Better Ottawa

This week’s Municipal Panel was recorded in front of a live audience at the Ottawa People’s Summit . It was a standing room only. Joanne, Jon and Neil discuss questions sent in : * are new security measures at City Hall a sign of a government increasingly trying to distance itself from its residents * what is the City doing well and what can it do better in public engagement ? * how should the Cit...

We’re taping a live episode on 27 May and you’re invited to join us. Get yourself a ticket to the People’s Summit to see the Municipal Panel in person. Leave a comment if there is any local issue about Ottawa you would like us to discuss at our live recording. On this week’s Panel, Joanne, Jon and Neil discuss: * the upcoming Osgoode by-election and our impressions from the all-candidates debate *...

We’re taping a live episode on 27 May and you’re invited to join us. Get yourself a ticket to the People’s Summit to see the Municipal Panel in person. On this week’s Panel, Joanne, Jon and Neil discuss: * where the money from red light cameras goes * coming provincial legislation designed to address unacceptable behaviour by municipal councillors * how the weekend of free transit went And we have...

On this week’s Panel, Jon, Joanne and Neil discuss the recent federal election and what it means for the City of Ottawa. We cover: * the big story of the night in Carleton riding * the sea of red that swept the City * potential Cabinet picks from among the local representatives * Liberal campaign promises on capping the size of the public service, and building more homes * priorities of the Ottawa...

On this week’s Panel, Jon, Neil and our guest, former City Councillor Mathieu Fleury, discuss: * the new draft of the comprehensive zoning bylaw * OC Transpo reliability * Pedestrian bridges in the winter * Fast tracking shelters across the city And we have the lightning round , where we respond to your comments and questions. One programming note. We’re taking a week off around the Easter weekend...

On this week’s Panel, Jon, Neil and our guest, Sarah MacFarlane of iPolitics and Ottawa Compass, discuss: * the joint demands of the Mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau of the federal government * the new transportation master plan that is out for public consultation And we have the lightning round , where we respond to your comments and questions. One programming note. The big issue at Ottawa City Hall...

On this week’s Panel, Joanne, Jon and Neil discuss: * the upcoming Osgoode by-election , to fill the Council seat vacated by George Darouze * e-Scooters are back for 2025 * why so many City reports are not written in plain English * changes coming to the Ottawa Carleton District School Board , and whether councillors should get involved. And we have the lightning round, where we talk about bouleva...

On this week’s Panel, Joanne, Jon and Neil discuss: * Transit , whether OC Transpo should be ramping up fare inspections, timelines for LRT expansion east and west, and still no answer for why trains derailed four years ago * Salt , and if the City is putting too much of it on our streets and sidewalks * Tewin , and why one councillor is proposing it be removed from the Official Plan * Battery sto...

On this week’s Municipal Panel, Joanne, Jon and Neil discuss: * What does a new Prime Minister and federal Cabinet mean for the city? * Why did Ottawa reverse its decision on Sprung Structures ? * What does the recent announcement on NCC bike days say about who’s winning the “war on cars”? And the lightning round, where we respond to your comments and questions . Let us know what you think. Leave...

On this week’s Municipal Panel, Joanne, Jon and Neil discuss: * Should the City of Ottawa continue to post on X (aka Twitter)? * What do recent court decisions on federal payments to the municipalities of Ottawa and Chelsea mean for the Mayor’s Fairness for Ottawa campaign? * What does a surprise federal announcement of $50 million for policing means for the future of Wellington St ? And we’ve int...

Many of you have been waiting patiently for the official launch of the Better Ottawa Municipal Panel. The wait is over! Here it is. This week, we look at the Ontario election, which saw the Progressive Conservatives returned with a third majority government, and what it means for the City of Ottawa. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed making it. Leave a comment and let us know what...

A sneak peak of the Better Ottawa Municipal Panel, coming in March . Find the Better Ottawa podcast here on Substack or on YouTube , Apple and Spotify . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the613.substack.com

In March, I’m launching the Better Ottawa podcast. That podcast will explore in depth the issues affecting your city. I’ll do that through long-form interviews with different people around town. It will also include some regular guests who you are going to be very excited to hear from. I’ll tell you more about those guests shortly. I’ll be covering all the municipal topics you would expect — trans...