting out
Stay calm, kick hard, and roll away from the entry point to spread your weight. But the best advice? Don’t risk it. Stay off the ice.
Respiratory Disease Update
The holidays are a time to celebrate with family and friends—but they also coincide with respiratory illness season. Viruses like COVID-19, influenza (flu), RSV, and COVID are circulating in Ottawa, with flu levels being particularly high. Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health issued a warning this week to families, urging them to get their shots. Three children in Ottawa have died of complications from flu already this season. It is leading to dramatically higher levels of hospitalization among the young and old. So, get your shots.
Here are some tips on how you can protect yourself and those you love:
- COVID-19 and flu vaccines are recommended for everyone aged six months and older and can be given at the same time.
- Vaccines reduce your risk of infection and are highly effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization.
- Pharmacies are the main access point for people aged two and older, often offering walk-ins and appointments.
- Ottawa Public Health (OPH) provides clinics for eligible groups, including newcomers without OHIP and children under five.
- Wash hands often or use hand sanitizer.
- Cover coughs and sneezes; disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
- Stay home if you’re sick—avoid gatherings until symptoms improve and you’re fever-free for 24 hours (or 48 hours after vomiting/diarrhea).
- Avoid visiting high-risk individuals in hospitals or long-term care if you’re ill.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
Holiday Party & Winter Carnival
