Better Ottawa

The Municipal Panel is back to talk about the year ahead. RogersTV hosted us in their studios for this special episode.2026 is a municipal election year, and we talked about:* Who on Council is planning to run again, and who else has put their name forward,* What we see as the main issues for the election, and what could be the surprise sleeper issues that get attention,* How candidates will manage the multi-billion dollar infrastructure deficit facing the City.Links to some of what we mention in the show:* Gio Petti’s documentaries Train to Nowhere and Dude, Where’s My Bus?* Alto’s 21-22 January Open House on High Speed Rail * Theresa Kavanaugh’s questioning at City Council regarding the absence of funding to deal with end-of-life assets * Better Ottawa’s community town hall on 28 January on Getting Ottawa Moving AgainFinally, there is one minor correction to the pod discussion. We refer to a survey presented at OREB — which is the Ottawa Real Estate Board, not Ontario.Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch this podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

I sat down with Gio Petti, the local filmmaker behind the recent YouTube documentary on OC Transpo, Train to Nowhere — Gio’s follow up to the 2024 release Dude, Where’s My Bus?Gio and I talk about the history that brought us to the current Line 2, and the original O-Train that preceded it. We also talk about what motivated Gio to make these films, the experience of south Ottawa residents since its opening, and what this train says about the fixes we need for OC Transpo.Watch the films online:* Dude, Where’s My Bus?* Train to NowhereLet us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.* You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.* Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

As 2025 comes to an end, the Municipal Panel did a special year in review episode. RogersTV hosted up in their studios for this special episode.We each picked:* One big theme for Ottawa City Hall in 2025, and discussed what those themes mean for 2026.* The worst decision at City Hall in 2025.* The best decision at City Hall in 2025.Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

With the approval of the 2026 city budget, we are unofficially into campaign mode for the 2026 municipal elections.This week the Municipal Panel covers:* Council approves the 2026 budget* Tim Tierney’s Ottawa Citizen op-ed criticizing other councillors* The Mayor’s public safety message* The Mayor’s breakfast with Prime Minister Mark Carney* The election messaging that is starting to emergeLet us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

Budget season continues at the City of Ottawa.This week the Municipal Panel covers the Finance and Corporate Services Committee:* $156 million more for new (and old) LRT construction (1:00)* The City’s overdue long-term financial plan is coming in early 2026 (22:15)* Are delays to the Adisoke library a sign of deeper problems? (28:15)* The Mayor’s public safety press event (32:30)Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

It’s budget season at the City of Ottawa.In this episode, we cover:* whether City Council agreed to have staff buy us a new landfill* how every year the transit budget is pumped up with phantom money * how the City should push back against the province on where we can build bike lanes, and the impact on next year’s budget for roads and sewersLet us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

We’re coming to you a few days later than usual, as there was an important discussion at Ottawa City Hall this past Friday.In this episode, we cover:* how much the police budget is actually increasing * whether the city should take up an opportunity to bid on a landfill site* new movers and shakers in the municipal landscapeLet us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

The City released its draft 2026 budget this week. We cover:* Headlines from the Budget* What strong mayor powers mean for budgeting* The Mayor’s explanation for why Ottawa tax increases are lower than other cities* The City’s new window to make voluntary contributions* The City rejects urban boundary expansion We reference some documents in the show:* City’s draft Budget Magazine* My assessment of the New Deals for Toronto and Ottawa, here and here, Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

Late last week, City Council approved Lansdowne 2.0.The panel talks about that decision, as well as the related Audit Committee meeting and Lansdowne 2.0 Public Forum earlier in the week.Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

Our extended Lansdowne coverage continues!We recap the 2-day Committee meeting that sent Lansdowne to a final vote at Council on Friday, November 7.The episode covers:* The PWHL comes to Committee — who won the PR battle?* The facts and alternate facts around Lansdowne financing* Housing at Lansdowne and Councillor Tierney’s promise to bring back a third tower* New polling on what Ottawa residents think of Lansdowne* What surprised us in the Lansdowne proposal* Plus our lightning round, including former Mayor Jim Watson getting inducted into the Order of Ottawa.Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

For the next few weeks, it’s going to be all Lansdowne all the time! There was a big announcement from the PWHL right after we finished recording. We’ll talk about that next week.Here’s what we covered this week:* Vibe check! What Lansdowne 2.0 is really all about.* The Mayor’s unusual Monday press conference.* Council says no to extending the decision date.* What the report says and what the Mayor didn’t tell us.And we referenced a couple of very useful backgrounders. For more in-depth analysis on the Lansdowne finances:* Listen to Kate Porter on CBC Morning, 22 October.* See my quick summary analysis of the Lansdowne. Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.And don’t forget … the People’s Summit is back on Saturday 1 November! 🌟One powerful day of bold ideas, proven strategies, and people power to win our city back. Join organizers, advocates, and changemakers for keynotes, panels, municipal boot camps, and community victories worth celebrating. This isn’t just a conference — it’s the launchpad for a people-powered movement. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

See my latest Lansdowne YouTube video: This Time is DifferentThis week, we cover one and only one issue: Tewin, the controversial development project in south-east Ottawa.It was a long discussion. But a great one.Towards the end, we talk briefly about what to expect with Lansdowne over the next few weeks.Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.And don’t forget … the People’s Summit is back this fall! 🌟One powerful day of bold ideas, proven strategies, and people power to win our city back. Join organizers, advocates, and changemakers for keynotes, panels, municipal boot camps, and community victories worth celebrating. This isn’t just a conference — it’s the launchpad for a people-powered movement.👉 Let’s organize. Let’s build power. Let’s win.🔗 More info & tickets: betterottawa.ca/summit This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

It was a fairly quiet week at Ottawa City Hall moving into the Thanksgiving Break. This week’s Municipal Panel covers:* The Housing Acceleration Plan gets approved by Council (4:53)* Ottawa takes a stand on speed light cameras (11:22)* Council tries to advance negotiations on uploading the LRT (22:55)* Lansdowne 2.0 shifts back into high gear (30:26)Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.And don’t forget … the People’s Summit is back this fall! 🌟One powerful day of bold ideas, proven strategies, and people power to win our city back. Join organizers, advocates, and changemakers for keynotes, panels, municipal boot camps, and community victories worth celebrating. This isn’t just a conference — it’s the launchpad for a people-powered movement.👉 Let’s organize. Let’s build power. Let’s win.🔗 More info & tickets: betterottawa.ca/summit This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

It was another busy week at Ottawa City Hall! In this episode, we cover:* The Housing Acceleration Plan goes to Committee (0:13)* Should there be bus lanes on Bank Street? (19:07)* NCC plans for a Confederation Boulevard gets a reaction out of the Mayor (30:35)* The Police Chief says a 6.5% budget increase is not enough (40:50)Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.And don’t forget … the People’s Summit is back this fall! 🌟One powerful day of bold ideas, proven strategies, and people power to win our city back. Join organizers, advocates, and changemakers for keynotes, panels, municipal boot camps, and community victories worth celebrating. This isn’t just a conference — it’s the launchpad for a people-powered movement.👉 Let’s organize. Let’s build power. Let’s win.🔗 More info & tickets: betterottawa.ca/summit This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

It was a busy week at Ottawa City Hall, and the Municipal Panel has thoughts.In this episode, we cover:* the Return to Office debate goes to Council (0:42)* Doug Ford plans to outlaw speed cameras (13:38)* the City introduces a new Housing Acceleration Plan (21:53)* the City finds a new way to fight the Kanata ClubLink development (31:02)* What’s holding up Lansdowne? (38:07)Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts, and if we see it in time, we’ll respond in our next episode.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.And don’t forget … the People’s Summit is back this fall! 🌟One powerful day of bold ideas, proven strategies, and people power to win our city back. Join organizers, advocates, and changemakers for keynotes, panels, municipal boot camps, and community victories worth celebrating. This isn’t just a conference — it’s the launchpad for a people-powered movement.👉 Let’s organize. Let’s build power. Let’s win.🔗 More info & tickets: betterottawa.ca/summit This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

The Municipal Panel took a week off, and boy, was there a lot to cover when we got back. In this extended issue, we discuss: * the Mayor’s pledge to end youth homelessness by 2030 (2:58)* the investigation into Councillor Menard’s election spending (10:47)* Jeff Leiper turns the City’s return to office mandate into a hot potato (22:16)* the City’s report on climate progress (29:00)* Doug Ford’s war on speed cameras (37:37)* the City reverses course on sidewalks in Manor Park (45:35)* City Hall half-heartedly freezes its headcount (48:31)We didn’t get around to covering a number of housing initiatives that came out over the past two weeks, but we’ll do that in our next episode.Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts, and if we see it in time, we’ll respond in our next episode.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

Ottawa City Council is back in full swing, which means the Municipal Panel is here to provide our colour commentary.This week we cover:* the Integrity Commissioner’s report on Councillor Plante’s social media postings (0:15)* the City’s decision that all staff will return to office full time in January (11:18)* the 2026 budget directions, and specifically what it means for transit (22:38)* a potential pay increase for Councillors (40:15)Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts, and if we see it in time, we’ll respond in our next episode.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

Break’s over, and the Better Ottawa Municipal Panel is back!If you appreciate the work of the Panel, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.This week, Joanne, Jon and Neil cover:* What to expect for the 2026 City of Ottawa budget (0:40)* Why beaches don’t stay open in late season heatwaves (18:40)* Delays to the release of the City’s new long-range financial plan (24:48)* NCC and Senators agree to a LeBreton Flats land sale (35:47)* Follow-up to our popular Lansdowne ParkPod (45:27)We’ll be back next week to cover the upcoming City Council meeting (including the Integrity Commissioner’s report on Councillor Plante’s social media postings).Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts, and if we see it in time, we’ll respond in our next episode.You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

We did an extended summer recording all about Lansdowne 2.0. The local RogersTV station filmed us on location at the Great Lawn.We talk about finances, benefits and risks, but perhaps most importantly, our perspectives on what Lansdowne 2.0 is in really about.Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts, and if we see it in time, we’ll respond in our next episode.You can also find the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe

The Municipal Panel looks at Ottawa municipal issues over the past two weeks:* the City’s updated Transportation Master Plan clears Committee. We discuss the big issues, including mode share, Airport Parkway, Alta Vista Transportation Corridor, and a ring road to the south of the city (1:30).* the City tries to hide its deal to lower the urban boundary review fees (26:24)* the provincial Municipality Accountability Act consultations are coming to Ottawa next week — what will Joanne say to the Committee?* (36:42)* with the new Queen St transitional housing for asylum seekers, why were we even considering Sprung tents? (41:40)Let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or wherever you get your podcasts, and if we see it in time, we’ll respond in our next episode.You can also find the podcast on YouTube.Or listen to an audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.*The Parliamentary Committee hearings are open to the public and will take place on 17 July from 10:00am to 5:00pm at the Sheraton Hotel, 150 Albert Street in the Rideau Room. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com/subscribe