Sutcliffe today: "I don't agree with the province's decision [on speed cameras]... I cant make them change their mind, I've made my best case, they've made their decision, and we move on"
Sutcliffe when Ford makes LRT service cuts after the Metrolinx upload:
The bubble bylaw is currently being debated at Council.
Follow along with our live coverage here: xcancel.com/i/status/204...
The Bank St. bus lane pilot was also approved unanimously today, but it's still somewhat lacking.
After the pilot, we hope to see 24/7 lanes in both directions like delegates were asking for!
Only one motion on the item was called to a vote, and was thankfully defeated:
We're now on to the debate around Bank St. bus lanes, with nearly 50 delegates signed up to speak!
You can follow along on YouTube: www.youtube.com/live/n0J0CUI...
Motion to defer sidewalk installations in Manor Park Yes: Luloff, Dudas, Skalski, Lo, Tierney No: Gower, Johnson, Devine, Bradley, Troster, Desroches, Kitts
One vote down, one to go for today's Infrastructure Committee meeting – Manor Park will be getting sidewalks as planned thanks to some great delegations from advocacy groups and community members.
Here's how committee members voted:
We're very disappointed in the City's decision to hire disgraced former TTC CEO Rick Leary to head OC Transpo.
In Toronto, Leary consistently avoided accountability for his failures, and was accused of abusive and corrupt behaviour.
Our full statement:
www.horizonottawa.ca/oc_transpo_l...
Bank St. Bus Lane Delegations:
Public Works and Infrastructure
March 30, 9:30 am
➡️Send an email to marcela.busnardodossantos@ottawa.ca, ask to speak to item 5.2 - Bank Street Active Transportation and Transit Priority Feasibility Study
Agenda: pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
The Glebe BIA is saying Bank St. bus lanes are a bad idea – instead the Glebe needs more cops.
Their concerns are pretty ridiculous, but we still need to make sure councillors hear the other side at PWIC on March 30th! Registration info below ⤵️
obj.ca/glebe-bia-in...
People should be prioritized over cars at all times in a place like the Market, not just on special occasions.
Sam, one of our board members, breaks down the case for a fully-pedestrianized Byward Market rather than the proposed half-measures ⤵️
Here is our joint statement with several other members of our Defend Dissent Coalition calling on Council to delay the vote on this bylaw until the public has had adequate time to review it and provide feedback specific to what is actually being proposed: www.horizonottawa.ca/bubble_bylaw...
Staff were supposed to deliver updates about a legal challenge against a similar by-law in Calgary and finish Ottawa's version in February, but we haven't seen any of this yet.
We're concerned this may not be public until the agenda is released shortly before the vote.
Nine months ago, there was a 2-day long committee meeting debating the need for a bubble by-law to restrict protests around certain buildings.
We've been fighting hard to stop this alongside many other advocates, and the final decision is coming soon. ⤵️
Matt Luloff stepped down from running for the Conservatives federally, so what makes him think he should be able to run again for city council?
Orléans deserves better.
Add your name today and help us organize for change: www.horizonottawa.ca/orleans_dese...
Every councillor who supported Few Ways to Bus, LRT service cuts, and budget austerity shares a part of the blame for the suffering of this individual, and should apologize.
Service cuts have a compounding effect for multi-stage routes, risking riders' health and safety.
There’s an important City meeting tonight. Here’s why you should consider participating:
One of the complaints I hear about the most is that the City doesn’t really care about people’s opinions. That City surveys don’t ask the right questions, or that the answers will be ignored.
Great piece from @brigittepellerin.bsky.social on why Sutcliffe needs to take accountability and halt fare collection until transit is fixed.
"Until we rebuild the system and deliver better service, we can’t expect users to pay higher fares."
- Sutcliffe, 2022
ottawacitizen.com/opinion/sutc...
We are extremely saddened to learn about the numerous children who lost their lives to gun violence in Tumbler Ridge and Kitigan Zibi.
Our deepest condolences to those mourning in B.C. and in the Anishinaabe Nation.
Being forced to commute while Ottawa's transit is worse than ever just causes problems for everyone.
Thanks to years of backwards thinking on transit where we match service to existing ridership numbers, we're in a situation where the system just can't handle federal RTO.
The feds' RTO policy is an insult to public servants.
Our gov't is capitulating to the antiquated mindset of "WFH=laziness" despite knowing better, and they don't seem to care how it affects workers.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
The buses on order are meant to replace around half of our existing fleet, not add additional capacity.
O-train does take some of the need away, but can't fully compensate for this loss and still requires R1 replacement buses during service disruptions.
These are the total fleet size, and for some years it is an estimation since there isn't a lot of information available.
The maintenance backlog could have absolutely been avoided by procuring buses at a sustainable rate over the past 15 years.
We already suspected that the 350 electric buses already ordered by the city were not going to contribute to any fleet growth – this was confirmed by Troy Charter from OC Transpo, who told CBC these will replace around half of existing buses.
Sign our petition to demand better!
Chart showing Ottawa's bus fleet size decline since 2010, while the population increases
Here's a visualization of how Watson and Sutcliffe's austerity impacted our bus fleet since 2010.
This was never a sustainable path and now we're left with too few buses on the best of days, let alone enough to cover for an LRT service disruption.
OC Transpo's bus fleet has shrunk from over 1000 to less than 800 under the past two mayors, and enough is enough!
We just launched a petition calling on the city to reverse course and restore our once-strong fleet. Add your signature today: www.horizonottawa.ca/save_our_fleet
Heated Rivalry Screenshot Meme Shane: Will you come to my pub night this Saturday? Don't do to Russia. Come to pub night. We'll have so much fun." Ilya: "I'm coming to pub night"
Horizon Ottawa Pub Night Royal Oak - Kent & Slater Sat. January 24th, 7:00PM
This Saturday, don't go to Russia – come to the Horizon Ottawa pub night!
Join us at the Royal Oak on Kent St. at 7PM and enjoy the company of your fellow Ottawa progressives.
R.S.V.P. today: www.horizonottawa.ca/jan24_horizo...
Take note of the Watson/Sutcliffe council for 2026:
Most of the incumbents who voted for starving Transit and infrastructure renewal in favour of Tewin and OSEG handouts are running again.
Consider donating to @strongtownsottawa.ca @horizonottawa.bsky.social to hold those voting records account.
In Ottawa, we don't have nearly as many homes in the $3-20M range that Chow is targeting with this proposal.
However, we can still implement a more progressive property tax system so we aren't charging the same % for $5M and $500K homes.
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
The cost of living crisis has many of us barely scraping by, so Mayor Chow in Toronto is taking action by raising property taxes for the top 0.5%.
Let's be honest, those living in a $3M+ home can afford to contribute more than the rest of us.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
You can also speak out as a public delegate at the Police Services Board budget tabling meeting on Dec. 5th @ 9:30 AM.
OPSB rules are more strict than other committees — send your full written comments to ottawapoliceboard@ottawa.ca before noon on Dec. 4th.
The Ottawa Police are getting an 8.7% budget hike ($31.5M) including $5.4M pulled from reserves.
The issues we're facing demand mental health supports, housing, and community services, not more police.
Tell Council to fund mental health, not more cops: www.horizonottawa.ca/no_police_hike