Three of the candidates running for Somerset Ward city councillor can’t seem to agree on the priorities facing Centretown voters in the coming election.
Incumbent Diane Holmes and challengers Don Fex and Barkley Pollock all identified different issues during the Somerset candidate debate at city hall, Tuesday night.
Pollock said his priority is taxes and he is committed to fighting property tax increases and fees that would harm businesses.
Fex said housing in the ward is the most important issue to him, and not just community housing. He said he was shocked to see the state of some buildings while campaigning door-to-door in apartments.
“There is a huge problem with our rental system in this city,” Fex said. He added he would also like to see housing become more affordable.
Holmes said livability in the ward is the key issue in the election. She said time and effort need to be spent to keep this part of the urban network vital and healthy. She added she is committed to planting trees, working on school grounds and continuing to decrease crime rates.
During the debate the candidates also restated their stances on public housing, improving the transit system and making the ward greener through recycling programs and safer cycling options.
Candidate Susan Miller was not present at the debate.
A question that drew a lot of applause from the 70 people in attendance at the meeting was how the candidates planned to make the downtown area more vibrant and more like downtown Toronto or Montreal.
Fex said the problem is there is nothing to keep people in the downtown area after they finish work.
“Our streets aren’t friendly,” he said.
The solution, he said, is to create more public spaces and sitting areas for people to enjoy. He added the city has made it as difficult as possible for street performers to entertain people.
“Just let life happen,” Fex said to the audience’s applause.
Pollock scoffed at Fex’s comment and said citizens need to take control of the downtown. He said he was happy to see Hollywood movies using Ottawa for filming and would like to see more entertainment industry involvement in the capital.
Holmes said the proposed transit tunnel will allow the city to reclaim Albert and Slater streets and rejuvenate them. She also pointed to the World Exchange plaza as a successful private development.
Homes also said she thinks a big part of the problem is the federal government’s dislike of Ottawa and singled out Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She said there hasn’t been a federal government since Pierre Trudeau that took pride in the city.
“It’s an absolute disgrace,” Holmes said.