Ali Shayvard
"Climate change is already here, and Ottawa residents are feeling its effects through flooding, extreme heat, severe storms, wildfire smoke and other emergencies.
As Mayor, I will focus on making Ottawa more resilient by investing in the infrastructure that protects people. That means improving drainage and stormwater systems, strengthening roads and public infrastructure, preparing for extreme heat and smoke events, and making sure emergency services are ready to respond quickly, especially for seniors, low-income residents and other vulnerable people.
I am running as a democratic socialist because I believe government should work for the people. One of the most important responsibilities of City Hall is to protect residents and make sure our infrastructure is strong enough for the challenges we are already facing.
We cannot control every weather event, but we can make sure Ottawa is better prepared for them."
Jeff Leiper
"Climate change is already affecting Ottawa through flooding, extreme heat, severe storms and wildfire smoke. We need to prepare for those events before they happen, rather than simply responding after the damage is done.
We need to make our infrastructure more resilient. For too long, Ottawa has underfunded the maintenance and renewal of the infrastructure that protects our communities. I will prioritize investments in stormwater and flood protection, water and wastewater systems, and other critical infrastructure so our city is better prepared for severe storms and extreme weather.
We also need to protect people, particularly residents who are most vulnerable. That means expanding access to cooling and clean-air spaces, improving public communication and emergency supports, and working with community organizations that already serve seniors, people experiencing homelessness and lower-income residents.
We need to learn from recent extreme weather events, identify vulnerable areas and make the investments needed before the next emergency happens. Preparing now protects people, their homes and the infrastructure we all depend on, while reducing the much larger costs of doing nothing."
Neil Saravanamuttoo
"Protecting residents starts with fixing infrastructure problems we already know about. Following the Canada Day flooding and other storms, residents have faced enormous costs to remove mould, clear contaminated debris and repair their homes. Addressing overdue infrastructure needs has not been a priority of previous Councils, but it will be for me.
I will redirect hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure funding earmarked for the Tewin project toward upgrading stormwater systems in existing neighbourhoods. That means accelerating overdue sewer and drainage improvements alongside nature-based solutions, including native trees, plants and stormwater ponds that absorb and retain rainfall. We must invest in preventing damage before the next major storm.
I will also introduce neighbourhood-scale programs to help households install sump pumps and backwater valves, making these improvements easier and more affordable through coordinated purchasing, project management and financing. Home energy retrofits and expanded tree planting will further protect residents from extreme heat while helping lower their energy bills."
Peter Westaway
"Slowly rebuilding and strengthening our existing sewer system must be a priority."