Predictably, transit investment and taxes came up as the top issues at the mayoral debate sponsored by the Ottawa Taxpayers’ Advocacy Group.
While nine of the 20 mayoral candidates participated in the debate held at city hall only two emerged as competitors for public questions.
Because of this, one candidate former regional chair Andrew Haydon, walked out halfway through the debate.
The real debate was between Jim Watson, who emphasized his promise to limit tax increases to 2.5 per cent and Larry O’Brien who cited the progress of the Ottawa Convention Centre, the light rail transit project, and the Lansdowne Live project as evidence of his accomplishments as mayor.
Though the debate was titled “No New Money,” no candidate this time around promised a zero-tax increase.
Discussion questions asked candidates whether they would consider privatizing aspects of social housing, parks, reducing professionals in police, paramedic and fire services and altering arrangements with Hydro Ottawa.
Despite these, no candidate said he would fundamentally alter the status quo.
Watson criticized O’Brien for his promise of a zero tax increase and said the only way to achieve this would be a $60-million cut in services.
“People do not want to see a scorched earth policy in terms of eliminating services, we need to look at going forward maintaining services but as we add new services we need to look at which ones we can eliminate,” said Watson.
In response, O’Brien pointed to Watson’s role in this year’s provincial government’s record deficit.
O’Brien stood behind his transit plan saying that he axed the north-south route and opted for the east-west route because the city needed to build transit that residents will actually use.
In contrast, O’Brien’s has said that his future transit plans will focus on expansion of roadways.
Watson said he supports the current council’s east-west light rail transit plans.
While the two frontrunners agreed on the direction of light rail, Watson and O’Brien differed on their approach to driving it through council.
Watson questioned O’Brien’s leadership capabilities saying he had personality issues with the current council.
But, O’Brien said in city council the consensus approach doesn’t work.
Other than Hayden, the other mayoral candidates stayed for the remainder of the debate despite the limited opportunity to speak.