The single city of Ottawa won’t be two years old until New Year’s Day, but 59 per cent of respondents to an informal survey already seem to accept that they live in Ottawa. The other 41 per cent still say they live in one of the other ten municipalities amalgamated two years ago.
In an informal, city-wide survey in late November, 220 people — 20 from each of the 11 merged areas — were asked to answer questions on amalgamation
The first question was, “What city do you live in?”
Of 220 respondents, 129 — or 59 per cent — answered, “Ottawa.”
While almost all urban respondents identified Ottawa as their city, that number plummets to 27 per cent in rural areas.
In the urban areas of Ottawa, Vanier and Rockcliffe, 59 of 60 respondents — or 98 per cent — said they live in Ottawa. All 20 respondents in both Vanier and Rockcliffe answered “Ottawa.”
But only 27 of 100 respondents – or 27 per cent – in the former rural municipalities of Cumberland, Goulbourn, Osgoode, Rideau and West Carleton said they live in Ottawa. Cumberland and Goulbourn tied for the lowest number.
The other 73 rural respondents — or 73 per cent — still use the name of their old municipality to describe where they live.
Respondents from the suburban areas of Gloucester, Kanata and Nepean were less likely than urban residents to identify “Ottawa” as the city they live in, but more likely than rural residents. Of 60 respondents, 43 — or 72 per cent — said they live in Ottawa. The remaining 28 per cent identified their former municipality as the city in which they live.
Which services are most important?
Nineteen per cent of respondents identified transportation as the most important servicefrom the range of services mentioned.
Ten per cent of respondents, the next largest group, said snow removal is the most important service. However, the survey was conducted just after the first major snowfall of the season.
Police and garbage collection were also identified as important services.
Urban residents care a lot about public transportation while most rural respondents view police and road maintenance as more important.
Suburban respondents valued a range of services: road maintenance, transportation and water were close contenders.
Are the services better or worse in the new city?
Twenty-five per cent of respondents said services have remained the same, while 12 per cent thought they had declined. Six per cent said services have improved.
Political recognition
Respondents were also asked if they could name the mayor and their ward councillor.
Recognition for Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli was high, at 69 per cent.
All 20 West Carleton respondents identified Chiarelli, while Osgoode and Nepean respondents were close behind at 90 and 80 per cent respectively. Only 50 per cent of those quizzed in Gloucester knew Chiarelli is their mayor.
Fewer people, 48 per cent, could name their councillor. As was the case for mayor, city councillor recognition was highest in West Carleton (100 per cent) and Osgoode (90 per cent). Not one of the 20 Gloucester respondents could name Coun. Diane Deans.
Rural respondents were better informed. Seventy-nine per cent named the mayor and 72 per cent named their councillor.
So two years later is the single city concept gaining or losing public support?
The results are surprising. Urban support in Ottawa, Vanier and Rockcliffe has dropped sharply, while suburban support actually rose. Ten per cent of urban respondents have shifted their viewpoint and now oppose amalgamation.
Suburban respondents from Kanata, Nepean and Gloucester were most opposed to amalgamation, but support among these respondents is up three percent while the number opposed is down five per cent. More than a third just don’t care.
Four percent of the rural respondents — Cumberland, Goulbourn, Osgoode, Rideau and West Carleton — who favored amalgamation before are now against it. Interestingly, the majority of respondents in Cumberland and Goulbourn identified themselves as living in a suburban rather than a rural community.
How well is the new city working?
Respondents were generally negative. Overall, the most popular answer was “OK” (36 per cent), with just 25 per cent answering “good” or “excellent” and 36 per cent saying “needs improvement” or working “terribly.”
Rural residents generally gave the city the lowest ratings, with 38 per cent grading it as “needs improvement” or “terrible,” 43 per cent “OK” and only 17 per cent “good” or “excellent.”
Urban and suburban opinions were split, with slightly more residents unhappy than happy with the city’s performance.
Across the city, people in Vanier gave the single-city the highest scores, with 50 per cent rating it better than “OK,” while Rockliffe-area respondents said they were least satisfied, with 55 per cent rating it below “OK.”