Kitts Backs ‘Fairness For Ottawa’ Campaign
This is an excerpt from the newsletter of Orleans South-Navan Councillor Catherine Kitts:
Despite calls from colleagues for a higher tax increase, I voted in favour of the proposed 2.9% tax increase as we await more information on how we will address our transit deficit.
I deeply appreciate everyone’s frustration regarding the transit crisis our city is facing. Wards like ours are underserviced. Routes are infrequent and unreliable. Trust in the spine of our system has deservedly been eroded. Congestion is increasing and commute times are getting longer. In a city of over one million people, a functioning transit system is a necessity, yet Ottawa’s expansive geography, caused by amalgamation, makes delivering this service wildly expensive. The City invested in a new system on the eve of a pandemic that changed how we work and move around our community forever. We know we won’t attract more people to taking transit by cutting service or increasing fares, yet our current ridership cannot fund the system. Residents in areas like ours can’t be faulted for driving when no other options are available.
During these budget deliberations, I cautioned colleagues not to look at raising taxes as “the easy answer”. I’ve heard from many of you, especially seniors on fixed incomes, single parents, and renters who are already feeling the pressure of rising cost of living.
This is why the Mayor’s Fairness for Ottawa campaign is so important. We can’t let provincial and federal governments continue to shortchange us on funding for transit and other critical services when other cities get more funding and better solutions. It’s not sustainable for Ottawa property taxpayers to cover the gaps. In addition to continuing to find our own savings and efficiencies, we must keep pushing for our fair share of funding, and I remain optimistic that the Mayor’s negotiations will be fruitful.
I look forward to continuing this discussion at our upcoming budget consultations. I’ll be joint-hosting two public sessions:
Rural consultation on Wednesday, October 23, from 6:30-8:30 pm at 3889 Rideau Valley Drive, Manotick
East-end consultation on Saturday, October 26, from 12:30–2 pm in Ray Friel Recreation Complex’s Rendez-vous Room
I hope to see you there!
This excerpt is courtesy of the city-wide community group Your Applewood Acres (And Beyond) Neighbours
For You:
Build Homes For The Disadvantaged: THE VOTER
Senators Used Private Money To Build: MULVIHILL
The Alternative To A 2.5-Hour Commute: THE VOTER
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Some years ago a former Ottawa leader mentioned that the LRT was not needed, that we should improve our bus system ……buses routes are able to be moved to where needed. The LRT is permanently in one place whether needed or not.
BUT OH NO THAT WASN’T FLAMBOYANT ENOUGH FOR WATSON.
NOW WE HAVE WORKERS “”NOT”” GOING DOWNTOWN…..AND LRT THAT IS HALF ASSED, AND NOT RELIABLE, …..AND DEBT UP TO THE EYEBALLS…….SO NO MONEY FOR ANYTHING ELSE
PER USUAL, LIBERALS MAKE A MESS, CAUSE HORRENDOUS DEBT, THEN SKIP OFF WITH HUGE INDEXEED PENSIONS….AND WE THE TAXPAYERS ARE LEFT WITH THE MESS…..AND FUTURE LEADERS TAKING THE BLAME.
PERHAPS THOSE WHO BROUGHT US THIS MESS COULD HAVE ALL THEIR PENSIONS CONFISCATED TO REPAY US FOR THEIR MESS AND INCOMPETANCE.
TAXPAYERS ARE TIRED OF PAYING FOR MISTAKES MADE BY POLITITIANS …..PEOPLE WHO SUFFER NO PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR INCOMPETANCE.
Thank you, Diane. My ears are ringing some from your LOUD response, but I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. I like to look at things in simple terms so please allow me to draw an analogy. Since I saw my first Ferrari gassing up at a local Esso station a number of years ago, I have wanted to own one. Never mind that the vehicle would cost close to $500K and that I would have to take it to Toronto or Montreal to have it serviced. Oh, also, I can’t afford to spend half a million dollars on a car that I’d probably put in storage for 5 months every year. But, I still want one, so, will the city of Ottawa please give me, say $480K so I can purchase my dream car!