A City Council Without Promise: MULVIHILL

05/19/2025

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Promises, promises, promises …

Does anyone ever wonder why the City of Ottawa moves forward on files that are obviously questionable?

What prompts council to pursue the likes of Lansdowne 2.0 and Tewin despite the public expressing their concerns and dissatisfaction with the whole process? What about LRT Phase II … remember the former SNC Lavalin was awarded the contract despite having twice failed technical aspects of the bidding competition?

Clearly, this city council has crafted its own specific agenda regardless of what anyone outside the council horseshoe thinks or wants. Where did this agenda come from? Who is behind it? Did councillors campaign on spending hundreds of millions of dollars on these flights of fantasy? Were they honest with voters as they went door to door promising everything plus the kitchen sink and, thus far, delivering nothing?

Millions of dollars in red light camera fines were re-routed to general revenue and Ottawa Police Service instead of road safety yet council didn’t know anything about this until the auditor general’s report informed them. Somerset Councillor Ariel Troster was “shocked and upset” at these findings but managed to look a bit sheepish after realizing this practice has actually gone on for years. There’s nothing like being on top of what departments are actually doing.

An honourable mention is always OC Transpo. Remember that most sincere promise made by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe that he would fix it? How’s that working for Sutcliffe? And what about that infamous “root cause” behind the LRT derailment in 2021? It’s coming up on four years since the train fell off the tracks and all there is to show for that investigation is a yard full of used axles and various LRT parts and accoutrements. Bless Barrhaven West Councillor David Hill’s heart for his long-winded motion to have whatever report that might be in the works released for public consumption. We won’t hold our breath.

Transit general manager Renée Amilcar had one job to do … fix public transit. Not only did Amilcar not fix it, she’s made it so much worse with the New Way to Bus revamp of routes throughout the city. Roads are overwhelmed with cars … hardworking people trying to get to work or wherever they need to be. How does Amilcar square this to anyone who might want to understand why their commute now takes two hours and a couple of transfers plus a good walk? One way. Add a return trip to that commute and there goes another bus pass out the window.

Public confidence in the administration of the City of Ottawa has all but evaporated and yet Sutcliffe and his merry entourage of councillors don’t care enough. And it shows.

Donna Mulvihill is a community activist and former hospital coordinator.