“Although short, mid, and long-term strategies to improve performance trends are underway through the Five-Year Roadmap, the audit identified several areas where historical decisions have impacted effective bus planning and scheduling processes in support of OC Transpo meeting its service delivery targets,” reads the text. 

The audit notes that current run times, developed as recently as 2023, are now inaccurate due to road congestion. It found that the number of buses operating is a major factor in service delivery.

“A healthy fleet typically has 80% of the total number of buses owned available for use,” the audit reads. “For January and February 2026, the bus fleet assets were 67% available on average.”

After Wednesday’s city council meeting, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe acknowledged some of the issues outlined in the report.

“I understand the frustrations and concerns of residents,” the mayor said. “For many years now they’ve not been getting the transit service that they want and deserve.” 

But Sutcliffe was optimistic. “The team at OC Transpo has been working hard to improve reliability and we’re starting to see the results of that,” he said. “Our new General Manager Rick Leary agreed with the Auditor General’s findings… He’s working very hard to find solutions to exactly the issues that the Auditor General identified.” 

When asked if he would do anything differently regarding transit, Sutcliffe noted that some things were out of his hands. 

“As an elected official it’s not up to me to set the schedules, it’s not up to me to decide on the routes… I’m not a transit engineer,” he said. “We rely on the professional staff at OC Transpo to bring forward plans.” 

Sutcliffe said that there are always lessons to be learned, but that he had confidence in the new OC Transpo General Manager. 

“We’ve got a great General Manager in place who’s sensitive to these concerns, and we’re also starting to see the pieces come together for a much more reliable service going forward.”

The post Auditor General: weekday bus “consistently underperforming” appeared first on CompassNews.

“We’re protecting Ontario from economic uncertainty driven by tariffs and protectionism. We’re protecting Ontario from the threats to our national and global security.”

The province said the proposed 10-year strategy could create as many as 43,000 jobs, add $6 billion annually to Ontario’s economy and generate more than $400 million in yearly provincial tax revenue by 2035.

According to the province, Ontario’s defence sector currently comprises more than 300 companies employing over 13,000 workers and contributing upwards of $5 billion annually to the economy.

The post Nuttall says Barrie is ready to become a defence manufacturing hub appeared first on CompassNews.

Whether these issues are addressed in the delayed budget or weigh into ongoing discussions withe the province, Sutcliffe said he and city manager Wendy Stephanson will continue to prioritize Ottawa’s needs and “are working with [the province] almost every day.”

“We want to build a stronger economy. We want to build a better downtown. We want to address public safety issues. We want to respond to the mental health crisis and the substance use crisis that we’re witnessing, and  we want to build more homes and more affordable homes,” Sutcliffe said in a media availability after city council met on Wednesday. “So there’s a lot we’re working on.”

“Some of it may show up in the budget,” he continued. “Some of it may follow in other discussions and other announcements we make together with the provincial government.”

He acknowledged, for example, that the City of Ottawa has not been meeting its targets for building housing, but said that he doesn’t expect the budget to provide much clarity.

“I’ve had a couple of conversations with [Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack]. I expect to talk with him again soon,” said Sutcliffe. “I think every municipality in Ontario is finding the market conditions very challenging right now, and these are factors that are largely beyond our control, so I would expect that there will be some collaboration with the provincial government on how we can move forward together.”

Stephanson added that the Ontario government has fulfilled its financial commitments to Ottawa that are laid out in the New Deal for Ontario, which Premier Doug Ford announced in Ottawa last March.

The agreement includes up to $197 million over three years in provincial operating supports and up to $346 million over 10 years in provincial capital supports, and Stephanson said these commitments have already “made their allocations”, so she won’t be looking for them reflected in the budget. Instead, she said the pressure is on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new government.

“We’re moving along in terms of signing agreements, and the money is flowing in terms of the commitments that were made,” she told reporters. “When you look at the deal, there was a commitment with respect to engagement with the federal government, and that is a work in progress.

“When the mayor talks about the conversations that are happening, both at the political and the administrative level, we’re wanting to engage our federal partners to have those conversations and influence the budget when they do table it.”

Also during the city council meeting Wednesday, councillors moved to review the patio fee in an effort to support small businesses, removed the all-way stop at the intersection of McKeown Drive and Barfield Road, and reinstate parking pads during the Longpré Lebrun Marquette Integrated Renewal project.

Council also moved in-camera to receive legal updates on LRT Stage 1 as well as legal updates regarding the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Notably, on Thursday, the Joint Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services and Public Works and Infrastructure Committees will receive a feasibility study on implementing a social infrastructure bylaw, also called the “bubble bylaw”, which has been the topic of discussion and controversy in Ottawa since it first crossed councillors’ desks last year. 

On Wednesday, Sutcliffe said it’s “clear” where he stands on the bylaw and has spent the last few weeks consulting various community members and organizations to address how to “strike the balance.”

“I think there’s a consensus that we need to do something, but that we need to be very, very careful about what we do,” he said. “We need to protect the right of people to demonstrate and protest in the nation’s capital of Canada. 

“We need to make sure that people are still able to exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate, but we also need to make sure that people are able to access the places that they’re going to, places like schools and places of worship,” Sutcliffe continued. “And so I think there is a place where we can land that accomplishes both.”

While he said it’s “not easy” and will require “threading the needle”, he will defer to “experts” and follow lessons learned from municipalities that have implemented similar bylaws.

“There will be a robust process for developing a bylaw, if a motion were to pass, that will involve consultation,” he said. “So we will listen to the community and will arrive in a place that is appropriate and makes sense for everyone.”

The post Mayor Sutcliffe talks Ontario budget, bubble by-law following City Council meeting appeared first on CompassNews.

In a joint letter, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette have called on federal leaders to address key challenges that they deemed “critical” to the National Capital Region. 

“This is a very important election for many reasons,” Sutcliffe said at a press conference at the Ottawa City Hall, noting the tariffs that the United States was set to impose on Canadian goods on April 2.

“But there are also some critically important, time-sensitive local issues for the National Capital Region in this campaign,” he added. “We need a strong indication during this campaign, and we need immediate action after the election to address the challenges faced by our region.”

The shared vision includes directions to revitalize downtown areas, prioritize PILT payments, support public service workers and fund public transit. 

“The federal government is still not paying its fair share of property taxes to either Ottawa or Gatineau,” said Sutcliffe. “It continues to undervalue its properties, and local taxpayers in both our cities are being forced to make up the difference.”

The letter also requests investments and support for affordable housing and homelessness, regional governance through the National Capital Commission, and infrastructure and climate resilience. 

In the letter, Sutcliffe and Marquis-Bissonnette stressed that the issues require federal involvement for long-term solutions. The letter was sent to both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre.

Both major party leaders are running in Ottawa, with Poilievre hoping to hold his seat in Carleton and Carney announcing he will be seeking election in Nepean, taking over from former Liberal MP Chandra Arya.

Ottawa is primarily held by Liberal MPs, with Poilievre being the only exception. Liberal incumbents Yasir Naqvi (Ottawa Centre), Mona Fortier (Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester), Marie-France Lalonde (Orléans), Anita Vandenbeld (Ottawa West-Nepean), Jenna Sudds (Kanata) and David McGuinty (Ottawa South) are all seeking re-election. Naqvi will be facing off with Joel Harden, who is the NDP candidate and previously represented Ottawa Centre at Queen’s Park. This is his first year running federally.

Fortier has represented Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester (previously Ottawa-Vanier) since she was elected in a 2017 by-election. She also oversaw the public service as head of the Treasury Board from 2021-2023, including the 127,440 federal workers who call the National Capital Region home.

Asked by Ottawa Compass which local issues are top of mind for her, Fortier said her focus is on revitalizing the downtown core, securing long-term funding for public transit, and ensuring “fair support” for the City of Ottawa.

She said this includes “diversifying the Byward Market” and supporting small businesses —
“the backbone of our local economy” — as well as prioritizing housing solutions, which includes federal lands that have been provided for housing through the Housing Accelerator Fund.

“I will continue to collaborate with the City to create and protect jobs, bring down the cost of living, and build a strong economy to get us through these tough times,” she said.

Turning to the west end, before entering federal politics, Sudds served as the Ottawa city councillor for Kanata North from 2018-2021. Ottawa Compass asked her campaign how Sudds would advocate for the call to action from Sutcliffe, but the response wasn’t very specific.

“[Sudds] has a great working relationship with Mayor Sutcliffe and city council,” said Sudds’ spokesperson Geneviève Lemaire. “If re-elected, she will continue collaborating closely with them to tackle the issues that matter most to the people of Ottawa.”

Asked specifically about which issues Sudds will prioritize, Lemaire said listed “Trump tariffs, cost of living, job creation, safer communities”. 

Lemaire also said that Sudds and Sutcliffe “may sometimes share different views on certain issues and the best way forward”, but that Sudds is committed to working together. She didn’t elaborate.

The party leaders and other local candidates did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.

This article has been updated to include additional comments from candidates.

The post Ottawa-Gatineau mayors call on party leaders for support appeared first on CompassNews.

Starting off strong, council debated whether or not the City of Ottawa would proceed with the purchase of 5689 Ferry Road for $1,950,000. The waterfront property has been a point of contention among council; a report to committee in January recommended the city acquire the land for environmental stewardship and conservation, but councillors raised concerns.

After deliberation, council approved Coun. Clarke Kelly’s motion to purchase the land and parcel it up to sell two smaller pieces of the property in the future. Councillors Shawn Menard (Capital ward), Marty Carr (Alta Vista ward), Jeff Leiper (Kitchissippi), Rawlson King (Rideau-Rockcliffe) and Jessica Bradley (Gloucester-Southgate) voted in opposition.

Council also voted unanimously to proceed with a by-election for Osgoode ward to replace former councillor George Darouze, who was elected as MPP of Carleton in the provincial election last month. 

One of the more controversial discussions of the meeting sparked debate over the definition of racism.

The motion tabled by Coun. Wilson Lo (Barrhaven East)  sought to remove the definitions of racism and colonialism in the City’s Cultural Funding Policy, but was ultimately withdrawn.

The current definition describes racism as “a rooted system of power hierarchies based on race—infused in our institutions, policies, and culture—that benefits White people and hurts racialized people.” In his remarks, Lo argued that suggesting that racism benefits white people is divisive, which was supported by Coun. Matt Luloff.

However, Councillors King, Sean Devine (Merivale-Knoxdale), Glen Gower (Stittsville) and Ariel Troster (Somerset) spoke in opposition and encouraged Lo to withdraw the motion. 

King, who is the council liaison for anti-racism and the first Black city councillor in Ottawa’s history, said the motion would create “a harmful gap in policy language.”

“It would remove established definitions from a policy that directly impacts diverse communities without proper consultation,” he said. “Removing this language without replacement or consultation really does undermine the very communities this council claims to support.”

Troster echoed his concerns and encouraged the councillors to oppose the motion.

“We can’t ignore the political context of a motion like this coming in where we’re seeing attacks on anti-racism policies and on diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, not just in the U.S. but here in Canada,” said Troster “When we do community consultation, specifically with impacted groups…part of the social contract is that we use that feedback to help make policy better.

“To come at the last minute to council with a motion to arbitrarily strip definitions that were created after a tremendous amount of community consultation, to me, fundamentally breaks the trust between local government and our residents and is really, really unfair,” she continued. “And it’s just a really bad look in the political context that we’re in right now.”

The current definitions in the policy are scheduled for review by council this spring, likely in May, city staff said. 

Coun. Tim Tierney, who seconded the motion, also asked Lo to withdraw, saying that there were larger priorities on the table, and that this discussion could wait for the scheduled review. 

Meanwhile, Luloff argued that the motion had been “misunderstood” and was not an “attack” on the policy itself.

He also commended Lo for “sticking his neck out” to criticize the definition.

“To use a definition of racism that describes it as benefiting a certain group of people specifically, both untrue and kind of blind to the reality of what we’re seeing in the world and what we’ve seen in the world,” he said. 

Lo ultimately withdrew the motion and said he would leave the “bigger conversation” until the lexicon is reviewed later this spring. 

During the meeting, the council also approved re-zoning to clear the path for several developments in Kanata, Westboro, Hintonburg and Stittsville.

The meeting honed in on a variety of local issues, from recreational facilities and watermains to public transit, and speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he’s prepared to continue advocating for Ottawa with a federal election on the horizon.

With the federal election campaign underway, Mark Carney will be seeking a seat as a Liberal MP in the House of Commons to represent the Ottawa riding of Nepean.

The Liberal party confirmed the move on social media late Saturday.

The Nepean riding has been held by Liberal MP Chandra Arya for the last decade, but the party recently revoked his nomination.

Sutcliffe met Carney for breakfast in Ottawa on March 10. On Wednesday, he said he’s planning to meet with Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, the mayor of Gatineau, on a “shared vision” of the National Capital Region in the election.

He said he hopes to hear issues like public transit and federal payments are addressed during the campaign.

“As well, we need some action on downtown Ottawa,” he added in response to a question from Ottawa Compass. “And the fact that the federal government is talking about reducing its footprint in the downtown core by as much as 50 per cent, the fact that fewer people are coming downtown every day because of decisions of the federal government…We need to work together on a plan for downtown Ottawa, and they need to support that plan.

 “They’re the major employer and the major landowner in downtown Ottawa,” he continued. “So if they’re going to make big changes, they’re going to have an impact on our local economy. We need to work together on the solution.”

The post City hall: council triggers by-election, debates racism definition and approves purchase of Ferry Road property appeared first on CompassNews.

This would free up life cycle and capital payment funds for the City of Ottawa and upload and integrate the Ottawa LRT under Metrolinx, similar to the ownership model for local transit in other parts of Ontario.

With this move, the province would take responsibility for all operations and costs of the LRT, including the ongoing lawsuits associated with the system, which Ford said will save taxpayers money and “improve local services as we treat Ottawa fairly.”

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has been calling on both the provincial and federal governments to support Ottawa’s transit system. The 2025 City of Ottawa Budget involves substantial investments in public transit but requires an increase in transit fares and includes a $36 million gap in funding that the municipality hoped would be filled by upper levels of government. 

On Jan. 29, the City received more than $180 million from the federal government towards public transit through the new Canada Public Transit Fund’s Baseline Funding stream. Through this investment, OC Transpo will receive annual funding amounting to over $180 million over 10 years to upgrade, replace and modernize Ottawa’s public transit system. 

Tuesday’s announcement builds on the New Deal for Ottawa, announced in March 2024, which includes nearly $550 million in investments in infrastructure, roads and highways and social services in Ottawa.

“We’ve made historic investments in Ottawa because we recognize its importance as our nation’s capital, Ontario’s second-largest city and Eastern Ontario’s major economic hub,” said Doug Ford. “With the threat of President Trump’s tariffs continuing to loom over our province and country, it’s more important than ever that we invest to support taxpayers and critical infrastructure through our plan to protect Ontario.”

In a memo, city manager Wendy Stephanson said that while the City of Ottawa is engaged with the federal and provincial governments to secure funding but that the City has not entered any formal negotiations with the Ontario government at this time.

“It would be premature to speculate on details at this time,” the memo said. At the mayor’s request, city staff will provide council with an in-camera briefing about the potential financial and legal implications at the city council meeting on Feb. 12. 

Shortly after Ford’s announcement, Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie issued a press release outlining her plan for supporting public transit in Ottawa, which also includes uploading the rail system to the province, in addition to extending light rail to Kanata and Barrhaven, uploading Highway 174 to the province and building a dedicated bus lane to Rockland.

“It’s time that Ottawa gets its fair share,” said Tyler Watt, Ontario Liberal candidate for Nepean, in the release. “Nepean has grown significantly over the past few years, but our community hasn’t been met with the investments needed to keep up with demand. We need to expand our roads, including Prince of Wales, connect our community to the LRT system, and finally start building the Barnsdale interchange. We can no longer be overlooked by our provincial government.”

“The people of Ottawa deserve a government that shows up for them,” said Crombie. “My team has always had Ottawa’s back.”

In a statement posted to X, Sutcliffe said that uploading the LRT system to the provincial government is a “game-changer” for Ottawa.

“It is, quite simply, the single biggest move we could make to address the fairness issue, strengthen the city’s financial picture, and improve light rail and public transit,” he said. “This is a historic win for our city.”

In reaction to Crombie’s announcement, Sutcliffe said “the more people behind fairness for Ottawa, the better. Great to see the momentum building for Ottawa to get meaningful help for public transit.”

The post Ford, Crombie announce plans to upload Ottawa LRT to province if elected appeared first on CompassNews.