Mazhar Choudhry
"By having a longer term plan and ensuring we are implementing it every budget and year."
Bob Bell
"I think we need better solutions on how to deal with the effects of climate change. We need to make sure we're building a resilient city."
Yvette Ashiri
"Protecting our most vulnerable residents from climate change begins with preparation and compassion. I will champion investing in green solutions like trees, rain gardens, permeable surfaces, and accessible public spaces, libraries, pools, and parks with shade and greenery to help manage heat and water naturally. Clear communication is just as important: residents should know where to go during an emergency and what support is available when extreme weather hits. I will work closely with community associations to reach seniors, families, and people with mobility challenges will make sure no one is left behind. Climate resilience isn't only about responding to disasters — it's about building a city that protects everyone, every day."
Tammie Trellert
"Climate resilience is about protecting people first, especially those who have the fewest resources to protect themselves.
Ottawa has already experienced the reality of more extreme weather: flooding, tornadoes, severe storms, wildfire smoke and extreme heat. We can't wait for the next event to start preparing because we know the next storm is coming. The City's Climate Ready Ottawa strategy is an important framework, but I want to see those commitments translated into action in our neighbourhoods.
That means investing in trees, green spaces, shade, natural stormwater management and resilient infrastructure that can help reduce flooding and heat before they become emergencies. It also means properly maintaining drainage systems, roads and critical infrastructure and making sure new development considers future climate risks.
But resilience isn't just about infrastructure. We need a people-focused emergency response that identifies and reaches residents who are most vulnerable including seniors, people living alone, people experiencing homelessness, low-income households and people who may have difficulty accessing transportation, cooling or other essential services. Ottawa's own climate planning identifies targeted outreach and community partnerships as important parts of preparedness.
I would also support expanding accessible cooling spaces, shaded public areas, clean-air spaces during wildfire smoke events, emergency communications and neighbourhood-level preparedness. Community organizations are already an important part of that work, and the City has begun investing in neighbourhood preparedness through its Extreme Weather Preparedness Grant Program.
For me, being green isn't just about reducing emissions. It's about building a city that can withstand what is coming. That means protecting our natural environment, preparing our infrastructure, supporting our most vulnerable residents and making sure every neighbourhood including our rural communities is prepared to respond and recover.
And just like everything else I believe in at City Hall, we need to measure it and be transparent about it. Residents should know what we said we would do, what we've done, where the gaps are and what comes next."