Four mayoral candidates set out promises for Somerset and Kitchissippi wards

Three days before the vote, Sutcliffe held a press conference at Mooney's Bay Beach on Oct. 23 and announced a proposed Kitchissippi Business Improvement Plan. The plan, as reported by the Kitchissippi Times, would have the City work with local business improvement areas to improve traffic flow and add parking options, including working with developers to put publicly owned parking into new infill buildings. The announcement did not include a cost or a timeline.

According to his campaign, as reported by the Kitchissippi Times, Sutcliffe has pledged $500 million in climate-related infrastructure over four years. He has also pointed to $94 million in climate-related capital already in the 2026 municipal budget. His platform includes a plan to review the July 1 flooding neighbourhood by neighbourhood and then prioritize whatever infrastructure improvements are needed. His campaign says he has not specified how much of the $500 million would go to the flooding-affected communities specifically.

Sutcliffe has proposed continuous bus lanes along Carling Avenue between Lincoln Fields Station and Sherwood Drive. The Kitchissippi Times notes this plan has been in the works for over a decade, and that Bay Ward Councillor Theresa Kavanagh has said it was delayed by safety studies and by priority being given to the Baseline bus rapid transit project.

Leiper, who has been the Kitchissippi ward councillor for 12 years, has promised $50 million in infrastructure improvements in Bay, College, and Knoxdale-Merivale wards. He would prioritize sewer repairs and other upgrades. He has also proposed waiving permit fees for flood-related repairs, increasing grants for affected homeowners, setting up a team to help residents with insurance claims, and increasing 3-1-1 staffing during emergencies. He has also proposed a one-per-cent infrastructure levy across the city to deal with the backlog of road, bridge and sewer repairs.

Saravanamuttoo has proposed reducing transit fares to $1 per ride with a $40 monthly cap. He hopes to fund this partly by transferring responsibility for Ottawa's light rail infrastructure to the provincial government, although he acknowledges that would need the province to agree. He has also proposed redesigning OC Transpo's bus network to add more frequent service on high-demand corridors and bring back some express buses.

Lawson has proposed a street-by-street review of sewer maintenance records to find out whether the City has been properly inspecting and maintaining its drainage systems. He has not announced a specific dollar commitment for flood prevention comparable to Leiper's $50-million plan or Sutcliffe's $500-million climate pledge, according to the Kitchissippi Times. He previously served on the board of West Carleton Disaster Relief.

Saravanamuttoo has proposed expanding publicly owned, mixed-income rental housing with a long-term goal of increasing non-market housing from 5 to 10 per cent of Ottawa's housing stock. For growing neighbourhoods like Kitchissippi and Somerset, he has proposed that more of the development revenues from new buildings stay in the neighbourhood to pay for infrastructure, parks and services. He has also proposed participatory budgeting so residents can vote on some neighbourhood capital projects.

Voting in Ottawa's 2026 municipal election is today, Monday Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. You vote at your assigned voting place. Use the City of Ottawa's online tool or call the Elections Office to find your voting place. You are choosing the mayor, your ward councillor, and school board trustees.