Ottawa mayoral candidate Leiper and Ward 17 incumbent Menard call for Sunday library hours
Mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper and Capital Ward councillor Shawn Menard have each committed to expanding Ottawa Public Library hours, with Menard's petition gathering hundreds of signatures.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on capitalcurrent.ca.
Mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper and Capital Ward incumbent Shawn Menard have each publicly committed to expanding Ottawa Public Library hours on Sundays, Capital Current reported on October 12. Only 10 of OPL's 33 branches are open on both Saturdays and Sundays, a gap that parents and regular library users have repeatedly brought to candidates as the October 26 vote approaches.
Leiper told Capital Current that the city is obligated to provide the greatest possible number of library hours. "People lead busy lives," he said. "It's often the weekend when they can take advantage of library hours." He said he expects the necessary funding could be found within the existing city budget. If extended hours prove more costly than he anticipates, he said he would be open to modest tax increases to cover them.
Menard, who is seeking re-election as councillor for Ward 17 Capital, is focused on the Sunnyside branch in his ward. His campaign has circulated a petition for expanded Sunday hours at that branch, which had gathered hundreds of signatures as of Capital Current's report. He told the outlet that families frequently arrive to find the branch closed on Sunday or on Friday mornings. Twenty-three of the library's 33 branches open late on Fridays, at 1 p.m.; five are closed on Fridays entirely.
OPL spokesperson Nadine Bernard told Capital Current that the library has heard from many users who want more hours on Friday mornings and Sundays, and that it is extending opening hours through a phased, multi-year approach. A new collective agreement with unionized library workers includes Sundays as core hours, requiring each worker to work at least one in every six Sundays. Menard described the agreement as a step toward expanded hours, though he said funding remains a barrier.
Any change to operating hours would need OPL board approval, with the required funding subject to city council approval through the budget process, Bernard said.
OPL has more than 268,000 active cardholders, according to its 2025 annual report. Its operating budget is $69.2 million and its capital budget is $7.78 million, according to City of Ottawa budget documents.
Two new branches are expected to open next year. OPL spokesperson Anthony Langlois told Capital Current that the Hunt Club branch will likely follow local-branch hours, meaning it would be closed on Sundays with reduced Friday and Saturday hours, though exact times are not yet confirmed. The central branch at Adisoke will be open every day, he said, but its hours are also not yet confirmed.
Voters in Ward 17 Capital can view the candidates for that seat, including Menard, at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates#councillor. Voters choosing the mayor can compare candidates including Jeff Leiper at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates#mayor. Voting day is October 26, with advance voting at assigned voting places on October 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Questions this story answers
What did Jeff Leiper say about Ottawa Public Library hours?
Mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper told Capital Current he is committed to getting library branches open on Sundays. He said it is the city's obligation to provide the greatest possible number of library hours, and that many people can only use a library on weekends. If extended hours cost more than he expects, Leiper said he would be open to modest tax increases to cover them. You can read his candidate profile at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/jeff-leiper.
What did Shawn Menard say about library hours in Capital Ward?
Capital Ward councillor Shawn Menard, who is seeking re-election, told Capital Current he is pushing for the Sunnyside branch in Ward 17 to stay open longer, especially on Sundays. Many families have raised the issue with him directly, and his campaign petition for expanded Sunday hours at the Sunnyside branch had gathered hundreds of signatures as of Capital Current's October 12 report. You can see his candidate profile at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/shawn-menard.
How many Ottawa Public Library branches are open on Sundays?
According to Capital Current's reporting, only 10 of Ottawa Public Library's 33 branches are open on both Saturdays and Sundays. Twenty-three of the 33 branches open late on Fridays, at 1 p.m., while five are closed on Fridays entirely. OPL says it is working through a phased, multi-year plan to expand hours based on client feedback and operational considerations.
How many active cardholders does Ottawa Public Library have?
Ottawa Public Library's 2025 annual report, cited by Capital Current, shows more than 268,000 active cardholders. OPL operates with a $69.2-million operating budget and a $7.78-million capital budget, according to City of Ottawa budget documents linked in the Capital Current report.
Will a new collective agreement affect library hours?
OPL spokesperson Nadine Bernard told Capital Current that a new collective agreement with unionized library workers includes Sundays as core hours, requiring each worker to work at least one in every six Sundays, with potentially more for part-time employees. Councillor Menard said the agreement marks a step toward expanding library hours, but funding remains a barrier. Any change to operating hours would also require OPL board approval and city council approval through the budget process.
What about the new Hunt Club library branch?
OPL spokesperson Anthony Langlois told Capital Current that the new Hunt Club branch, expected to open next year, will likely be classified as a local branch and be closed on Sundays with reduced hours on Fridays and Saturdays. He said exact opening hours remain to be confirmed. The new central branch at Adisoke, also expected next year, will open every day as a central branch, but its exact hours have not been confirmed either.
When is voting day in Ottawa's municipal election?
Voting day for the Ottawa municipal election is Sunday, October 26, 2026. Advance voting is on Friday, October 16, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at your assigned voting place. To find your voting place, visit elections.ottawa.ca or check your Voter Notification Letter. You can find all Ottawa candidates listed at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates.
Where can voters find more information about library hours and other Ottawa election issues?
Capital Current's full report, including a map of which OPL branches are open on weekends, is at capitalcurrent.ca. Candidate profiles for Jeff Leiper and Shawn Menard are at voche.me. The election news section at /on/ottawa-2026/news has continuing coverage of the October 26 election.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Capital Current: Ottawa parents want expanded library hours ahead of electioncapitalcurrent.ca
- Ottawa Public Library 2025 Annual Reportabout.biblioottawalibrary.ca
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