---
title: "Jeff Leiper courts student voters with transit and housing pledges"
description: "The Charlatan spoke with the Kitchissippi councillor about his plans for OC Transpo, public land for housing, and ByWard Market ahead of Ottawa's Oct. 26 vote."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/leiper-student-vote-charlatan-2026-10-21"
last_updated: "2026-10-22T02:47:34.023Z"
---

Jeff Leiper told The Charlatan this week that Ottawa's more than 100,000 students could decide the Oct. 26 mayoral race if they showed up to vote, and that his platform on transit, housing, and downtown is built on what students have been asking city council to deliver.

The Charlatan, Carleton University's independent student newspaper, interviewed [Jeff Leiper](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/jeff-leiper) as part of a series profiling the four leading candidates for mayor. The article was published on Oct. 20.

"It is conceivable that if all students voted, they could elect a mayor and city council," Leiper told the paper.

## Transit: a governance review in the first budget

Leiper said transit is "the number one issue across the city" and told The Charlatan that his first budget as mayor would include a top-down review of OC Transpo's governance. He said he would increase the agency's budget, pointing to service cuts during the current term, and fund more bus lanes and expanded bus rapid transit routes to shorten travel times.

The Charlatan noted that Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has not directly cut OC Transpo's operating budget, but that service reductions have taken place as the agency has dealt with debt and revenue shortfalls.

## Housing: city land to non-profit providers

On housing, Leiper told The Charlatan his central tool would be surplus city-owned land. He said that land should be transferred quickly to non-profit housing organizations, and that the city should also set aside money to help those groups buy existing affordable units.

"The key lever is the land the city owns, lands that are surplus to our needs and that need to be disposed of quickly to our not-for-profit partners," he told the paper.

## Downtown: tripling the Night Ambassador budget

Leiper pledged to triple the budget of the ByWard Market Night Ambassador Program, which the city introduced last year. The program employs evening foot patrol teams who help residents get home safely, offer first aid, and distribute water. He said the city should also fund markets, festivals, and events at vacant storefronts to keep the downtown active.

## Voting day is Oct. 26

Ottawa holds its municipal election on Oct. 26, 2026. Leiper is on the ballot for mayor alongside Saravanamuttoo, Lawson, and incumbent Mayor Sutcliffe. Every voter also chooses a ward councillor and a school board trustee. Find all candidates at [/on/ottawa-2026/news](/on/ottawa-2026/news).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/on/ottawa-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.