Change is in air as candidates vie for position with six months remaining before this fall’s municipal vote
Six months and counting.
With the municipal election pushed back, the electorate will hit the polls on Oct. 25.
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Articles About Change
An east-end candidate has stepped forward with a plan that could increase transit ridership. Stephen Blais, who is running in Cumberland Ward, is suggesting OC Transpo express passes be transferable to spouses and children. He argues the majority of express pass users typically only use public transit to commute to and from work Monday through Friday. Read more...
Stephen Blais believes express passes should be transferable to spouses and children. The majority of express pass users typically only use public transit to commute to and from work from Monday through Friday. Read more...
An Ottawa City Councillor says the City of Ottawa has already studied the issue of forcing OC Transpo riders who live outside the city limits to pay more to board the bus. Cumberland Ward Councillor Candidate Stephen Blais says OC Transpo is losing out on millions of dollars in extra revenue when it comes to people from outside the city using public transit. Blais points out these residents don't pay Ottawa property taxes. But Councillor Rob Jellet says enforcement would be the issue, telling CFRA News you'd have to have inspectors check license plates at Park N Ride lots. Jellet suggests a transit smart card could allow an extra charge to be applied to residents from outside the city. Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais supports OC Transpo instituting a separate pass for public transit riders, who reside outside of Ottawa's city limits. “People living outside of our city pay zero Ottawa property taxes or the transit levy that funds our system,” says Blais. “It's time that these people begin paying their fair share of the costs associated with their use of OC Transpo.” Read more...Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais believes it’s time City Council created an Ottawa Transit Commission, similar to other Canadian cities, to ensure our city embarks on a long-term vision that serves residents by implementing an affordable and accessible model for public transit. “It’s time for the City of Ottawa to move forward with an Ottawa Transit Commission,” says Blais. “A transit commission with representatives with business and transit experience will allow residents to benefit from new ideas and experience that will ultimately lead to improvements to our public transit system.” Read more...Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais supports property tax increases at the rate of inflation. To this end, if elected to city council, Candidate Blais will voluntarily accept a 10% pay cut to his salary should he break his promise. “After years of consecutive tax increases more than doubling the rate of inflation, we owe it to residents to get City spending under control,” says Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais. “City council must stop thinking of Ottawa taxpayers as ATM’s with unlimited amounts of money at their disposal.” Read more...Ottawa city councillors currently earn more than $90,000 per year, not including their unaccountable $6,000 car allowance or free public transit pass. If elected to city council, Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais will champion a wage-freeze for city councillors. “There is no denying that the city is in a financial mess”, said Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais. “In tough economic times we owe it to taxpayers to lead by example and impose a wage freeze on ourselves.” Read more...Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais believes it is important for city councillors to show fiscal restraint. This is why he is in favour of city hall eliminating the unaccountable $6,000 car allowance currently given to city councillors as part of their salary. “There is no denying that the city has significant budget pressures, which is why elected officials should lead by example”, said Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais. “If elected to city council, I will not accept the unaccountable $6,000 car allowance.” Read more...
Two candidates in the upcoming municipal election said that if elected, they won’t accept the $6,000 car allowance provided to city councillors. Cumberland Ward candidate Stephen Blais and Bay Ward candidate Mark Taylor said they will not accept the allowance provided to councillors to compensate them for use of their own vehicles. Councillors are also provided with a transit pass. Read more... |
