GLOUCESTER-SOUTH NEPEAN, OSGOODE CANDIDATES SPEAK
In the lead-up to Ottawa’s municipal election, this newspaper surveyed every candidate, providing them with a list of questions. It’s an exercise that’s meant to help residents get to know the candidates better and to get a firm sense of where they stand on important issues facing our city. We’ll run a selection of their answers, featuring different wards each day. Today we feature Osgoode (Ward 20) and GloucesterSouth Nepean (Ward 22). Candidates appear in alphabetical order. For the full survey responses, check out our website at Ottawacitizen.com.
KIM SHELDRICK
1.
What are the two most important issues in your ward? Why?
Roads and ditching/drainage/ stormwater are the two biggest issues. Our roads are crumbling and delays in repairs are partially due to crumbling culverts. Much more work needs to be done to improve these issues.
2.
If you are the incumbent, what ward-specific decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
N/A
3.
What ward-specific decision do you wish council had dealt with better?
The stormwater fees. They should not be at a set percentage increase annually.
4.
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Yes. Other than my university years, I have not lived anywhere except Osgoode Township/Ward.
Ward 22: Gloucester-South Nepean
Population (2016): 49,280
Households (2016): 18,039
Votes eligible/cast in 2014: 26,907/10.844 (40.3 per cent)
Area: 37.6 sq km
Boundaries: Jockvale Road and Woodroffe Avenue on the east; Leitrim Road on the north; just past Bank Street on the east; and Earl Armstrong Road on the south, including all of Findlay Creek and the areas immediately surrounding the Vimy Memorial Bridge.
In 2014, Michael Qaqish won the seven-person race to replace Steve Desroches, who stepped down after two terms, with a little more than 38 per cent of the vote. He’ll have his hands full in 2018, as the list of four opponents includes popular former broadcaster Carol Anne Meehan. Other challengers include IT professor Zaff Ansari, Algonquin College academic manager Harpreet Singh, and Irene Mei.
ZAFF ANSARI
1.
What are the two most important issues in your ward? Why?
Growing population traffic congestion is the biggest issue, investments in maintaining and widening of major roads to minimize traffic congestion and accidents, improving the transportation facilities by adding more buses and increasing the frequency during rush hour so residents can get to work on time.
I would like to see the construction of the recreation centre in Riverside South without further delay and a recreation facility in Findley Creek.
Launching programs to abolish single use of plastic and programs to educate the residents to participate in the green bin program.
2.
If you are the incumbent, what ward-specific decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
N/A
3.
What ward-specific decision do you wish council had dealt with better?
Barrhaven is growing faster and it needs better transportation to meet the needs of the people. I would have explored the options to extend the LRT to Barrhaven.
4.
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Yes, I have lived in the ward for the past eight years and have greatly enjoyed my time spent here.
CAROL ANNE MEEHAN
1.
What are the two most important issues in your ward? Why?
There are more than two big issues, but the top ones are:
Lack of road infrastructure and transit solutions to handle the pace of residential development. This has led to congestion that worsens each year. The commute into the city takes more than an hour each way. When it rains or snows it’s even longer. It’s a major stressor and bad for the environment.
The south end has a growing youth and senior population. We need amenities for both. The community wants a sports complex so families don’t have to travel to the east end, or to Barrhaven, where facilities are already maxed out. We also need a public high school.
2.
If you are the incumbent, what ward-specific decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
N/A.
3.
What ward-specific decision do you wish council had dealt with better?
I wish phase two of LRT had been planned for a double line, with grade separation and electrified cars, not diesel.
4.
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Yes, I have lived in the ward for 26 years.
IRENE MEI
1.
What are the two most important issues in your ward? Why?
Safety and a better working relationship with the home builders.
There’s been a lot of theft and kids acting out these days in the wards. I would like to see better solutions to see how to keeps kids off the street or to stop them from stealing items from people’s backyards/front yards/cars.
As a new homeowner myself, I know there are a lot of issues I have with a new home. The lack of response from the builders is disappointing. My home didn’t have major issues compared to the others I have heard about. As a city councillor, these builders are building in the ward, but as soon as they build and collect money, they just walk away without fixing the damages properly. I want to work with builders to create a better plan for AFTER purchase communication and response to homeowners.
2.
If you are the incumbent, what ward-specific decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
N/A
3.
What ward-specific decision do you wish council had dealt with better?
Working more with the builders and more sidewalks.
4.
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Yes. I have lived in the ward since 2009.
MICHAEL QAQISH
1.
What are the two most important issues in your ward? Why?
Infrastructure, transportation and a community centre to serve Riverside South and Findlay Creek. We are bringing the train to Findlay Creek at Leitrim Station and Riverside South in 2021. We set money aside for an environmental assessment so we can bring the train to Barrhaven in phase three. I have also secured funding for local road projects and land for a community centre/ library with a pool in phase two and a new police station for Barrhaven.
2.
If you are the incumbent, what ward-specific decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
I am very proud to have been able to secure land and funding for the future community centre and library in Riverside South and the community is looking forward to shovels in the ground next year. I have also been working hard to advance road infrastructure, with intersection modifications like Bank and Leitrim and Leitrim and Albion, in order to help people get in and out of the community with ease. There were no plans for this before 2024 when I was first elected.
3.
What ward-specific decision do you wish council had dealt with better?
(Candidate did not answer.)
4.
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
Yes.
HARPREET SINGH
1.
What are the two most important issues in your ward? Why?
My top priority is to ensure that growing residential areas of the ward have the roads required for residents to live, work and play. In Findlay Creek, Bank and Albion continue to be single-lane roads despite the construction of hundreds of homes in the area. In Barrhaven and Riverside South, roads such as River Road, Prince of Wales, Strandherd and Jockvale have not been improved to serve the increasing number of commuters. Residents of my ward deserve better roads. In my immediate neighbourhood of Stonebridge, we need to stop the encroachment of our green spaces (specifically plans to destroy the Stonebridge Golf Course) to build more homes. I categorically oppose this development and any such developments that do not respect the current residents and are planned without sufficient infrastructure improvements.
2.
If you are the incumbent, what ward-specific decision made by council in the last term are you most proud?
N/A
3.
What ward-specific decision do you wish council had dealt with better?
I wish the council had approved the infrastructure such as widening of roads across the ward, schools and community centres in Findlay Creek and Riverside South, and the list goes on.
4.
Do you live in the ward in which you’re running? If not, what’s your interest in the area?
My community of Stonebridge (Barrhaven) is served by three wards, 3, 21 and 22. Ward boundaries divide our community in three pieces, but we are one proud community of Stonebridge. My family doctor, kids’ soccer, shopping, banking, bus stop and most of my day-to-day activities take place in ward 22. Therefore, my decision to run from ward 22 is based more on my affinity with this ward.