Don’t Muss With Students On Fares: MULVIHILL

Published 11/25/2024 · Updated 11/25/2024

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Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, councillors, and city staff are bullies. Plain and simple.

Sutcliffe and his supporting councillors and staff think they can run roughshod over everyone but the student union at the University of Ottawa is fighting back.

The student union charges the City of Ottawa is in violation of an agreement made to set U-Pass price increases for students. The transit portion of the 2025 budget plans to raise fares on student U-Passes five per cent each semester. That would be 10 per cent each year. That’s a big increase for students on a limited budget. The union says the agreement it has with the city allows for an increase of 2.5 per cent per year. Period.

Much like seniors, students have limited wiggle room in their monthly finances. That Sutcliffe and the powers-that-be continue to believe they can burden these two groups with their financial mess amazes the skeptical. This is a city in deep financial trouble.

City staff thinks that seniors and now post-secondary students aren’t paying attention. They might want to re-think that approach. Sutcliffe and staff are making a mockery out of in-place agreements for students.

If this mayor and any of the sitting councillors have a thought of seeking re-election in the next municipal vote, they will head back to the drawing board, stop insulting both taxpayers and students, and come back with a budget that is more realistic given the current economic climate. Now would be a good time for this council to get the city’s financial house in order before playing Santa Claus to those with their hands out.

Donna Mulvihill is a community activist and former hospital coordinatorv