Sutcliffe vows $95 monthly transit pass in 2027 budget after re-election
Re-elected Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he will include a $95 monthly OC Transpo pass in the 2027 city budget, a pledge he made during the campaign.
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Re-elected Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe returned to work on 27 October 2026, the day after winning a second term, and told CTV News he will put a $95 monthly OC Transpo pass into the 2027 city budget.
Sutcliffe won Monday's election with 139,354 votes, which is 44.6 per cent of the vote, according to preliminary results reported by CTV News. His closest challenger, outgoing Kitchissippi councillor Jeff Leiper, received 105,819 votes, or 33.9 per cent. Economist Neil Saravanamuttoo finished third with 11 per cent, and businessman Alex Lawson received 7.6 per cent.
The transit pass plan
Sutcliffe did not give a specific launch date for the $95 monthly pass, saying that would be decided through the budget process. He said he will not cut programs or services to pay for it.
"I'm not going to cut any programs or services that residents rely on," he told CTV News reporter Leah Larocque.
The 2027 city budget will need council approval before the pass can take effect.
Provincial negotiations
Sutcliffe said pursuing provincial funding is among his top priorities after the campaign. He wants Ontario to take responsibility for parts of Ottawa's light rail system and for Highway 174, two arrangements he has called uploads.
He told CTV News he exchanged messages with Premier Doug Ford and spoke with Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy on 27 October, the day after the election. He also exchanged messages with Prime Minister Mark Carney and members of his team. No meetings have been scheduled yet, but Sutcliffe said he plans to travel to Queen's Park in the coming weeks.
Council and strong mayor
Sutcliffe said he has no intention of using Ontario's strong mayor powers to override council during his second term. He said he built broad support around the council table during his first term and wants to continue that approach.
He named homelessness, the drug crisis and public safety as challenges he wants to make progress on before 2030. He said one goal is to end youth homelessness in Ottawa.
Residents who want to follow the transit pass through the budget process can watch for council budget discussions at Ottawa City Hall, expected to begin in late 2026.
Q&A
Q: What does the $95 monthly pass cover? Sutcliffe referred to a monthly OC Transpo pass in his interview with CTV News. He did not say whether the $95 price applies to all OC Transpo services or to specific fare categories. The budget process will determine the details of the program.
Q: When will the transit pass be available? Sutcliffe told CTV News the pass will be in the 2027 budget. The city's annual budget is typically voted on by council in early spring. If council approves the budget, the pass would become available sometime in 2027, though Sutcliffe did not give a specific month.
Questions this story answers
What did Sutcliffe win in Monday's election?
Mark Sutcliffe was re-elected mayor of Ottawa on 26 October 2026 with 139,354 votes, which is 44.6 per cent of the vote, according to preliminary results reported by CTV News. His closest challenger, outgoing councillor Jeff Leiper, received 105,819 votes, or 33.9 per cent. Economist Neil Saravanamuttoo finished third with 11 per cent and businessman Alex Lawson received 7.6 per cent.
What is the $95 transit pass Sutcliffe promised?
Mark Sutcliffe promised during the campaign to create a $95 monthly OC Transpo pass. He told CTV News on 27 October 2026 that this will be in the 2027 city budget. He did not give a specific launch date, saying the timing will be worked out through the budget process.
Will Sutcliffe cut programs to pay for the transit pass?
Sutcliffe said he will not cut any programs or services that residents rely on to fund the $95 monthly pass. He told CTV News: 'I'm not going to cut any programs or services that residents rely on.' He did not say how the cost will be covered.
What are his plans for provincial funding?
Sutcliffe said he will pursue provincial funding for what he called uploads: having Ontario take responsibility for parts of Ottawa's light rail system and for Highway 174. He said he exchanged messages with Premier Doug Ford and spoke with Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy on 27 October, the day after the election.
Does Sutcliffe plan to use strong mayor powers?
Sutcliffe told CTV News he has no intention of using Ontario's strong mayor powers to override city council decisions during his second term. He said he prefers to build support around the council table, as he did during his first term.
What are Sutcliffe's other priorities for his second term?
Sutcliffe named homelessness, the drug crisis, mental health and public safety as serious challenges he wants to make progress on before 2030. He said his goals include ending youth homelessness and improving transit, including opening new light rail lines and improving bus service.
Where can I see the preliminary vote counts from Monday's election?
CTV News Ottawa reported the preliminary results on 27 October 2026 with Sutcliffe at 139,354 votes (44.6 per cent), Leiper at 105,819 votes (33.9 per cent), Saravanamuttoo at 11 per cent and Lawson at 7.6 per cent. These are preliminary results and the official count will follow.
Is this transit pass plan confirmed?
Sutcliffe told CTV News he will include the $95 monthly pass in the 2027 city budget. The budget is set by city council each year, so the final decision will depend on that process. Sutcliffe did not give a specific start date for the pass.
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