Ward 6 - Stittsville

Mani Sharma

"OC Transpo must become a dependable, convenient, and affordable alternative to driving. I would prioritize restoring reliable service, improving frequency on major routes, and ensuring that transit schedules reflect the needs of shift workers, students, seniors, families, and residents with disabilities.

The City should improve bus-priority measures, transit-signal priority, real-time service information, and connections between buses, LRT, cycling routes, and pedestrian infrastructure. Major service changes should be based on transparent performance data, including on-time performance, cancelled trips, overcrowding, and travel times.

Affordability also matters. Ottawa should protect low-income and essential-service riders from fare increases and expand discounted fare programs where financially possible. Transit investments should focus on improving service first, while ensuring that major capital projects are delivered with strong oversight, realistic budgets, and clear accountability."

Marie-Ange Ahinful

"To make OC Transpo an attractive alternative to private car use, residents must be able to trust that their bus or train will arrive on time, connect them to their destination and remain affordable.

I would work to improve transit by:

* Establishing clear reliability targets and publicly reporting cancellations, delays and route performance.

* Providing realistic schedules, enough trained operators and strong preventive maintenance for buses and trains.

* Increasing service on high-demand routes and improving evening and weekend frequency.

* Strengthening service in growing suburban communities such as Stittsville, with better connections to employment areas, essential services and the LRT.

* Coordinating bus and train schedules to reduce long waits and missed transfers.

* Using transit-priority lanes and traffic-signal priority where evidence shows they will improve service.

* Protecting affordable passes and reduced-fare programs for low-income residents, seniors, youth and people with disabilities.

* Improving Para Transpo reliability and accessibility throughout the system.

* Providing safe, accessible and properly maintained stations and bus stops, with shelters, lighting and clear information.

* Continuing the transition to lower-emission transit vehicles while ensuring that new technology is reliable and financially responsible.

Affordability cannot be achieved by reducing service. Ottawa needs stable, long-term transit funding from the City and stronger partnerships with the provincial and federal governments.

Many Stittsville residents currently depend on cars because transit is not yet convenient or reliable enough for their daily needs. The City must provide a practical alternative before expecting people to change how they travel. My goal is a transit system that residents can confidently use for work, school, appointments and community activities—without needing to plan their entire day around delays or missed connections."

Kevin Hua

"We need to further expand bus rapid transit in Ottawa including bus lanes, Bus Rapid Transitways, and transit priority signaling to improve reliability and I would also like to work towards fare-free transit for riders under 18, seniors, and recipients of the Ontario Disabilities Support Program and Ontario Works to improve affordability. Specifically for Stittsville, I'm pushing for a bus station to serve as the transit hub in our community to improve local coverage, connections to neighboring communities, and for a more direct and frequent route downtown."

Chelsea Walton

"For transit to be a real alternative to driving, it has to be a service people can trust. One of the things I hear most often at the door is that residents want to use transit, but are choosing to drive because they don't trust that the bus will arrive when it's scheduled. Rebuilding confidence in the service has to be a priority.

My first focus is reliability. I want route-level reporting for Stittsville trips to identify where buses are consistently late or cancelled, and then use that information to target improvements like short bus only lanes or transit priority traffic signals. I'd also push for real-time travel updates for service disruptions. If a bus is cancelled or delayed, transit users should receive a notification so that they can adjust plans.

We need to improve more than just the frequency of our buses here in Stittsville.. Routes need to take people where they actually need to go. I would push for more trips on the 262, increased frequency on the 61 and 62, and better local connections to employment, schools, shopping, services and rapid transit.

I would maintain reduced fares for low-income residents, children, seniors, and people with disabilities and work toward making youth passes free. Affordability is important, but cannot be achieved at the cost of service cuts and unreliability. 

Finally, we need to secure funding for Stage 3 LRT while applying the lessons learned from earlier stages to make reliability a priority as the system expands."

Theresa Qadri

"My goal is to work with all levels of government to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable transit for residents of Stittsville and across Ottawa.

I will:

* Review transit routes to ensure they better reflect how residents travel.

* Introduce a community shuttle service connecting neighbourhoods to transit hubs, shopping, and community facilities.

* Increase express bus service from Stittsville and other suburban communities.

* Improve reliability by reducing service gaps, missed trips, and overcrowding.

* Secure provincial and federal funding to improve transit while protecting local taxpayers.

My commitment: Better local transit, more express buses, stronger neighbourhood connections, and transportation that residents can rely on every day."

 

Mani Sharma

"Ottawa should treat walking, cycling, and rolling as essential transportation—not merely recreational options. Every neighbourhood should have safe, connected, accessible routes to schools, transit, shopping, parks, and community services.

I would support accelerating the construction and maintenance of protected cycling routes, sidewalks, multi-use pathways, winter-cleared routes, safer crossings, curb cuts, and traffic-calming measures. Accessibility must be built into every project, including consideration for wheelchair users, mobility-device users, seniors, children, and people with visual or other disabilities.

Projects should prioritize locations with a history of collisions, gaps in the active-transportation network, and neighbourhoods that have traditionally received fewer infrastructure investments. Progress should be publicly reported using measurable targets such as network completion, collision reduction, winter maintenance, and accessibility improvements."

Marie-Ange Ahinful

"I would support safe, connected and accessible networks for walking, cycling and rolling, with priority given to schools, transit stations, parks and community destinations. The City must fund regular maintenance, including timely snow clearing, set measurable targets and report progress publicly. Improvements should reflect each neighbourhood’s needs and be planned through meaningful community consultation."

Kevin Hua

"In this election I am pushing for a Vision Zero Action Plan to provide the political will and budget prioritisation needed to move more expeditiously on the infrastructure and policy changes needed to make our roads safer for everyone and filling in the connectivity gaps of missing sidewalks and disconnected paths to enable and empower people to bike, walk, and use other active transportation methods in our communities."

Chelsea Walton

"Stittsville was originally designed to serve travel primarily by car, and there continue to be gaps in our infrastructure, both in older neighbourhoods and in the connections between newer communities. I’ve heard from many neighbours about the challenges caused by unsafe crossings, missing sidewalk and cycling links, and road safety concerns that make it harder to choose active ways of getting around.

On top of these gaps, many of our existing roads and sidewalks are ageing and poorly maintained, creating additional accessibility concerns.

I would prioritize addressing missing links in our sidewalk network, especially near schools, and ensure that active transportation infrastructure is included when roads are reconstructed. I support permanent traffic calming measures to address speeding and improve safety in our school zones.

Accessibility also needs to be built into these decisions from the beginning, so that our streets and sidewalks work for people of all ages and abilities. 

Residents need to have real choice about how they move through their communities. Not every trip can be avoided but we should be making it much easier and safer to walk, bike, roll or take transit when those are practical options."

Theresa Qadri

"Whereas the Transportation Master Plan supports maximizing walkability, developing a great cycling city, creating a healthier and more equitable transportation system, and encouraging sustainable travel choices; and whereas safe, reliable winter maintenance is essential to supporting year-round walking, biking, and rolling.

Therefore be it resolved that Council direct staff to prioritize winter maintenance of sidewalks, multi-use pathways, crossings, and cycling facilities that provide access to schools, grocery stores, and transit stations, recognizing these routes as essential connections that support safe and accessible year-round active transportation. 

Be it further resolved that staff consult with local school boards to identify priority school travel routes and opportunities to improve winter accessibility and safety for students walking, biking, and rolling to school.

Be it further resolved that staff establish measurable winter maintenance performance targets for these priority routes and develop a public Winter Mobility Dashboard to report on key metrics, including snow-clearing response times, route accessibility, kilometres of pathways cleared, and progress toward active transportation objectives.

Be it further resolved that staff assess and identify existing and future funding sources, including annual budget allocations, grants, and infrastructure funding programs, required to support enhanced winter maintenance on priority active transportation routes, and report back to Council with recommendations through a future budget process.

Be it further resolved that Council recognize that safe and accessible winter routes promote physical activity and healthy exercise, support independent mobility for seniors, improve accessibility for persons with disabilities and those using mobility aids, enhance access to schools, grocery stores, and transit, and encourage walking, biking, and rolling as practical transportation choices throughout the year.

This initiative will improve safety for children, support seniors aging in place, enhance accessibility and equity, improve access to food and transit, promote healthier and more active communities, reduce reliance on private vehicles, and advance the objectives of the Transportation Master Plan."

 

Mani Sharma

"Ottawa should not expand its urban boundary as a default response to growth. New housing should first be directed toward existing serviced areas, including vacant lots, underused commercial properties, station areas, and appropriate opportunities for gentle density and mid-rise development.

This approach can reduce infrastructure costs, protect farmland and natural areas, support public transit, and create more walkable communities. Intensification must nevertheless be planned carefully, with sufficient schools, parks, trees, stormwater capacity, roads, transit, and community services.

Where expansion is proposed, the City should require a transparent public-interest test that accounts for long-term infrastructure costs, climate impacts, transportation emissions, agricultural land, biodiversity, water systems, and the ability to provide reliable transit. Growth decisions should be based on complete communities rather than short-term development pressure."

Marie-Ange Ahinful

"I do not support unnecessary expansion of Ottawa’s urban boundary. The City should prioritize responsible development within the existing boundary, where infrastructure and services already exist, while protecting farmland, natural areas and taxpayers from the long-term cost of urban sprawl."

Kevin Hua

"I am generally opposed to expanding the urban boundary including the Tewin development as urban sprawl strains our existing infrastructure and services and is costly for residents. I would prefer to focus on intensification and utilising existing land within the urban boundary to meet our housing and growth needs."

Chelsea Walton

"We should make better use of the land already available within Ottawa’s urban boundary before considering further expansion and sprawl.

That will require some intensification, but it needs to be thoughtful and supported by the infrastructure and services needed for growing communities. In Stittsville, that means accommodating more housing and higher densities in appropriate areas, including along Hazeldean Road, while continuing to invest in transportation, parks, recreation and other services.

At the same time, we need to protect the farmland, wetlands and natural areas surrounding our communities. Continuing to expand outward comes with long-term infrastructure costs and puts additional pressure on these important lands.

My focus would be on accommodating growth within our existing urban area first, while planning that growth in a way that creates complete, well-served communities."

Theresa Qadri

"Expanding Ottawa's urban boundary is a delicate issue that requires balance. We do not want to pack people in like sardines, but we also need to ensure families have access to safe, livable neighbourhoods with parks, schools, green space, and the services they need. I support a balanced approach that prioritizes thoughtful development within existing urban areas while remaining open to targeted boundary expansion when it is necessary to meet housing needs and maintain quality of life. Growth should be carefully planned to protect taxpayers, preserve important agricultural and natural lands where possible, and create complete communities where families can thrive.

My planning priorities would include:

* Building complete communities with schools, childcare spaces, parks, recreation facilities, healthcare services, and local businesses integrated from the start.

* Ensuring a mix of housing options, including single-family homes, townhomes, and appropriately located multi-unit housing to meet the needs of families, seniors, and young professionals.

* Investing in transportation infrastructure, including roads, public transit, cycling networks, and pedestrian connections so growth does not outpace capacity.

* Protecting environmentally sensitive areas, greenspaces, and productive agricultural land wherever possible.

* Supporting public safety through well-designed neighbourhoods with adequate lighting, community spaces, and access to emergency services.

* Managing growth responsibly to ensure infrastructure and service costs remain sustainable for taxpayers.

Ultimately, growth should be guided by common sense. Ottawa needs communities where families can afford to put down roots, children can play safely, seniors can age in place, and residents can enjoy a high quality of life. The focus should be on achieving the right balance between housing affordability, environmental stewardship, responsible growth, and strong, family-friendly neighbourhoods."

 

Mani Sharma

"Ottawa needs a climate-resilience plan that protects people, infrastructure, and essential services, with particular attention to seniors, low-income households, people experiencing homelessness, renters, people with disabilities, isolated residents, and those living in poorly insulated or overheated homes.

I would support:

• More cooling centres, clean-air spaces, emergency shelters, and heat-response programs.
• Better public communication during floods, storms, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, and power outages.
• Stronger flood protection, stormwater management, drainage maintenance, and basement-flood prevention.
• Assistance for home weatherization, insulation, heat pumps, and energy-efficiency upgrades, especially for lower-income households.
• Climate-resilient design standards for new buildings and municipal infrastructure.
• Emergency plans developed with community organizations, health providers, Indigenous partners, and residents who are most affected.
• Climate adaptation must be treated as an essential public service, not an optional project."

Marie-Ange Ahinful

"I would strengthen Ottawa’s emergency preparedness, stormwater systems and critical infrastructure, while expanding tree cover, shade, cooling centres and clean-air spaces. The City should provide timely multilingual alerts and targeted support for seniors, people with disabilities, low-income households and residents experiencing homelessness. We must also work with community organizations to check on vulnerable residents and ensure emergency services have reliable backup power and clear response plans."

Kevin Hua

"We need to invest more into climate resiliency of our infrastructure both as measures to protect from the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events like rain gardens and permeable pavement and to ensure stability of services for residents like upgrading our sewer infrastructure and burying power lines. Stronger environmental protection efforts of natural forms of protections like our wetlands for flooding and tree canopy for extreme heat are also crucial to this effort."

Chelsea Walton

"We need to continue reducing the City’s greenhouse gas emissions while also preparing our communities for the impacts of climate change that are already happening.

That means investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and emergency preparedness, while making sure residents have practical supports available to them. Programs such as Rain Ready Ottawa and the Residential Protective Plumbing Program can help homeowners reduce the risk of flooding, while community gardens and other local sustainability initiatives can help build more resilient neighbourhoods.

During extreme heat and poor air quality events, residents need access to cooling centres, splash pads, indoor recreation spaces and other safe public places. This is especially important for seniors, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness and residents who may not have access to air conditioning or other supports at home.

The City also needs to be ready to respond quickly when emergencies happen. Ottawa’s Emergency Management Office and City staff play an important role in coordinating responses to flooding, major storms and other emergencies. I support continuing to invest in equipment and infrastructure that make those responses faster and more effective, including tools such as mechanical sandbag-filling equipment that can significantly improve the City’s ability to prepare for flooding.

Climate action also needs to be part of our everyday decision-making. We should continue working to reduce emissions from City operations, improve the resiliency of our infrastructure, protect natural areas that help manage flooding and heat, and support residents in making sustainable choices."

Theresa Qadri

"Protecting Ottawans from climate change and extreme weather must be a public safety priority, especially for seniors, low-income residents, people with disabilities, and those experiencing housing insecurity.

I would focus on  a review of safety plans  in every ward, prevention, preparedness, and protection:

* Invest in upgraded stormwater infrastructure, flood mitigation projects, and the protection of wetlands and green spaces that help absorb excess water and reduce flood risk.

* Expand cooling centres, clean-air spaces, and emergency shelters so residents have safe places to go during extreme heat, storms, and wildfire smoke events.

* Strengthen emergency preparedness through accessible, multilingual alerts and proactive outreach to vulnerable residents before and during extreme weather events.

* Increase Ottawa's urban tree canopy and green infrastructure to reduce heat islands, improve air quality, and build climate resilience in every neighbourhood.

* Support the construction of mixed-income communities near transit, jobs, schools, and services so affordable housing is available in every part of Ottawa, not concentrated in a few neighbourhoods.

* Expand programs that help homeowners and landlords retrofit buildings with energy-efficient heating, cooling, insulation, and backup power systems, reducing costs while improving resilience to extreme weather.

* Partner with community organizations that support seniors, newcomers, and vulnerable residents to ensure no one is left behind during emergencies.

Climate change is already affecting Ottawa through flooding, severe storms, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat. By combining climate resilience with smart housing policies, we can protect residents, lower living costs, and build complete, inclusive communities where everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home."

 

Mani Sharma

Ottawa should protect mature trees first and expand tree canopy where residents experience the greatest heat, pollution, and lack of shade. The City should enforce a strong no-net-loss approach for significant trees and forests, while recognizing that replacement trees cannot immediately replace the ecological value of mature trees.

I would support:

• More tree planting on streets, in parks, school areas, and underserved neighbourhoods.
• Stronger protection for mature trees during development and construction.
• Better tree maintenance, watering, pruning, and pest management.
• Transparent tree-removal permits and public reporting.
• Financial and technical support for residents, businesses, and institutions to plant and maintain trees.
• Coordination with utilities so that trees and infrastructure can coexist safely.
• Priority planting in areas with low canopy cover and high heat vulnerability.

The City should measure canopy by neighbourhood—not only citywide—because an overall average can hide serious inequities.

Marie-Ange Ahinful

I would protect healthy mature trees, require responsible tree protection and replacement during development, and expand planting in parks, along streets and in neighbourhoods with limited shade. The City should prioritize diverse native species, properly maintain young trees and publicly track canopy gains and losses to ensure our tree cover truly grows.

Kevin Hua

The City should leverage its planning powers to better protect and preserve our existing tree canopy in new developments and planting more trees to expand it especially in newer neighbourhoods that tend to have a lower tree canopy. A Community Benefits Framework could also help in requiring stipulations from developers to preserve and plant trees as a benefit to deliver to the community.

Chelsea Walton

"This is especially important in a rapidly growing community like Stittsville, where residents have watched established trees and wooded areas disappear as new subdivisions and developments are built. Growth is necessary, but we need to be more deliberate about preserving mature trees and integrating existing natural spaces into new neighbourhoods wherever possible.

Ottawa's Official Plan has a goal of reaching 40% urban tree canopy, and getting there will require us to both protect the trees we have and significantly expand planting. I support strong enforcement of the Tree Protection By-law, protecting mature trees during construction, and requiring development to retain healthy trees wherever reasonably possible. Where removal is necessary, replacement planting should occur, alongside care to ensure newly planted trees survive.

We also need to think differently about how we design our parks and public spaces. Putney Woodland Park here in Stittsville is a great example of the value of preserving existing trees as part of a neighbourhood park. Its tree canopy provides natural shade, and a very different experience from a new park where families may wait decades for newly planted trees to provide meaningful shade.

Expanding our canopy also means helping residents plant trees on their own properties. I support continuing and expanding programs such as Plant Your Place!, which provides free trees for residents to plant on private property, and Trees in Trust, which allows homeowners to request a tree on the City-owned portion of their property. These are practical programs that can help add thousands of trees across Ottawa while making it easier and more affordable for residents to participate."

Theresa Qadri

"I will ensure that every park has trees and that Ottawa continues to expand its urban canopy in a fair and sustainable way. Trees provide shade, improve air quality, reduce urban heat, support biodiversity, and make our parks more welcoming for families and residents.

My priorities include:

• Ensuring all parks have adequate tree coverage, with priority given to parks that currently lack shade.
• Protecting mature trees during development and infrastructure projects.
• Expanding tree planting in parks, along streets, and in neighbourhoods with low canopy coverage.
• Investing in regular maintenance and watering to improve tree survival rates.
• Planting diverse, climate-resilient species to protect against pests, disease, and extreme weather.
• Working with community groups, schools, and residents to support local tree planting initiatives.

By protecting existing trees and ensuring every park has healthy tree coverage, we can create greener, cooler, and more livable communities across Ottawa."

 

Mani Sharma

"Ottawa should reduce waste at its source before relying on landfill expansion. The City should improve organics participation, make recycling rules easier to understand, reduce contamination, and expand convenient collection of household hazardous waste, textiles, electronics, and other materials.

I would also support:

• More repair, reuse, refill, composting, and sharing programs.
• Partnerships with local repair cafés, community organizations, social enterprises, and businesses.
• Greater use of reusable materials at City facilities and events.
• Better waste-diversion services in parks, public spaces, apartments, and multi-unit buildings.
• Stronger procurement rules that favour durable, repairable, reusable, and recycled products.
• Public reporting on diversion rates, contamination, landfill capacity, and program performance.

A circular economy means designing products and services so that materials remain useful for as long as possible. The City can lead by example through its own purchasing and operations."

Marie-Ange Ahinful

I would expand access to recycling and green-bin programs, improve public education and make waste sorting easier in homes, apartments, businesses and public spaces. To support a circular economy, the City should promote repair, reuse, donation and sharing programs, reduce single-use items, recover more construction materials and use its purchasing power to choose durable, reusable and recycled products.

Kevin Hua

I am a strong proponent of the right to repair which I hope to advocate for in my position as City Councillor both in terms of policy and programs at the municipal level that help to encourage it and build a stronger repair culture and in persuading our provincial and federal counterparts to pass legislation create a more conducive environment for it. I am also supportive of our waster diversion efforts to promote reuse

Chelsea Walton

"Ottawa's landfill capacity is limited, so reducing what we send to landfill has to remain a priority. I support the direction of the City's Solid Waste Master Plan, including increasing organics diversion, improving diversion in multi-residential buildings, and making reuse, recycling and composting easier and more accessible.

I support the three-item garbage limit, while recognizing that households sometimes need flexibility. Ottawa's existing Yellow Bag Program provides that option by allowing residents to purchase additional bags when they occasionally exceed the limit.

Longer term, I think we should be open to examining different ways of paying for waste collection that give households greater choice while continuing to incentivize waste reduction. Toronto, for example, treats solid waste as a rate-based utility service, with households choosing different garbage-bin sizes and paying more for greater garbage capacity. A model like that could provide more flexibility than a universal limit while maintaining a financial incentive to reduce waste. I would be interested in studying whether a similar approach could work in Ottawa when the City next makes major decisions about its waste collection contracts, collection system and equipment. Any change would need to consider affordability, accessibility and the different needs of urban, suburban and rural households.

But reducing waste cannot be limited to what residents put at the curb. A circular economy means finding ways to keep food, products and materials in use rather than throwing them away. We have a great example of that right here in Stittsville through Lionhearts, which operates an Ottawa warehouse on Iber Road. Lionhearts recovers surplus food and household goods from businesses and redistributes them at no cost to frontline charities and community organizations. That keeps usable products out of the waste stream while helping meet important needs in our community.

I would like to see the City continue to support and build partnerships with organizations doing this kind of work, while expanding repair cafés, swap and reuse programs, textile and bulky-item diversion, food-rescue initiatives, and better diversion of construction and demolition materials. The City can also use its own purchasing power to favour durable, repairable and reusable products and incorporate reuse into municipal procurement.

The goal should be to make reducing and reusing waste practical and affordable, give households reasonable flexibility, and ultimately extend the life of our landfill rather than simply placing more responsibility on individual residents."

Theresa Qadri

"I support Ottawa's waste diversion objectives and the implementation of the Solid Waste Master Plan, which prioritizes waste reduction, reuse, repair, recycling, and organics diversion to extend landfill capacity and improve environmental outcomes. 

However, the current three-item garbage limit should be reviewed to ensure it is equitable for larger households. While the policy plays an important role in reducing landfill waste and extending the lifespan of the Trail Road Waste Facility Landfill, it can impose disproportionate costs on families with significantly higher occupancy levels that generate more unavoidable waste. 

I would propose a targeted accommodation program that provides a limited number of free garbage tags to qualifying large families. Eligibility would be based on household size and residency requirements, with clear thresholds and accountability measures to prevent misuse. This approach would maintain the incentive to participate in recycling and organics diversion programs while recognizing the practical realities faced by larger households.

In addition, I would support the continued expansion of initiatives identified in Ottawa's Solid Waste Master Plan, including reuse and repair programs, textile diversion, food rescue initiatives, bulky-item diversion, and the expansion of the Take It Back! program. These measures help shift Ottawa from a linear ""use and dispose"" model toward a circular economy where materials remain in productive use for as long as possible. 

A successful waste management policy must balance environmental responsibility, fiscal sustainability, and fairness. Ottawa can achieve its landfill diversion goals while ensuring that larger families are not unfairly burdened by waste disposal costs."

 

Mani Sharma

"Ottawa must turn Energy Evolution from a long-term strategy into a funded, measurable implementation plan. The City should publish annual progress reports showing emissions, energy use, building retrofits, transportation changes, renewable-energy deployment, and spending compared with approved targets.

The most important priorities are:

• Retrofitting homes and buildings to improve energy efficiency.
• Supporting affordable heat pumps and building electrification.
• Building a cleaner and more reliable electricity system.
• Expanding reliable public transit and active transportation.
• Accelerating the transition to zero-emission municipal vehicles and buses.
• Requiring high energy performance in new construction.
• Reducing emissions from municipal buildings, fleets, waste, and infrastructure.
• Helping residents and small businesses access financing, incentives, and technical assistance.

Climate action must be financially responsible and socially fair. Programs should prioritize households that face the highest energy burden and ensure that the transition does not make housing or transportation less affordable."

Marie-Ange Ahinful

"I would support clear annual targets and public reporting to keep Ottawa accountable. We must improve transit, increase building efficiency, reduce municipal emissions and pursue practical, affordable climate actions—with support from provincial and federal partners—to achieve net zero by 2050."

Kevin Hua

"Improving alternative transportation options so that people can be empowered to take public transit or use active transportation to get around. This includes improving the reliability, frequency, and coverage of transit through expansions of bus rapid transit and a bus station for Stittsville as well as improving road safety for road users and improving connectivity through the backing of a Vision Zero Action Plan. In addition, continuing to support and expanding, if possible, existing programs and efforts like Better Homes Ottawa for building retrofits, conversion to renewable energy, and heat pumps."

Chelsea Walton

"Ottawa has committed to net-zero emissions from City operations by 2040 and community-wide by 2050. Meeting those targets means connecting climate action to the everyday decisions Council makes about transportation, buildings, growth, waste and infrastructure.

Transportation is one of our biggest opportunities. In Stittsville, that means making transit a realistic alternative to driving by improving the reliability and frequency of existing routes, creating better route options for our newer and growing communities, and ensuring routes connect residents to major employment and transportation hubs. Transit-priority signals and targeted bus lanes can also help keep buses moving rather than sitting in the same congestion as cars. I also support OC Transpo's transition to zero-emission buses as the fleet is replaced.

We need to make shorter trips easier without a car by improving sidewalk, cycling and pathway connections to schools, parks, businesses and transit. As Stittsville grows, concentrating more housing and mixed-use development along corridors like Hazeldean Road also creates opportunities to put more people within walking distance of shops, services and better transit.

Buildings are another major source of emissions. I support energy-efficiency improvements to City facilities and programs that help residents retrofit their homes through insulation, heat pumps and other upgrades that can reduce both emissions and long-term energy costs.

Finally, we need transparent annual reporting on whether Ottawa is actually on track to meet its targets. Climate action also has to be affordable and practical, and reaching net zero will require significant provincial and federal partnership, particularly for transit, building retrofits and major infrastructure."

Theresa Qadri

"Ottawa's Energy Evolution plan is comprehensive, but to ensure success the City should strengthen accountability through carbon budgets, accelerate building retrofits, electrify transportation, and encourage mode shifts from cars and short-haul flights to lower-carbon options such as rail. While aviation and rail should be part of the strategy, the largest emissions reductions will come from decarbonizing buildings and reducing dependence on personal vehicles, which remain the dominant sources of community emissions."

Mani Sharma

"Ottawa should honour the spirit of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty by reducing dependence on fossil fuels, preventing unnecessary fossil-fuel infrastructure expansion, and accelerating a fair transition to clean energy.

At the municipal level, this means:

• Phasing out fossil-fuel use in City-owned buildings and vehicles where practical.
• Expanding energy efficiency, heat pumps, renewable energy, and energy storage.
• Ensuring new municipal projects are designed for low or zero emissions.
• Using City procurement and investment decisions to support clean technologies.
• Working with utilities, businesses, unions, institutions, and other levels of government.
• Protecting workers and communities through retraining, good local jobs, and transition supports.

Ottawa should also advocate to the provincial and federal governments for policies that make clean energy affordable, reliable, and accessible. The transition must be planned and equitable, not imposed in a way that leaves vulnerable residents behind."

Marie-Ange Ahinful

"I would align City planning, purchasing, buildings and fleet decisions with Ottawa’s commitment to reduce fossil-fuel dependence. Progress should be measured and reported publicly, with a practical and fair transition that protects affordability, workers and vulnerable residents."

Kevin Hua

"We must continue our efforts under the Energy Evolution plan towards net-zero to reduce our use and dependence on fossil fuels and build a more sustainable city. Furthermore we need to leverage our positions to advocate for stronger climate action on the part of provincial and federal governments in reducing fossil fuel production and ensuring a just transition for workers in the industry."

Chelsea Walton

"While municipalities do not regulate fossil fuel production or negotiate international agreements, the City can demonstrate leadership through the decisions within its own jurisdiction.

n Stittsville, one of our biggest opportunities is how we plan for growth. New communities being built today will be here for generations, so we should be considering energy use, building efficiency and transportation options from the beginning. 

It also means making it easier for residents to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels in practical ways: providing reliable transit and better service to new communities, building safe walking and cycling connections, supporting home energy retrofits, and continuing the transition of OC Transpo and other City fleets toward zero-emission vehicles.

The broader transition away from fossil fuels will require leadership from the provincial and federal governments. Ottawa should continue advocating for that action and for the funding municipalities need to make practical changes locally, while ensuring the transition remains affordable and realistic for residents."

Theresa Qadri

"As a councillor, I would support Ottawa’s commitment to the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative by advancing clean energy, improving public transit, electrifying municipal operations, and ensuring transparent reporting on emissions reductions. I would also advocate for policies that reduce reliance on fossil fuels while supporting a fair transition for workers and communities."

Mani Sharma

"Ottawa should protect at least 30% of its aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial spaces through a combination of protected natural areas, wetlands, forests, rivers, shorelines, parks, ecological corridors, and other conserved lands. Protection should be meaningful, connected, and supported by long-term management—not simply a designation on a map.

I would support:

• Completing an accurate inventory of Ottawa’s natural areas and biodiversity.
• Protecting wetlands, waterways, forests, ravines, shorelines, and significant wildlife habitat.
• Creating connected ecological corridors between natural areas.
• Restoring degraded wetlands, streams, shorelines, and habitats.
• Applying a no-net-loss approach to important natural features.
• Using land-use planning and development approvals to avoid habitat destruction.
• Working with Indigenous communities, conservation groups, farmers, residents, and landowners.
• Publishing annual progress reports on the 30% target and ecological condition.

Biodiversity protection also improves flood control, cooling, water quality, recreation, and public health."

Marie-Ange Ahinful

"I would protect and connect Ottawa’s forests, wetlands, waterways and other important habitats through strong land-use planning, restoration and responsible development. The City should establish a clear baseline, track progress toward the 30% target publicly, and work with Indigenous partners, conservation groups, landowners and other governments."

Kevin Hua

"I am advocating in this election for the City to leverage its municipal planning powers to protect our greenspace particularly using them to create municipal protections for our wetlands so that they aren't just solely reliant on the province's provincial significant wetland designation to protect them from development."

Chelsea Walton

"While the Montreal Biodiversity Agreement is a national and international target, municipalities have an important role through land-use planning, conservation, restoration and stewardship.

In Stittsville, this has very real local implications. The Goulbourn Wetland Complex is an important natural area on our doorstep, providing habitat for species at risk, including Blanding's turtles. The wetlands also contain the headwaters of Poole Creek, an important cold/cool-water creek that runs directly through our community.

I have been clear that I support protecting the Goulbourn Wetland Complex and advocating for strong protection of its remaining wetlands. As Stittsville grows, we need to direct development to appropriate locations, protect wetlands and significant woodlands, maintain connections between natural areas, and ensure development does not compromise the ecological and hydrological functions that wildlife depends on.

I would work with conservation authorities, the Province, the NCC, Indigenous partners, local organizations such as Friends of Stittsville Wetlands, and environmental organizations on protection, restoration and stewardship. I also support community-based conservation initiatives, including the turtle conservation work now underway locally.

Protecting biodiversity ultimately means protecting habitat. In Stittsville, one of my priorities will be ensuring the Goulbourn Wetland Complex continues to receive strong protection and advocating to the Province whenever those protections are at risk."

Theresa Qadri

"Helping Ottawa Achieve the 30x30 Biodiversity Target

To support the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework goal of conserving 30% of land and inland waters by 2030, Ottawa should combine habitat protection, ecosystem restoration, Indigenous leadership, and biodiversity-focused planning.

Key Actions

1. Expand Protected Areas

• Protect additional wetlands, forests, river corridors, and other ecologically significant lands.
•  Encourage voluntary conservation agreements, incentives, and willing-seller land acquisitions for private lands.

2. Improve Habitat Connectivity

• Create wildlife corridors, greenways, and connected natural areas.
• Incorporate biodiversity corridors into land-use and infrastructure planning.

3. Restore Ecosystems

• Restore wetlands, streams, urban forests, and riparian areas.
• Plant native species and control invasive species.

4. Partner with Indigenous Communities

• Support Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.
• Incorporate Indigenous knowledge and stewardship practices into biodiversity planning.

5. Strengthen Urban Biodiversity

• Require biodiversity considerations in major developments.
• Expand green infrastructure, naturalized parks, pollinator gardens, and urban forests.

6. Monitor Progress

• Track protected areas, forest cover, wetlands, water quality, and species at risk.
• Publish regular progress reports.

7. Engage Residents and Landowners

• Provide grants, tax incentives, technical assistance, and recognition programs for willing landowners.
• Expand community science and public education programs.

8. Support Aerial Biodiversity

• Protect migratory bird habitat.
• Reduce light pollution.
• Promote bird-safe buildings and pollinator habitats.

Conclusion

Ottawa can achieve the 30x30 target through a balanced approach that protects and restores nature, strengthens Indigenous partnerships, and integrates biodiversity into city planning. Success should be built on voluntary stewardship, offering incentives and support to willing landowners while respecting property rights. This approach will help conserve biodiversity, improve climate resilience, and enhance residents' quality of life."

 

Mani Sharma

"Residents should have meaningful opportunities to help shape environmental decisions before major choices are made—not only after plans are largely complete. Public participation should be accessible, transparent, multilingual where appropriate, and available both online and in person.

I would support:

• Early public engagement on budgets, development proposals, transportation plans, and environmental policies.
• Neighbourhood-level climate and biodiversity planning.
• Small grants for community gardens, tree planting, habitat restoration, waste reduction, and environmental education.
• Stronger partnerships with schools, community associations, Indigenous organizations, conservation groups, and local businesses.
• Clear explanations of how public feedback changed a decision.
• Public dashboards tracking environmental targets and project outcomes.
• Special outreach to renters, youth, seniors, newcomers, low-income residents, people with disabilities, and communities that are often underrepresented.

Community participation works best when residents can see that their time and knowledge have a real influence on City decisions."

Marie-Ange Ahinful

"I would involve residents early through accessible public meetings, online options and multilingual outreach, with special efforts to include youth, seniors and underrepresented communities. The City should support local environmental projects and clearly report how public feedback influenced each decision."

Kevin Hua

"I think one of the ways the City can better connect and engage local communities is through local ecological community organisations like Friends of Stittsville Wetlands here in Stittsville who can act as intermediaries to promote community engagement and participation. Additionally, I'd like the City to go further to collaborate and support such organisations in their advocacy and programs they provide in information and engaging the public and providing services more commmunity-oriented issues or areas the City is unable to cover."

Chelsea Walton

"Community engagement needs to happen early enough that residents can actually influence a decision. Too often, people are asked for feedback after much of the direction has already been established.

I want to see more engagement happening directly in the communities and natural areas affected. If we are discussing a wetland, creek, park or woodland, there is value in meeting residents on site, walking the area together and hearing from the people who know it well. I would combine that kind of neighbourhood-level engagement with formal City consultation and partnerships with community associations, conservation authorities, Indigenous partners, environmental organizations, schools and youth.

Greater civic education is also important. Environmental and planning decisions can involve complicated policies, technical studies and different levels of government. Residents should be given information in plain language: what is being proposed, what the environmental impacts may be, what the City can control, and what parts of the decision they can still influence. We can also partner with conservation authorities and local environmental organizations to host community events, share information and expertise, and help residents better understand the natural areas in their own neighbourhoods and how they can help protect them.

Consultation also needs to be meaningful. I would push for clear reporting back after major consultations showing what we heard, what changed because of public feedback, and, when a community recommendation cannot be incorporated, an explanation of why.

Participation should extend beyond formal decision-making. I support creating more opportunities for residents to take part directly in tree planting, invasive-species removal, community gardens, park and creek clean-ups, habitat restoration and other stewardship activities. Partnering with schools and youth organizations can also help young people learn about the natural environment in their own community while contributing to its protection.

Throughout this campaign, I have tried to demonstrate the kind of engagement I would bring to Council: meeting people where they are, listening before making decisions, communicating honestly about what can and cannot be changed, and reporting back afterward. I would bring that same approach to environmental decision-making."

Theresa Qadri

"Ottawa should ensure that community participation is embedded throughout its ecological governance framework. By fostering collaboration, transparency, Indigenous partnership, and voluntary stewardship, the City can build broad public support for biodiversity conservation while respecting property rights and local priorities. Such an approach will strengthen environmental outcomes, improve public trust, and contribute to the successful achievement of Ottawa's long-term conservation and sustainability goals."

Mani Sharma

"Environmental policy must be connected to affordability, public health, housing, transportation, and economic opportunity. Ottawa can reduce emissions and improve quality of life at the same time by building complete communities, improving transit, protecting natural areas, expanding tree canopy, making homes more efficient, and supporting local clean-economy jobs.

My approach would be based on three principles: measurable targets, responsible financial planning, and fairness. The City should report publicly on its progress, identify when it is falling behind, and adjust its actions accordingly. Climate and environmental decisions should protect vulnerable residents first while creating a healthier, more affordable, and more resilient Ottawa for everyone."

Marie-Ange Ahinful

"My environmental priorities are practical, fair and focused on results. I want to protect Ottawa’s green spaces and waterways, prepare our communities for extreme weather, improve sustainable transportation and ensure growth is responsible. Climate action must also remain affordable and include vulnerable and underrepresented residents—because all voices count."

Kevin Hua

(Response not provided)

Chelsea Walton

(Response not provided)

Theresa Qadri

"Ottawa is where I live, work, and spend time with my family and neighbours, so environmental issues are very personal to me. I want future generations to enjoy the same access to green spaces, clean rivers, and vibrant communities that make our city special. I am particularly concerned about the loss of natural areas, the impacts of extreme weather, and ensuring that growth happens in a way that strengthens rather than harms our environment. I believe residents deserve a city that is both environmentally sustainable and affordable, and I am committed to listening to community voices and working with groups like Ecology Ottawa to make that happen."