Which is it low taxes or deteriorated infrastructure?
Infrastructure First. Not DEI. Not slogans. Facts. 
Ottawa taxpayers are about to get hit with another property tax increase (the 2026 budget already baked in 3.75%).
But here’s the truth no one at City Hall wants to say out loud:
We have a $3.8 billion infrastructure backlog over the next decade on tax-supported assets alone (roads, parks, arenas, community centres).
Staff just floated a dedicated infrastructure levy because deferring repairs is now more expensive than fixing them.
While council debates new levies and long-range plans that still lack clarity, 99 city facilities are in “fair or worse” condition. 25 arenas are at end-of-life — replacement cost over $500 million.
That’s your tax dollars. That’s your neighbourhood rink closing. That’s potholes that never get fixed and sidewalks that crumble.
We don’t have a revenue problem. We have a priorities problem.
A candidate who tells you the truth doesn’t say “we can do it all.”
I’m saying: Fix the basics first.
A dedicated infrastructure levy (like the one staff are now openly discussing) must go to tangible, measurable repairs — not more studies, not more administrative overhead, and not expanding programs that sound good but don’t keep the lights on or the roads safe.
Core services first > then everything else.
Diversity, equity and inclusion matter as values. No argument.
But when 25 arenas are falling apart and we’re quietly accepting “managed decline” in some neighbourhoods, your property tax dollars should fix the city that already exists before we layer on more initiatives.
Voters aren’t asking for perfect equity in every spreadsheet. They’re asking why the arena in their ward is closed and why the levy conversation always comes with 200-page reports instead of simple visuals.
The benchmark cities, Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton — created dedicated repair funds with clear rules and 50-year viability checks on every new project. Ottawa rejected that idea with almost no explanation. Time to rectify that.
But here’s the truth no one at City Hall wants to say out loud:
We have a $3.8 billion infrastructure backlog over the next decade on tax-supported assets alone (roads, parks, arenas, community centres).
Staff just floated a dedicated infrastructure levy because deferring repairs is now more expensive than fixing them.
While council debates new levies and long-range plans that still lack clarity, 99 city facilities are in “fair or worse” condition. 25 arenas are at end-of-life — replacement cost over $500 million.
That’s your tax dollars. That’s your neighbourhood rink closing. That’s potholes that never get fixed and sidewalks that crumble.
We don’t have a revenue problem. We have a priorities problem.
A candidate who tells you the truth doesn’t say “we can do it all.”
I’m saying: Fix the basics first.
A dedicated infrastructure levy (like the one staff are now openly discussing) must go to tangible, measurable repairs — not more studies, not more administrative overhead, and not expanding programs that sound good but don’t keep the lights on or the roads safe.
Core services first > then everything else.
Diversity, equity and inclusion matter as values. No argument.
But when 25 arenas are falling apart and we’re quietly accepting “managed decline” in some neighbourhoods, your property tax dollars should fix the city that already exists before we layer on more initiatives.
Voters aren’t asking for perfect equity in every spreadsheet. They’re asking why the arena in their ward is closed and why the levy conversation always comes with 200-page reports instead of simple visuals.
The benchmark cities, Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton — created dedicated repair funds with clear rules and 50-year viability checks on every new project. Ottawa rejected that idea with almost no explanation. Time to rectify that.
Establish repair funds with clear rules and 50-year viability checks on every new project. Ottawa rejected that idea with almost no explanation.
Deferral is not leadership. That’s kicking the can to the next council… and the next tax bill.
The honest pitch to voters in Rideau-Rockcliffe (and city-wide):
“Yes, a levy will cost the average homeowner real money. But the alternative is worse: closed facilities, failing infrastructure, and even higher taxes later when things break.
We can afford to maintain what we have — if we stop pretending every new idea is equally urgent. Infrastructure isn’t a ‘nice to have.’ It’s the foundation.”
I’m a Rideau-Rockcliffe candidate who sat through this very important planning and Finance Committee meeting.
We need to see the full list of at-risk assets, and will fight for simpler budgets and peer benchmarking.
No more hiding trade-offs in 400-page reports. No more two-tier city where some wards get services and others get decline.
Infrastructure levy? Yes — but only with ironclad accountability so it actually fixes things.
If you want a councillor who will tell you the uncomfortable truth — we must pay to fix the basics before we do anything else — I’m your guy.
Drop Rideau Rockcliffe's biggest infrastructure headache below. Let’s talk real priorities.
#RideauRockcliffe #OttawaInfrastructure #FixItFirst
The honest pitch to voters in Rideau-Rockcliffe (and city-wide):
“Yes, a levy will cost the average homeowner real money. But the alternative is worse: closed facilities, failing infrastructure, and even higher taxes later when things break.
We can afford to maintain what we have — if we stop pretending every new idea is equally urgent. Infrastructure isn’t a ‘nice to have.’ It’s the foundation.”
I’m a Rideau-Rockcliffe candidate who sat through this very important planning and Finance Committee meeting.
We need to see the full list of at-risk assets, and will fight for simpler budgets and peer benchmarking.
No more hiding trade-offs in 400-page reports. No more two-tier city where some wards get services and others get decline.
Infrastructure levy? Yes — but only with ironclad accountability so it actually fixes things.
If you want a councillor who will tell you the uncomfortable truth — we must pay to fix the basics before we do anything else — I’m your guy.
Drop Rideau Rockcliffe's biggest infrastructure headache below. Let’s talk real priorities.
#RideauRockcliffe #OttawaInfrastructure #FixItFirst
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