Monday, 14 September 2026

#518 The 39% Solution

This analysis of online engagement metrics for an article tracking the Ottawa Police Services Board reveals a 39.7% like ratio, mirroring historical voter turnout in Rideau-Rockcliffe (Ward 13). This consistent participation rate highlights a structural reliance on a minority mandate for local municipal governance. For further reading on the candidates in Ward 13, visit CTV News. [1, 2]

The Ottawa Police Service: My Greatest Hits

The 39% Solution

An online sentiment check on an article breaking down the Ottawa Police Services Board reveals a striking metric: 216 likes to 327 dislikes. That works out to exactly a 39.7% approval ratio.

If that 39% number sounds familiar, it should. It is almost the exact percentage of neighbors who bother to show up and vote in Rideau-Rockcliffe municipal elections.

Look at the history for Ward 13:

2019 By-election: Turnout was a city-low 37.15%.
2018 Municipal Election: Turnout hit that exact same wall at 37.15%.

What we are looking at is the "39% Solution"—a structural reality where our local governance, board representation, and municipal mandate rely entirely on a minority participation rate. When the upcoming municipal election lands on October 26, 2026, the real question is whether Ward 13 will finally break past this 39% benchmark, or if we will keep letting a fraction of the ward dictate accountability for the rest of us.

For a look at who is on the ballot this time around, you can read the candidate profiles over at the CTV News Ward 13 Candidate Overview.