Ward 8 College candidates split on transit and LRT transparency
Laine Johnson and Malloum Abakar are running for the Ward 8 College councillor seat. Both say transit and housing are the ward's biggest problems, and they disagree on what to do first.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on algonquintimes.com.
Two candidates are running for city councillor in Ward 8 College: incumbent Laine Johnson and challenger Malloum Abakar. The Algonquin Times published a side-by-side profile of both on October 15. Both name transit and housing as the ward's biggest problems, and they differ on what to do first.
Johnson: regular meetings and a youth liaison
Johnson told the Algonquin Times she sees transit as her first priority. She said she believes Algonquin College students use the U-Pass more than students at any other post-secondary institution in Ottawa, which she says shows how dependent the ward is on OC Transpo. She plans to hold regular meetings between OC Transpo and the Algonquin Students' Association if she is re-elected. She also says she would create a youth liaison position within her council office.
On housing, Johnson told the paper she sees availability and cost as a pressing concern for the ward. She did not name a specific target.
Malloum: publish the LRT numbers
Malloum told the Algonquin Times he wants the city to publish the full cost and a completion date for the western LRT extension. He said Canada Day flooding exposed how far infrastructure has fallen behind development. "I want all the costs and the delay, when it's going to be finished, everything, published," he said.
On growth, Malloum cited a city projection of 1.5 million daily commuters in Ottawa by 2040 and argued the city has approved new development without the transit and roads to support it. "Transit is growing. The building developments are being approved. But the infrastructure is not going the same way," he said.
Both candidates said they reach constituents through door-knocking. Johnson also meets with the Algonquin Students' Association and athletics department. Malloum holds coffee meetings with residents.
How to vote in Ward 8 College
Advance voting is open today, October 16, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. General voting day is Monday, October 26, also 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can read both candidates' pages at /on/ottawa-2026/races/councillor/ward-8-college.
Questions this story answers
Who is running for councillor in Ward 8 College in Ottawa's 2026 election?
Two candidates are on the ballot for Ward 8 College city councillor: Laine Johnson, the incumbent, and Malloum Abakar, who is challenging her. The Algonquin Times published profiles of both candidates on October 15, 2026. Voting day is October 26; advance voting is open October 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
What does Laine Johnson say about transit for Ward 8?
Johnson says transit is her top priority for the ward. She told the Algonquin Times she believes Algonquin College students have the highest rate of U-Pass use among post-secondary students in Ottawa, which she says shows how much the ward depends on OC Transpo. She plans to hold regular meetings between OC Transpo and the Algonquin Students' Association if re-elected. Johnson also says she wants to create a youth liaison position within her office to keep better contact with younger residents.
What does Malloum Abakar say about transit and the LRT?
Malloum Abakar told the Algonquin Times he wants the city to publish the full costs and a completion date for the western LRT extension. He said that after the Canada Day flooding exposed problems with city infrastructure, residents deserve to know what is going on. He said: "I want all the costs and the delay, when it's going to be finished, everything, published." He also said: "Transit is growing. The building developments are being approved. But the infrastructure is not going the same way."
What does Malloum Abakar say about housing in Ward 8?
Malloum told the Algonquin Times that housing and transportation are the ward's two deepest problems and that the city needs better planning. He argued Ottawa has approved new developments without building the infrastructure to support them and that this mismatch is driving up costs for residents. These are his own positions, as reported by the Algonquin Times.
What does Laine Johnson say about housing?
Johnson told the Algonquin Times she sees housing costs and availability as a critical concern for the ward, alongside transit. She did not give a specific number of homes or a cost target; she described housing as a priority without announcing a new plan. This is her stated position as reported in the October 15 article.
Is Ward 8 College the same as Ottawa College Ward?
Yes. The City of Ottawa calls this seat Ward 8 College. The riding covers areas near Algonquin College in Ottawa. Two candidates are running: Laine Johnson (incumbent) and Malloum Abakar. You can read their profiles at voche.me and find your specific voting place through the Elections Ottawa website.
When is advance voting in Ottawa?
Advance voting day is Friday, October 16, 2026. Polling places are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. General voting day is Monday, October 26, also 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. You must vote at your assigned polling place for your ward. To find your location, visit the Elections Ottawa website.
Where can I read the full candidate profiles for Ward 8 College?
You can read both candidates' profiles on voche.me at the Ward 8 College page. Laine Johnson is the incumbent and Malloum Abakar is the challenger. The Algonquin Times published a side-by-side interview with both on October 15, 2026, covering transit, housing and how they would communicate with constituents.
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