Seven mayoral candidates lay out transit and environment plans at Nepean Sportsplex forum
Seven of Ottawa's 14 mayoral candidates spoke at a People's Official Plan Coalition forum on Aug. 26 about transit, trees and climate resilience. Mark Sutcliffe and Alex Lawson did not attend.
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Seven Ottawa mayoral candidates shared their plans for transit and the environment at a People's Official Plan Coalition forum held at the Nepean Sportsplex on Aug. 26, according to a report by Capital Current published Friday.
Jeff Leiper, Ali Shayvard, Neil Saravanamuttoo, Zed Chebib, Josh Rachlis, Peter Westaway and Suraj Harish each spoke. Incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe and candidate Alex Lawson did not participate, Capital Current reports.
Transit positions
Capital Current reports that transit came up throughout the panel. Peter Westaway proposed making transit free for one week and then studying the change in ridership. Jeff Leiper said he wants to make transit attractive and reliable, and said he is open to a system where riders who wait more than 20 minutes without a bus arriving could receive some form of credit, though he said he was not certain how such a system would be verified.
Leiper also said he would oppose an urban boundary expansion, citing the cost of sprawl and the loss of greenspace, Capital Current reports. Ali Shayvard, who works as an OC Transpo instructor and describes himself as a democratic socialist, said he believes Hydro Ottawa should be more accountable when the power goes out and that transit is a priority in the effort to address climate change.
Neil Saravanamuttoo discussed a transit recovery plan and also supported better infrastructure for e-bikes and scooters, Capital Current reports.
Trees and greenspace
Capital Current reports all seven candidates said they support planting more trees in Ottawa. Zed Chebib said the city must plant the right tree in the right place, noting that some trees cause cracks in buildings, and suggested porous sidewalks to soak up excess rain. Josh Rachlis proposed paying residents to care for trees in their neighbourhood, offering tax breaks, or letting students earn volunteer hours by caring for trees.
Leiper said he opposes development on greenspace. Suraj Harish pointed to trees along rural routes as one way to address winter driving conditions, Capital Current reports.
Comparing candidates before you vote
The full Capital Current report is at capitalcurrent.ca. Ottawa's advance voting day is Friday, Oct. 16, with voting places open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The main election day is Monday, Oct. 26. Profiles of all 14 mayoral candidates are at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates#mayor.
Questions this story answers
What was the People's Official Plan Coalition forum in Ottawa?
The People's Official Plan Coalition hosted a mayoral candidate panel at the Nepean Sportsplex on Aug. 26, 2026. According to Capital Current, the event focused on making Ottawa more resilient, greener and livable. Seven of the 14 mayoral candidates spoke at the forum. Incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe and candidate Alex Lawson did not participate, according to the Capital Current report.
Which Ottawa mayoral candidates attended the Aug. 26 forum?
Capital Current reports that Ali Shayvard, Jeff Leiper, Neil Saravanamuttoo, Zed Chebib, Josh Rachlis, Peter Westaway and Suraj Harish attended the forum at Nepean Sportsplex on Aug. 26. Incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Alex Lawson did not attend, according to the same report. Profiles of each candidate are at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates.
What did Jeff Leiper say about transit at the forum?
According to Capital Current, Jeff Leiper said he would not support an urban boundary expansion, citing the cost of sprawl and the loss of greenspace. He also said he wants to make transit more attractive and reliable. On a service guarantee for transit, Leiper said he is open to a system where riders who wait more than 20 minutes without a bus arriving could receive some form of credit, though he said he was not certain how such a system would be verified.
What did Peter Westaway propose for Ottawa transit?
Capital Current reports that Peter Westaway proposed making transit free for one week and then studying the results to see how much the change would attract new riders. He said his goal is to make transit more attractive to riders. Westaway is one of 14 candidates running for mayor of Ottawa. His profile is at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/peter-westaway.
What did the candidates say about trees and greenspace in Ottawa?
According to Capital Current, all seven candidates at the forum said they support planting more trees. Zed Chebib said the city must plant the right tree in the right place, noting that trees can damage building foundations, and suggested porous sidewalks to handle excess rain. Josh Rachlis proposed paying residents to care for trees in their neighbourhood or offering tax breaks for doing so. Jeff Leiper said he opposes development on greenspace.
What did Ali Shayvard say at the forum?
Capital Current reports that Ali Shayvard, who describes himself as a democratic socialist and works as an OC Transpo instructor, said he believes Hydro Ottawa should be more accountable when the power goes out. He also said transit is a priority in the effort to address climate change and that green infrastructure is an important part of sound environment policy. His profile is at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/ali-shayvard.
Did Mark Sutcliffe take part in the transit and trees forum?
Capital Current's report says Mark Sutcliffe did not participate in the Aug. 26 forum at Nepean Sportsplex. Alex Lawson also did not attend. Neither candidate's reason for not attending is given in the Capital Current report. Sutcliffe's positions are in his platform, which Capital Current references separately. His profile is at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/mark-sutcliffe.
When can Ottawa voters compare candidate positions before October 26?
Ottawa's advance voting day is Friday, Oct. 16, with voting places open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The main election day is Monday, Oct. 26. The full Capital Current report on the Aug. 26 forum is at capitalcurrent.ca. Profiles and position summaries for all 14 mayoral candidates are at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates.
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