Council candidates from Somerset, Rideau-Vanier and Kitchissippi outline downtown plans at Ottawa Board of Trade roundtable
Nine candidates from three wards discussed homelessness, business attraction, transit access and city permits at a morning roundtable hosted by the Ottawa Board of Trade on October 14.
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Nine council candidates from three downtown Ottawa wards laid out competing plans for revitalizing the core at a morning roundtable hosted by the Ottawa Board of Trade on October 14, according to Ottawa Life.
Candidates from Ward 14, Somerset, Ward 12, Rideau-Vanier and Ward 15, Kitchissippi discussed homelessness, business attraction, transit access and the speed of city approvals. Ottawa Life reported the event was hosted by the Ottawa Board of Trade and covered positions from each candidate.
Somerset: homelessness and street safety
Somerset incumbent Ariel Troster said downtown revitalization starts with the people who already live there and that the city cannot revitalize downtown unless it solves chronic homelessness, according to Ottawa Life.
Robert Dekker said residents had told him they are choosing events outside Centretown because they no longer regard downtown as an attractive destination. He said concerns about crime and homelessness are making it harder for local businesses to draw people back.
Dillon Anderson also called for safer streets but said the response must include front-line support for people without housing.
Michael Tay said he would approach public safety with both compassion and accountability, Ottawa Life reports.
Rideau-Vanier: investment and public spaces
In Rideau-Vanier, Brian Paquette said downtown should be accessible and inviting seven days a week and made the case for encouraging private investment and new business in the core, according to Ottawa Life.
Julie Fiala Chartrand pointed to outdoor seating, colour, music and public art as ways to bring tourism and community life to the area. She also raised concerns about public safety near bus shelters, Ottawa Life reports.
Kitchissippi: permits and city operations
In Kitchissippi, Brian Innes said residents and builders need more predictable permitting decisions and proposed clearer approval timelines, arguing that avoidable delays slow the delivery of new housing, according to Ottawa Life.
Subhir Uppal said he would look at artificial intelligence to improve how the city runs over the next council term and called for integrating recreation and public amenities into high-rise developments, pointing to high demand at facilities such as Dovercourt, Ottawa Life reports.
Joanne Chianello said she would order a city-wide service-delivery review to look at how programs perform, how long projects take and where accountability is lacking. She warned that funding an initiative does not guarantee it can be delivered if the city lacks staff to carry it out, according to Ottawa Life.
Voters in all three wards cast a ballot on October 26, 2026. Advance voting day is Friday, October 16, with voting places open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Candidate profiles for all three wards are at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates.
Questions this story answers
Which wards and candidates took part in the Ottawa Board of Trade roundtable on October 14?
Ottawa Life reports that candidates from three downtown wards spoke at the roundtable. Somerset ward candidates were Ariel Troster, Robert Dekker, Dillon Anderson and Michael Tay. Rideau-Vanier ward candidates were Brian Paquette and Julie Fiala Chartrand. Kitchissippi ward candidates were Brian Innes, Subhir Uppal and Joanne Chianello. The roundtable was hosted by the Ottawa Board of Trade on the morning of October 14, 2026.
What did Ariel Troster say about downtown revitalization?
According to Ottawa Life, Somerset incumbent Ariel Troster said that downtown revitalization starts with the people who already live there and that the city cannot revitalize downtown unless it solves chronic homelessness. She linked housing and social services to the health of the downtown core. Her profile is at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/ariel-troster.
What did Robert Dekker and Dillon Anderson say about downtown safety in Somerset?
Ottawa Life reports that Robert Dekker said residents had told him they are choosing events outside Centretown because they no longer regard downtown as an attractive destination, with concerns about crime and homelessness making it harder for local businesses. Dillon Anderson also called for safer streets but said the response must include front-line support for people without housing. Both are running in Somerset ward against Ariel Troster and Michael Tay.
What did Rideau-Vanier candidates propose for the downtown core?
Ottawa Life reports that Brian Paquette said downtown should be accessible and inviting seven days a week and made the case for encouraging private investment in the core. Julie Fiala Chartrand took a different approach, pointing to outdoor seating, colour, music and public art as ways to generate tourism and community life. She also raised concerns about public safety near bus shelters. Both are running in Rideau-Vanier ward.
What did Brian Innes say about city permits in Kitchissippi?
According to Ottawa Life, Kitchissippi candidate Brian Innes said residents and builders need more predictable permitting decisions. He proposed clearer approval timelines and greater transparency in municipal processes, arguing that delays slow the delivery of new housing. His profile is at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/brian-innes.
What did Subhir Uppal and Joanne Chianello say at the roundtable?
Ottawa Life reports that Subhir Uppal said artificial intelligence could improve city operations over the next council term and called for integrating recreation and public amenities into high-rise developments. Joanne Chianello said she would order a city-wide service-delivery review to look at how programs perform, how long projects take and where accountability is lacking. She warned that funding an initiative does not guarantee it can be delivered when the city lacks the staff to carry it out.
Which ward do Troster, Dekker, Anderson and Tay represent?
Ariel Troster, Robert Dekker, Dillon Anderson and Michael Tay are all running for councillor in Ward 14, Somerset, according to the City of Ottawa's list of candidates. Somerset covers much of central Ottawa, including Centretown. The ward race page is at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/races/councillor/ward-14-somerset.
When can Ottawa voters in these wards cast a ballot?
Advance voting day for Ottawa is Friday, October 16, 2026, with voting places open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The main voting day is Monday, October 26, 2026. Voters in Somerset, Rideau-Vanier and Kitchissippi each elect one councillor. Candidate profiles for all three wards are on voche.me.
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