ISSUES
How do you propose helping Ottawa to fix the housing crisis?
Ottawa South is one of the fastest growing communities in Ottawa. This should be good news. But so many of our new neighbours are struggling to secure decent, affordable housing. Some people are one payment away from losing their housing. Young people are losing hope of staying close to family and friends because of rising costs. Housing is a major priority for me and the NDP. I will work toward our goal of doubling permanently available housing by proving low-cost financing options and making public land available for non-profit and cooperative housing. In 2018, we witnessed the biggest renovictions in Canada at Heron Gate. We will increase protection for tenants and stop unethical evictions by bringing in real rent control (vacancy control) on all rental units, stopping rent gouging and removing an unethical landlord’s incentive to evict existing tenants in to charge higher rent to the next tenant.
How will you make sure everyone in Ottawa has a family doctor?
I believe in public health care. But when I’m out canvassing, I hear so many people talking about their difficult search for a doctor. Canada has a massive human resource crisis in health care. Recently Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office called for the need for increased investment in primary care after decades of underfunding by previous governments. I will fight for the retention and recruitment of more healthcare professionals into community-based primary care teams. The NDP will recruit and support 3,500 new doctors who will be able to spend more time with patients than on their paperwork. We need to increase residency seats and licensing opportunities for internationally educated doctors and other critical healthcare workers. I am committed to the creation of a centralized referral system to reduce wait times and open underused operating rooms on evenings and weekends to clear surgical backlogs.
How can the province be fairer to Ottawa with its transit and budget issues?
Ontario is more than just Toronto. Yet, when it comes to transit funding the government has consistently provided Ottawa with less financial support than to gives to Toronto. According to the Financial Accountability Office, the Toronto region received per-resident subsidies of $191 in 2022-23, while Ottawa's region (including five other transit agencies in eastern Ontario) got $59.61. In fact, for 2024-2025 Toronto’s per resident subsidy will increase by $5.49, while Ottawa’s will drop by $27.70! And no one feels the pain of this unfairness more than Ottawa transit users who wait in the deep cold for buses or trains to arrive. We need strong strategic collaboration at every level of government to develop long-term, predictable funding to rebuild trust in our transit system and bring fairness to communities like ours across Ontario.
What’s your favourite Ottawa restaurant and why?
While it was hard to choose, I love going to the Pelican Grill on Bank St. in my riding of Ottawa South. The Pelican is one of Ottawa’s oldest restaurants and we enjoy the family atmosphere. Plus, it has my favourite: fresh fish and local beer on tap!