By Neil Faba
When the bell sounded on the recent municipal election, 22 worthy individuals emerged victorious in the battle to run the new amalgamated Ottawa. But it’s not time to put the gloves away just yet — the real battle begins after New Year’s Day.
To a city already in the throes of rapid development, amalgamation could provide a further boost to the economy. A larger city with a greater population, less bureaucracy and diverse business potential is a more attractive product to market to new investors. For those who’ve long espoused the view that Ottawa is a “magnet” for jobs and prosperity — as Ontario Municipal Affairs Minister Tony Clement recently said — amalgamation must sound like nothing but good news.
But in order for businesses to fully benefit from the union of Ottawa and the other 11 soon-to-be-former municipalities, a number of groups have to work together, including the new city council, Heritage Ottawa, and business leaders themselves. These factions all have diverse interests and all will be fighting to be heard. But too much shouting just buries the messages that need to get out.
If someone can step in and continue the improvements the defeated Al Loney managed with OC Transpo, if Heritage Ottawa can work toward compromises with city developers, and if mayor-elect Bob Chiarelli can make good on his pledge to keep taxes down, the city should become the economic magnet it deserves to be.
But the new Ottawa council not only has to continue dealing with the diverse needs of the old Ottawa — the fledgling Westboro business community, the tourism-heavy Byward Market, the high-class boutiques and restaurants of Somerset Village, and the hodgepodge of stores, eateries and small businesses in Centretown — it now must also worry about encouraging the success of Kanata’s high-tech mecca and promoting growth of business in Orleans, Gloucester and the other outlying areas.
And it must do all this from a building nestled in the city’s downtown core, far away from the problems of Ottawa’s former municipalities.
One of the most pressing challenges for the new leaders will be to ensure a balance in the growth of business throughout the new city. A little too much focus on trendy Westboro and the business base in the downtown core could wane from lack of attention. Spend too much effort promoting technology in Kanata and it could lead to a polarization of industries in the new city: the techies in one end, and the bureaucrats in the other.
Ultimately, the key to organized and even economic growth across the new city will lie in council’s ability to ensure quality infrastructure in all areas. Businesses grow where efficiently run transit systems can reach, travelling along freshly paved roads to attractive, affordable property. Neglect one of these areas in any part of the new city, and you have a problem.
And a messy fight on your hands.