The Echo invited the candidates from all the major parties in Ottawa-Vanier to submit an article (in English and French) setting out the issues they considered to be important and affect the lives of Lowertown residents. Candidates were limited to a maximum of 450 words in each language. Here are their submissions, presented in alphabetical order by party name.
Conservative candidate : Joel Bernard
A recent study found that nearly half of Canadian households are within just $200.00 of making ends meet every month. With rising debt and out of control budgets, it will mean higher taxes down the road and less protection against the next economic downturn. Under a government led by Andrew Scheer, we will make balancing the budget a priority, lower taxes and leave more money in your pocket. So, getting spending under control while leaving more money in your pocket is real compassion. Compassion for you right now and compassion for your children who will have to pay for the massive debt left behind by Justin Trudeau. We will start by removing the federal portion of the income tax on EI Maternity Leave Benefits; This means leaving up to $4000.00 more in the pockets of new parents to help their new families.
Furthermore, we have a Real Plan for the Environment. we will hold big emitters to account and invest responsibly in green emissions technology. Our plan creates real benchmarks and most importantly, it creates good jobs. Canada must lead the world in new technologies for a cleaner environment without sacrificing responsible development of the energy sector. As you may know, the carbon tax introduced by the Trudeau government does not include the large emitters. In other words, you get to pay while they get to play.
Recently I wrote a letter to the Mayor, asking him to go back to the drawing board on his homeless first plan; I received no response. The 350 shelter to be built on Montreal Rd is lunacy at best. The Mayor and City council need to understand that the challenge to house the homeless belongs to all Ottawa communities, not just a few. What is proposed for Vanier is unacceptable and if I am chosen as your MP, I will make sure that no federal government involvement will occur until City Council comes back with a plan that sees all communities share in the challenge.
For years, you have been taken for granted by all levels of government. That is why I decided to run in Ottawa-Vanier. I want to make Ottawa-Vanier safer, more prosperous and a leader in community development. Its time to do politics differently, it’s time for a voice, your voice at the table.
Liberal candidate: Mona Fortier
I would like to start by thanking the Lowertown Echo for offering you the opportunity to hear from all the candidates. This October 21st, residents have a clear choice to make when they cast their vote, and I hope to earn your trust, and the community’s trust once again.
It is clear that we need to continue to take steps to protect our environment. The effects of climate change are everywhere, from extreme flooding to damaging wildfires, there are constant reminders of the need to act now. Since being elected, our government has worked hard to build a plan to protect the environment, grow the economy, and make life more affordable for Canadians. We have made historic investments in public transit including Stage II LRT right here in Ottawa, put a price on pollution and taken concrete steps to end the use of single use plastics in our country. Constituents remind me every day of the need to do even more to protect our environment for future generations, so this is certainly an ongoing priority and we have always prioritized making progress in this regard.
Active transportation also goes hand in hand with environmental protection. Making it easier for residents to walk and bike around the city not only reduces emissions, but also encourages everyone towards a healthy lifestyle. That is why our government provided funds to the NCC and the City of Ottawa to repair, renew and build multi-use pathways in the National Capital Region. We are fortunate to live surrounded by so many green spaces and it is important that we provide everyone a safe and accessible way to enjoy them.
While Ottawa–Vanier continues to see new employers, and great economic opportunities for residents, I know that these opportunities are not equally distributed. Too many rely on food banks and emergency shelters, work a second job just to pay the bills, or skip vital medications in order to provide their children with the necessities. We can and must do more to address Ottawa–Vanier’s economic inequality. If re-elected, I will continue to fight for affordable housing that supports families, students and seniors, including advocating a housing first approach to address those who require temporary accommodation. I will also champion increases in the Canada Child Benefit to ensure that families have the support they need to send their children to camp, buy new boots, or just make life’s necessities just a little easier to buy.
I am committed to protecting our environment and making life more affordable to reduce economic inequalities. Everyone deserves to feel like they can provide for themselves and their families, all while knowing our planet is being protected for future generations.
—
J’aimerais commencer par remercier le Lowertown Echo d’avoir offert à tous les candidats l’opportunité de publier une lettre ouverte aux résidents. Ce 21 octobre, vous aurez un choix clair à faire quand vous irez voter et j’espère sincèrement gagner votre confiance à nouveau.
Les effets du changement climatique sont partout, des inondations extrêmes aux incendies dévastateurs, et ce sont des rappels importants de la nécessité d’agir maintenant.
Depuis notre élection, nous avons travaillé d’arrache-pied pour élaborer un plan visant à protéger l’environnement, à stimuler la croissance économique et à rendre la vie plus abordable pour les Canadiens. Ceci passe par des investissements historiques dans les transports en commun, incluant la deuxième phase du TLR ici même à Ottawa, un nouveau prix sur la pollution et la prise de mesures concrètes pour mettre fin à l’utilisation de plastiques à usage unique au pays. Les électeurs me rappellent chaque jour la nécessité de faire encore plus pour protéger notre environnement pour les générations futures. Nous continuerons à travailler pour réaliser des progrès dans ce dossier prioritaire.
Le transport actif est un bon outil de protection environnementale. Faciliter la marche et le cyclisme réduit les émissions, mais encourage aussi les résidents à avoir un mode de vie santé. C’est pourquoi nous avons fourni des fonds à la CCN et à la ville d’Ottawa pour la réparation, le renouvellement et la construction de sentiers à utilisations multiples dans la région. Nous avons la chance de vivre entourés de tant d’espaces verts et il est important que les sites soient accessibles et sécuritaires pour que tous puissent en profiter.
Bien qu’Ottawa-Vanier continue d’accueillir de nouveaux employeurs, je sais que tous les résidents ne sont pas égaux face à ces nouvelles opportunités. Trop de personnes dépendent des banques alimentaires et des refuges d’urgence, occupent un deuxième emploi pour payer les factures ou se privent de médicaments essentiels pour subvenir aux besoins des enfants. Nous pouvons et devons faire plus pour remédier à l’inégalité économique à Ottawa-Vanier. Si je suis réélue, je continuerai à me battre pour des logements abordables au profit des familles, des étudiants et des personnes âgées, notamment en préconisant une approche de priorité au logement pour ceux en attente d’hébergement temporaire. Je me ferai également la championne des augmentations de la l’Allocation canadienne pour enfants pour que les familles puissent envoyer leurs enfants au camp, leur acheter des chaussures ou tout simplement boucler les fins de mois.
Je m’engage à protéger notre environnement et à rendre la vie plus abordable pour réduire les inégalités économiques. Chacun mérite d’être en mesure de subvenir à ses besoins et à ceux de sa famille, tout en sachant que notre planète est protégée pour les générations futures.
Green Party Candidate Oriana Ngabirano
All Canadians deserve to live with dignity. Yet one in seven of us struggle to make ends meet, find housing, buy groceries and live a healthy lifestyle.
“I am now convinced that the simplest approach will prove to be the most effective – the solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income.” Martin Luther King Jr. (1967)
The Ottawa Neighbourhood study says 36.6 percent of the residents in Lowertown make less than $20 000 per year and 35 percent of the population under age 18 in Lowertown is living with low income.
These numbers have passed the alarming point and knowing that some social consequences of poverty are higher death rate, increase in hygiene and diet related diseases, increased crime rate and Increased homeless rate, It’s time we demand concrete action and results.
Poverty is a problem we can fix, and it is my number one priority.
Providing our most at-risk citizens with the resources they need to make ends meet greatly reduces the burden on our emergency and social services, our health care and criminal justice systems – saving Canadian society money and empowering all citizens to overcome periods of hardship.
When elected as our Member of Parliament, I, Oriana Ngabirano, will work passionately to:
? Eliminate poverty through a Guaranteed Livable Income
? End the war on drugs & invest in crime prevention
? Create opportunities for youth entrepreneurship & rise civic engagement
? Review our democratic processes in order to engage more citizens
? Grow local & sustainable employment opportunities & address discrimination
? Promote and facilitate access to workplace childcare
? Support Housing First through the development and delivery of adequate affordable mixed housing solutions that are geared to income
? Develop a National Seniors Strategy
? Provide ongoing support to our veterans, including secure and generous pensions.
? Increase the manufacturer’s responsibility in managing waste (recycling)
? Move forward with the environmental assessment for the proposed Truck Tunnel & insist on equity parameter
? Incentivize homeowners to update their appliances to energy efficient solutions through an expanded home renovation tax credit
? Invest in our tourism industries, which contribute more to our GDP than mining, telecommunications and food manufacturing
? Fund community supported agriculture, farmers’ markets, small-scale farms and producers, and the wineries and microbreweries that Canadians love
It’s time to upgrade our economy and reclaim our democracy.
We demand proportional representation because we want a fair system that:
? Places equal value on every vote
? Encourages cross-party collaboration and unity
? Allows us to adopt stable, long-term policies
? Encourages greater participation and voter turnout
? Increases Canadian political literacy
I want to assure you of my availability to discuss any and all of these matters.
—-
Tous les Canadiens méritent de vivre dans la dignité. Pourtant, une personne sur sept a du mal à joindre les deux bouts, à trouver un logement, à faire l’épicerie et à mener une vie saine.
“Je suis maintenant convaincu que l’approche la plus simple s’avérera la plus efficace – la solution à la pauvreté consiste à l’abolir directement au moyen d’une mesure largement discutée: le revenu garanti.” Martin Luther King Jr. (1967)
36.6% des résidents de la Basse-Ville gagnent moins de $20, 000 par an et
35% de la population de moins de 18 ans de la Basse-Ville vit avec un revenu faible.
Ces chiffres ont dépassé le seuil alarmant et sachant que certaines des conséquences sociales de la pauvreté sont un taux de mortalité plus élevé, une augmentation des maladies liées à l’alimentation et à l’alimentation, un taux de criminalité accru et un taux de sans-abri accru. Il est temps d’exiger des actions et des résultats concrets.
La pauvreté est un problème que nous pouvons résoudre et c’est ma priorité numéro un.
Fournir à nos citoyens les plus à risque les ressources dont ils ont besoin pour joindre les deux bouts allège considérablement le fardeau de nos services d’urgence et sociaux, de nos systèmes de santé et de justice pénale.
Une fois élue en tant que votre représentante au Parlement Fédéral, je compte travailler avec passion pour:
? Éliminer la pauvreté grâce à un revenu minimum garanti.
? Mettre fin à la lutte contre la drogue et investir dans la prévention du crime
? Créer des opportunités pour les jeunes entrepreneurs et accroître leur engagement civique.
? Revoir nos processus démocratiques afin d’inciter plus de citoyen à participer
? Accroître les possibilités d’emplois locaux et durables et lutter contre la discrimination.
? Promouvoir et faciliter l’accès aux services de garde en milieu de travail
? Appuyer l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre de solutions de logement mixtes et adaptées au revenu.
? Élaborer une stratégie nationale sur les aînés.
? Offrir un soutien continu à nos anciens combattants, y compris des pensions sûres et généreuses.
? Accroître la responsabilité des entreprises dans la gestion des déchets (recyclage)
? Procéder à l’évaluation environnementale du tunnel routier proposé et insister sur le paramètre d’équité.
? Inciter les propriétaires à adapter leurs appareils ménagers à des solutions éco énergétiques grâce à un crédit d’impôt élargi pour la rénovation domiciliaire.
? Investir dans nos industries touristiques, qui contribuent plus à notre PIB que les industries extractives, les télécommunications et la fabrication d’aliments.
? Financer des fonds pour l’agriculture communautaire, les marchés de producteurs, les petites exploitations agricoles et les producteurs, ainsi que les établissements vinicoles et les microbrasseries que les Canadiens apprécient tant.
Il est temps de moderniser notre économie et de récupérer notre démocratie.
Nous réclamons la représentation proportionnelle parce que nous voulons un système juste qui:
? Place la même valeur à chaque vote.
? Encourage la collaboration et l’unité entre les partis.
? Nous permet d’adopter des politiques stables et à long terme.
? Encourage une plus grande participation du public.
? Augmente l’éducation politique des canadiens(nes).
Je tiens à vous assurer de ma disponibilité pour discuter de toutes ces questions.
We thank you for the opportunity for submission.
NDP Candidate: Stéphanie Mercier
I am a proud Ottawa-Vanier resident. I’ve studied here, worked here, and am excited to represent Ottawa-Vanier in the House of Commons. The New Democratic Party (NDP) and I know what matters to ordinary Canadians and the residents of Lowertown are no different. These are just a small number of issues I hope to speak to if given the opportunity to represent you all federally.
Recently, Lowertown has faced an influx of traffic and congestion. As proud as we are to be able to share our great city with tourists from all over the world there needs to be a balance. A lot of residents feel that the community identity of Lowertown comes secondary to accommodating tourists and commerce, the NDP and I know there can be a balance between economic development and protecting the values that are important to us. I hope to be a strong voice on this in the house of commons and around the community. Whether it’s truck traffic, construction, or development – making sure that the residents of the community have someone who is willing to listen and stand up for their concerns is a priority for me.
Another essential part of our community’s identity is language. Vanier and the surrounding neighbourhoods have a strong history of being a home for Francophones from Ontario, Canada, and Internationally. Unfortunately, there’s a lack of language support for those, like myself, who use French as their primary language. Through the creation of the Action Plan for Official Languages, we are going to improve access to services in your official language of choice. We also plan to bring the Official Languages Act up to date so we can make sure minority language rights are protected and that minority languages get a seat at the table when there are decisions that impact them directly. I am a proud Franco Ontarian working in a francophone hospital so to be able to speak to the experiences of francophone residents is something that will come naturally to me.
Finally, when it comes to Ottawa we can’t help but bring up the natural beauty that we’re so lucky to have right in our backyard. The Ottawa river valley and all its flora and fauna need protecting so we can continue to enjoy this truly awe-inspiring beauty. Through banning single-use plastics and supporting municipalities to better manage waste and recycling, the NDP will help keep Ottawa and Canada clean for many generations to come.
It is truly my pleasure to put my name on the ballot to be the NDP candidate for Ottawa-Vanier and I hope you’ll all give our platform an in-depth look and lend me your support come election time.