Ward 14 - Somerset

Michael Tay

"For people to choose transit, it has to be reliable, convenient and affordable. My first priority would be improving reliability: realistic schedules, sufficient operators and vehicles, preventative maintenance, and clear performance measures so residents can see whether service is actually improving.

We also need to work directly with the people who actually use transit. When we make decisions about routes, schedules or service changes, riders need meaningful opportunities to tell us what is working and what is not.

Accountability matters as well. We hold other City services accountable when they are consistently unreliable, and transit should be no different. We need to understand why targets are being missed, communicate that openly and take action to correct persistent problems.

I also support protecting affordable transit options and improving connections between buses, the O-Train and neighbourhood routes. Transit cannot simply be something we tell people to use. We have to make it an option people can reasonably choose because it gets them where they need to go, reliably and affordably."

Dillon Anderson

"To make OC Transpo a genuinely attractive, competitive alternative to driving across Ottawa, we must abandon patchwork fixes and focus on three fundamental pillars: day-to-day reliability, smart frequency distribution, and structural financial discipline.1. Restoring Baseline Reliability: Frequency and affordability matter little if a bus simply never arrives. Chronic cancellations and ghost buses destroy public confidence. Prioritizing Fleet Maintenance & Workforce Support: We must ensure OC Transpo has adequate staffing, retention frameworks for mechanics, and strict adherence to maintenance schedules so that scheduled trips are actually delivered (targeting a true 99.5% service delivery standard).   Prudent Asset Management: Rather than stretching our resources over low-return capital expansions, every available transit dollar must be directed toward stabilizing day-to-day bus availability and network health.2. Optimizing Frequency Where Demand ExistsData-Driven Network Alignment: Frequency must be concentrated along high-volume corridors and vital feeder routes connecting neighborhoods to the O-Train network.   Seamless Interconnectivity: Riders are discouraged when transfers between buses and trains involve long, unpredictable waits. Aligning scheduling control systems and ensuring reliable headways on core routes makes multi-modal commuting seamless.3. Ensuring Long-Term Affordability & Fiscal Sustainability Holding the Line on Fare Hikes: Punitive fare increases push riders away and worsen transit adoption. To keep transit affordable for working families, students, and seniors, City Hall must pursue structural funding solutions—such as pressing for fair senior levels of operational support and the provincial upload of regional transit responsibilities—rather than balancing the municipal transit deficit on the backs of everyday riders. Maximizing Efficiency: Protecting targeted affordability programs (like low-income pass structures) while optimizing underperforming routes ensures public funds are working efficiently to attract maximum ridership."

Nicholas Golle

"OC Transpo literally knows what they need to do. They have a sophisticated business intelligence backend for data driven decisions. Their constraint is financial and . I will make the case across council that OC transpo is a public utility which benefits the entire city, even car owners and the city as a whole - there's a whole set of arguments here that are coherent regarding scalable infrastructure, physical constraints on road width, throughput per roadspace, etc. 

So. First things first. Do the work to make that case to have council pass that clear statement of intent/decision principle. At that point it becomes a technical problem of OC Transpo to solve, with council's role to be holding them accountable on demonstrable progress. 

Secondly. We need to design our densification policy to incentivize transit use. Densification with lower # of parking spaces on transit nodes. To be honest, this city is already doing this. But this feeds deeper into cycling, pedestrians, mobility, and transit. As properly planned density creates the design pressures for these other forms of transport to be non-negotiables."

Ariel Troster

"Increase off-peak frequency of the LRT, build more dedicated bus lanes, invest in more frequent service, allow same-day booking for ParaTranspo."

Michael Tay

"I support a transportation network where walking, cycling, rolling and transit are safe and realistic options for getting around.

That means completing missing sidewalk and cycling connections, improving dangerous intersections and crossings, properly maintaining sidewalks and cycling routes through the winter, and prioritizing projects based on actual community need.

When roads are already being reconstructed, we should look at opportunities to improve the surrounding infrastructure at the same time rather than simply putting everything back exactly as it was.

As someone who regularly bikes downtown, I know that cycling infrastructure only works when it connects. A bike lane that suddenly ends in the middle of the road does not create a useful network. We need routes that connect people to the places they actually need to go.

For me, sustainable transportation is not about taking choices away from people. It is about increasing the number of safe, practical ways people can get around our city."

Dillon Anderson

"Meeting Ottawa's sustainable transportation commitments requires prioritizing practical, year-round infrastructure over costly mega-projects.   First, we must close critical missing links in our pedestrian and cycling networks, focusing capital funds on continuous, protected active mobility routes connecting neighborhoods directly to transit.   Second, reliable winter maintenance is non-negotiable: we must prioritize rigorous sidewalk snow-clearing so pathways remain safely usable for seniors, families, and persons using mobility devices 365 days a year. Finally, embedding traffic calming and complete streets principles into local road renewals will ensure our streets are safe, accessible, and welcoming for all active users."

Nicholas Golle

"Ottawa already has long-term plans and commitments for walking, cycling, transit and other forms of sustainable transportation. The Transportation Master Plan is intended to support the Official Plan objective that at least 50% of trips be made by sustainable modes by 2046, and implementation of its infrastructure plan occurs through subsequent City budgets and individual projects.

My responsibility as a councillor would be to follow through on those commitments budget by budget and project by project.”

Ariel Troster

"Push for better and faster sidewalk repairs and snowclearing, more bike lanes (especially contraflow on side streets), and push for the establishment of a city bike share (finally)."

Michael Tay

"My priority is making better use of the land and infrastructure we already have. I support intensification and building more housing within our existing urban area where we can support it with appropriate infrastructure and transportation.

Ottawa needs considerably more housing, including affordable, supportive, family-sized and market housing. We should make it easier to build those different forms of housing.

Any proposal to expand the urban boundary should have to demonstrate a clear need. The farther we expand outward, the more roads, transit, water, sewers and other municipal services we have to build and maintain.

If Ottawa is going to grow, we need to grow responsibly. That means planning housing alongside the transportation, sewer capacity, parks, trees, recreation and community services needed to support the people who will live there."

Dillon Anderson

"Strongly oppose expanding Ottawa's urban boundary.

Sprawling outward is fiscally irresponsible and structurally unsustainable. Opening up greenfields outside our current boundary forces the city to incur massive, long-term capital and operating deficits to service low-density subdivisions with new roads, water mains, and emergency services. These sprawling expansions lock in car dependency, destroy natural and agricultural lands, and drain resources away from the core infrastructure maintenance our existing neighborhoods desperately need.

Instead of expanding outward, our focus must be on smart, compact infill development within the existing urban footprint—prioritizing affordable housing near transit nodes and revitalizing our core neighborhoods efficiently."

Nicholas Golle

"I would only support expansion of Ottawa's urban boundary where the evidence demonstrates that it is necessary and consistent with the City's broader planning, infrastructure, financial and environmental commitments."

Ariel Troster

"I am against it."

Michael Tay

"We need to accept that our climate is changing and plan accordingly. Extreme heat, major storms, flooding and wildfire smoke can no longer be treated as events that happen only once in a generation. Climate adaptation needs to become part of how we plan City infrastructure and services.

I support stronger stormwater and drainage infrastructure, measures to reduce basement and neighbourhood flooding, more trees and shade, accessible cooling spaces, and stronger emergency planning for storms, power outages, extreme heat and poor air quality.

We also need to recognize that these events do not affect everyone equally. Someone living in a small apartment without air conditioning, a senior living alone, a person experiencing homelessness or someone with mobility limitations may face much greater risk.

Especially in the urban core, we need places where people can safely cool down during extreme heat. The City should also work with community organizations, housing providers and Ottawa Public Health to identify vulnerable communities before emergencies occur and make sure people know where they can get help."

Dillon Anderson

"Protecting Ottawa residents—particularly vulnerable populations such as seniors, low-income households, and unhoused individuals—from extreme weather requires moving away from reactive measures and committing to proactive, equity-centered municipal resilience planning.   To safeguard our communities against floods, severe storms, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat, municipal action must focus on four core pillars:Expanding Accessible Cooling & Heat Relief: As extreme heat days increase, the City must expand public cooling networks by incorporating more shaded areas, cooling features, and accessible drinking water access points in public parks and community facilities. We need targeted outreach strategies for heat-vulnerable residents and social housing tenants before heat waves peak.   Strengthening Flood Resilience & Infrastructure: To protect homes and neighborhoods from severe storms and heavy rainfall, we must prioritize rate-supported investments in basement flood prevention, storm-sewer capacity upgrades, and natural asset management (such as expanding our urban forest canopy and protecting absorbent green spaces).Clean Air & Emergency Response Refuges: During hazardous wildfire smoke events, the City must designate and clearly communicate a network of public clean-air shelters equipped with upgraded HVAC and filtration systems, ensuring safe havens are accessible to those without adequate indoor climate control.Community-Based Emergency Preparedness: Partnering with local community organizations and social service providers to establish localized support networks, ensuring that emergency alerts, mobile relief, and safe shelter options actively reach our most at-risk residents when severe weather strikes."

Nicholas Golle

"Ottawa has already adopted Climate Ready Ottawa to guide adaptation to flooding, extreme heat, severe weather, wildfire smoke and other climate risks. Importantly, the plan itself calls for climate considerations to be integrated into budgets, planning and corporate decision-making.

I support that approach. My role would be to make sure those commitments survive contact with the budget."

Ariel Troster

"Consider an infrastructure levy to speed up crucial repairs to stormwater infrastructure, push for more distribution of free air conditioners to low income residents, plant more trees in priority areas with a low tree equity index."

Michael Tay

"We need to protect the mature trees we already have while significantly expanding our tree canopy.

One-size-fits-all approaches to tree planting do not work everywhere. In dense neighbourhoods like Centretown, many properties have very small front and back yards, less open soil and significant competition for space. The City needs planting strategies designed for those realities.

That means considering trees when we rebuild streets, sidewalks and public spaces, identifying opportunities on City property, and ensuring new development includes appropriate space for trees and landscaping.

Planting trees is also only the beginning. They need appropriate soil, watering, maintenance and protection so that they survive long enough to become mature trees.

Neighbourhoods with lower canopy coverage should receive particular attention. Trees provide shade, manage stormwater, improve air quality and make our streets and public spaces much more comfortable places to live."

Dillon Anderson

"Preserving and expanding Ottawa’s tree canopy—particularly in dense inner-city areas like Somerset Ward, which historically records some of the lowest canopy coverage in the city—is vital for mitigating the urban heat island effect, managing stormwater, and maintaining neighborhood livability.   Achieving Ottawa's long-term goal of a 40% urban canopy cover requires shifting from reactive maintenance to proactive, equity-informed strategies:   Enforcing Stronger Protection Bylaws: We must rigorously enforce and strengthen tree protection bylaws to prevent the unnecessary removal of mature, healthy trees during infill development and construction. Developers must be held accountable for preserving existing canopy on private and public lands alike. Targeted Tree Equity & Proactive Planting: Utilizing tree equity data to prioritize municipal planting resources in low-canopy neighborhoods. In urban wards like Somerset, this means aggressively greening public right-of-ways, parks, and school zones using modern infrastructure techniques—such as enhanced soil cells and permeable surfaces—to ensure urban trees can actually thrive.   Expanding Private-Land Partnerships: Because a significant portion of planting potential lies on private property, the City must scale up programs (like Plant Your Place!) that provide free trees, technical guidance, and distribution events to empower residents and property managers to expand the canopy together."

Nicholas Golle

"Ottawa already has a target for expanding its tree canopy, and I will work to make sure we actually meet it.

That means making sure our policies and budgets support the goal, but also paying attention to what is happening on the ground. Residents often see where things are not working long before it shows up in a report, whether that is trees repeatedly dying in a certain location, inadequate maintenance, or a planting approach that simply does not suit the conditions.

I want the City to gather that experience, understand why an intervention is not working, and adapt rather than applying the same solution everywhere.

For me, success is not how many trees we plant. It is whether they survive, grow, and actually contribute to a healthier tree canopy over time."

Ariel Troster

"Push for more funding for the forestry department with a focus on tree planting in urban areas like Chinatown and Bank street with extremely low tree coverage. Invest in more soil cell technology to allow urban trees to thrive. Plant tiny forests along the Trillium pathway."

Michael Tay

"We need to make it easier for people to keep usable materials and organic waste out of landfill.

That includes expanding recycling and Green Bin participation, particularly in apartment and multi-residential buildings, and providing more recycling options in public spaces alongside regular garbage bins.

We should also encourage reuse and repair. Repair cafés, furniture banks, donation programs, community swap groups and local organizations that repair and repurpose items can all extend the life of things that otherwise might be thrown away.

Personally, I try to donate usable furniture and household items to organizations such as furniture banks rather than throwing them away. Online community groups are another simple example of people giving something they no longer need to someone who does.

The old saying that one person's trash can be another person's treasure actually captures an important part of a circular economy. Before something goes to landfill, we should be asking whether it can be repaired, donated, reused or repurposed."

Dillon Anderson

"With the Trail Road Waste Facility rapidly filling up, reducing landfill dependence and building a true circular economy is an urgent fiscal and environmental priority for Ottawa. Relying on business-as-usual disposal forces multi-million dollar capital costs for future landfill expansions or incinerators.   EnviroCentre

To aggressively cut waste and foster a circular economy, municipal action must focus on three core fronts:

Expanding Universal Diversion & Multi-Residential Access: We must aggressively roll out and enforce green bin and robust recycling access across all multi-residential buildings (apartments and condos), where diversion rates have historically lagged behind curbside homes. Making sorting convenient and mandatory ensures that organic waste—the primary driver of harmful methane emissions—is kept out of the ground.   EnviroCentre 

Enforcing Responsible Limits & Supporting Reuse: We must strictly support the implementation of sensible curbside limits (such as the three-item garbage limit) while scaling up diversion frameworks for bulky items, construction materials, and textiles. Partnering with local reuse directories, repair cafés, and community swap networks helps shift the cultural mindset from a linear ""take-make-dispose"" model to a localized circular economy.   Engage Ottawa - City of Ottawa 

Municipal Green Procurement: City Hall must lead by example. By embedding circular economy principles into municipal purchasing—banning single-use plastics in city facilities, prioritizing recycled content, and supporting local re-manufacturing markets—the City can drive regional demand for sustainable goods and drastically cut corporate waste generation at the source.   Peoples Official Plan Coalition"

Nicholas Golle

"I support reducing the amount of waste Ottawa sends to landfill and making better use of materials through reuse, repair, recycling and other practical approaches.

I am not an expert on circular-economy policy, and I would want to rely on staff, subject-matter experts and evidence when evaluating specific programs.

My general approach would be to keep Ottawa moving toward its existing waste-reduction commitments, ensure those commitments are reflected in policy and budgets, and measure whether the programs we implement are actually working.

At the same time, environmental objectives have to be considered alongside economic, financial and practical realities. I would not support an environmental measure simply because it is environmentally desirable if its broader economic or social costs are disproportionate. Where those objectives conflict, Council has to weigh the trade-offs openly and make the best overall decision for the city."

Ariel Troster

"More promotion of recyling and compost in multiresidential buildings in downtown Ottawa, encourage more repair cafes and giveaway days, more public education campaigns about recycling and composting."

Michael Tay

"I support Ottawa's net-zero commitment, but setting a target is only useful if we measure whether we are actually getting there.

The City should focus on areas where municipal decisions can make a meaningful difference: reliable public transit, active transportation, cleaner municipal buildings and vehicles, building retrofits, waste diversion, renewable energy and planning communities where people have more transportation choices.

I support the transition toward electric buses and cleaner City fleets where the technology and infrastructure can reliably support them.

I also want regular public reporting that clearly shows where Ottawa is meeting its targets, where we are falling behind and what needs to change.

Climate change will increasingly affect the decisions municipalities make. This is an opportunity to make thoughtful investments now in infrastructure that will serve residents for decades, while ensuring those investments remain realistic and affordable.

Ottawa's Energy Evolution strategy currently targets net-zero municipal emissions by 2040 and community-wide emissions by 2050."

Dillon Anderson

"Achieving Ottawa's Energy Evolution targets—transitioning our community to net-zero emissions—requires moving past empty political rhetoric and embedding carbon reduction directly into core municipal operations, land-use planning, and infrastructure budgeting.

Meeting these targets depends on three practical municipal levers:

Deep Building Retrofits & Energy Efficiency: Buildings represent the largest source of emissions in Ottawa. The City must scale up deep energy retrofits for municipal infrastructure and incentivize residential and commercial building retrofits (such as expanding Property Assessed Clean Energy [PACE] financing programs). Upgrading insulation, windows, and heating systems in existing housing stock cuts emissions dramatically while lowering long-term utility costs for residents.

Accelerating Fleet Electrification & Transit Priority: Transitioning municipal operations—including the OC Transpo bus fleet and municipal service vehicles—to 100% zero-emission electric vehicles on an accelerated timeline. Coupled with our commitment to expanding reliable transit and active mobility networks, this directly displaces high-emission single-occupancy vehicle trips.

Smart Infill Over Sprawl: Curbing outward urban boundary expansion is a crucial climate action. Low-density suburban sprawl locks in decades of high building and transportation emissions. By prioritizing compact infill development within our existing urban footprint, we reduce infrastructure footprints, protect natural carbon sinks like forests and wetlands, and cut per-capita emissions."

Nicholas Golle

"I support Ottawa's emissions-reduction commitments and will work to ensure they are reflected in the City's plans, policies and budgets.

Where we have made a commitment, I think we should take it seriously, provide the resources needed to work toward it, and regularly measure whether we are actually making progress. Where we are falling behind, Council should understand why and adjust accordingly."

Ariel Troster

"Voting against expanding the urban boundary, pushing for more emission free city vehicles, encouraging more net zeo community housing buildings, as well and solar panels and green roofs. Launching a city bike share program! Encouraging the city to apply for every possible funding opportunity though the Green Municipal Fund to get this done."

Michael Tay

"The City should follow through on the commitments it makes while being clear about what municipal government can actually control.

For Ottawa, I would focus on the areas where City decisions can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels: cleaner municipal buildings and fleets, reliable public transportation, active transportation, better building efficiency, renewable energy and thoughtful procurement and infrastructure decisions.

Where practical alternatives exist, the City should continue moving toward cleaner technologies.

At the same time, the transition needs to be practical and consider affordability. Residents should not be left carrying unreasonable costs because of decisions made without considering how people will actually make the transition.

There are also areas of energy policy that require provincial and federal action. In those cases, Ottawa should work collaboratively with other governments while focusing on the responsibilities that are directly within our control."

Dillon Anderson

"Respecting Ottawa’s endorsement of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty means ensuring that our municipal decisions actively align with the global transition away from fossil fuels. While municipal governments do not regulate international oil markets or direct fossil fuel extraction, city halls wield direct authority over local land use, building standards, fleet investments, and infrastructure spending.   To give practical weight to the treaty's commitments, Ottawa must pursue several tangible local actions:Ending Fossil Fuel Dependence in Municipal Operations: Accelerating the transition of the municipal fleet—including OC Transpo buses and corporate service vehicles—away from fossil-fuel combustion toward 100% zero-emission electric infrastructure.Decarbonizing City Buildings: Enforcing strict energy efficiency standards for municipal facilities and scaling up retrofit programs (such as PACE financing) to eliminate fossil-fuel heating dependencies across local building stocks.Rejecting High-Emission Sprawl: Stopping outward urban boundary expansions that lock residents into high-consumption, fossil-fuel-dependent auto dependency. Prioritizing compact infill development ensures our growth patterns reduce overall carbon demand.Advocating for Higher-Level Alignment: Using the city's platform to hold senior levels of government accountable, demanding that provincial and federal policies phase out fossil fuel subsidies and actively support a just, worker-centered transition to renewable."

Nicholas Golle

"I support Ottawa's commitment and will work to ensure it is reflected in the decisions, plans and budgets that fall within the City's responsibility."

Ariel Troster

"Vote against the urban boundary expansion, fight for better cycling infrastructure and more reliable transit."

Michael Tay

"For me, the practical question is how the City incorporates biodiversity into the decisions we make about land, development, waterways and infrastructure.

I support protecting significant forests, wetlands, waterways and wildlife habitat, maintaining connections between natural areas, expanding our tree canopy and restoring natural spaces where possible.

As Ottawa grows, we need to consider the environmental impact of development from the beginning rather than trying to address it after decisions have already been made.

The City also cannot accomplish this alone. We need to work with conservation authorities, Indigenous partners, the National Capital Commission, other levels of government, environmental organizations and local communities.

Biodiversity also exists within our neighbourhoods. Trees, pollinator gardens, parks, waterways, naturalized spaces and connected greenspace all contribute to a healthier city.

The broader Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework includes the goal of conserving at least 30% of land and water by 2030, with governments and other partners having roles in implementation."

Dillon Anderson

"Ensuring that Ottawa honors its commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework—specifically the international goal to protect 30% of land and water areas by 2030 (the "30 by 30" target)—requires leveraging municipal land-use powers, protecting natural corridors, and investing in local ecological assets.   While international treaties and federal strategies set the overarching framework, biodiversity protection is won or lost at the municipal level through concrete local actions:   Protecting Natural Heritage Systems from Development: We must fiercely defend Ottawa’s Urban Boundary and our designated Natural Heritage System against encroachment. Allowing outward sprawl destroys vital wetlands, forests, and watersheds that form the ecological backbone of our region. Expanding Urban Greenspaces and Natural Assets: In built-up urban and inner-city wards like Somerset, meeting our biodiversity goals means actively creating and expanding local nature networks. This includes preserving precious urban green spaces (like Derby Place), restoring degraded local ecosystems, and expanding our urban tree canopy to create continuous ecological corridors for pollinators and urban wildlife. Partnering on Conservation and Watershed Management: Collaborating closely with local conservation authorities (such as the Rideau Valley and Mississippi Valley Conservation Authorities) and Indigenous communities to secure, restore, and properly manage ecologically sensitive lands, wetlands, and shorelines across the capital region."

Nicholas Golle

"At the municipal level, that means ensuring biodiversity and ecological connectivity are properly considered in the Official Plan, development and infrastructure decisions, management of City land, urban forestry, waterways and other relevant City programs. I would push to have policies crafted with this in mind, measure our progress, and adjust."

Ariel Troster

"Continue to defend the Greenbelt against encroachment/development, when possible buy land to make new parks in Somerset Ward, mandate more tree planting and fight for more resources for the forestry department."

Michael Tay

"Environmental decisions are better when residents and community organizations are involved early enough to actually influence them.

I support neighbourhood-level engagement, working directly with community associations and environmental organizations, and creating opportunities for residents with lived experience and subject-matter expertise to participate.

Climate change is also becoming much more tangible for people. Major storms, flooding, extreme heat and wildfire smoke have helped demonstrate that this is not simply an abstract global issue. These events affect our homes, neighbourhoods, infrastructure and everyday lives.

Consultation also needs to include reporting back. People deserve to know what the City heard, what changed because of their participation and, when an idea was not adopted, why.

The City should make greater use of partnerships with community associations, schools, businesses, environmental groups and local organizations for initiatives such as tree planting, community gardens, neighbourhood greening, waste reduction and emergency preparedness.

Community participation should be an ongoing relationship rather than a survey after most of the decisions have already been made."

Dillon Anderson

"True environmental stewardship cannot be managed from behind closed doors at City Hall; it requires empowering residents, neighborhood associations, and community groups as active partners in ecological decision-making.

To ensure genuine, transparent community participation in Ottawa's environmental and ecological initiatives, we must implement three key structural changes:

Open, Early Consultation on Local Ecology: Moving away from top-down planning by bringing residents into the conversation before environmental assessments and development plans are locked in. Community associations and local experts must have a seat at the table during the early stages of park redesigns, tree canopy initiatives, and watershed planning.

Neighborhood-Led Greening Grants and Partnerships: Empowering grassroots action by scaling up municipal grants and support programs for local groups (such as community gardens, neighborhood cleanups, and citizen-led tree-planting initiatives). When residents are equipped with resources and technical guidance, they become the most effective stewards of their local parks and green spaces.

Transparent Environmental Data and Tracking: Making ecological health metrics—such as neighborhood tree canopy coverage, air quality data, stormwater management project timelines, and biodiversity targets—easily accessible to the public via user-friendly dashboards. Transparency builds trust and enables informed, constructive community advocacy."

Nicholas Golle

"Community participation needs to occur early enough to influence the decision.

Residents often have valuable information about how a place works, what problems they experience and why they value a particular feature. Staff and technical experts bring another necessary set of knowledge. Good public policy should be able to use both.

I would want engagement to occur while objectives, alternatives and mitigations can still meaningfully change, not after the major commitment gates have already been passed and residents are effectively being asked to comment on a finished decision.

I also believe the City should close the feedback loop. After consultation, people should be able to see what we heard, what we learned, what changed because of that input, what could not change and why.

Community participation should therefore be part of the problem-solving process rather than simply a procedural step before approval."

Ariel Troster

"Let residents know when issues with important implications are going to be discussed at committee and encourage them to delegate. Use my newsletter and social media to encourage citizen participation. Organize ward-level consultation on these issues when merited."

Michael Tay

"I would say that environmental policy directly affects people's everyday lives.

Trees provide shade and help manage stormwater. Better transit gives people another way to get to work. Safe walking and cycling infrastructure creates more transportation options. Community gardens can provide fresh food while supporting pollinators and bringing neighbours together. Flowers, pollinator gardens, planter boxes and small green spaces can make a difference even in dense neighbourhoods where residents may not have large yards.

Especially in the urban core, we need to be creative about how we add greenery and natural spaces when land is limited.

We also need infrastructure that is prepared for the climate we are experiencing now—not the climate Ottawa experienced decades ago.

My approach is practical: set clear goals, measure whether we are achieving them, invest in infrastructure that works and involve residents in the decisions that affect their communities.

Ottawa is going to continue to grow. We have an opportunity to make that growth greener, more resilient and easier to navigate while ensuring the decisions we make work in the everyday lives of the people who live here."

Dillon Anderson

(No response provided)

Nicholas Golle

(No response provided)

Ariel Troster

(No response provided)