Lansdowne: Who Cares What Councillors Want: MULVIHILL
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe thinks that more than 5,000 residents don’t count.
“We were talking about Lansdowne in 2022 when the previous municipal election took place, so there’s no need for a referendum … I don’t think councillors want it.”
Perhaps our mayor shouldn’t have spoken private thoughts out loud. To date, there are more than 5,000 signatures on a petition calling for a referendum on Lansdowne 2.0 on the 2026 municipal election ballot. Yet, despite negative feedback from the public, Sutcliffe is full steam ahead. Why? Is there something he isn’t sharing with the public? Most residents would agree that the Lansdowne talked about in 2022 is quite different from the Lansdowne 2.0 that is currently before council.
Sutcliffe doesn’t think councillors want a referendum. Does anyone really care what councillors want? Councillors are put in place to support the constituents who voted them into office. It isn’t their call, is it? Who is Sutcliffe to dismiss the public? Unless, of course, this city, under the leadership of Sutcliffe, doesn’t care what the people think.
Perhaps Sutcliffe would do well to remember that he works for the residents of the City of Ottawa. The public. The voters.
Donna Mulvihill is a community activist and former hospital coordinator.
For You:
Alcohol: Don’t Legislate Where No Problem Exists
Market Violence Is A Job For The Police
Invest Ottawa Needs Transparency: STANKOVIC
City Cash Liability Undecided In Taxi Case
Leave Policing To The Trained Police
Bookmark The Bulldog, click here
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
– The Bulldog – News Feed Enter 
Unfortunately, in Canada, democracy seems to end once ballots are counted, whether it be federally, provincially, or municipally. After election day our representatives don’t care about voters until it’s time to go to the polls once again. Justiin Trudeau had hoped to make some changes to our system, however, he failed in his effort and didn’t get beyond circulating a survey. What Canadians need is a form of leverage that can be applied to our politicians once they’ve been elected and throughout their terms, after the promises they made no longer matter.