---
title: "Transit and flooding lead Ward 9 Knoxdale-Merivale debate"
description: "Incumbent Sean Devine and challengers Anna Ielo-Tal and Cole Fraser Jones debated transit reliability, flooding response and policing at the Nepean Sportsplex on October 15."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/ward-9-knoxdale-debate-2026-10-17"
last_updated: "2026-10-17T18:36:40.285Z"
---

Three candidates for Ward 9 Knoxdale-Merivale debated transit reliability, summer flooding and neighbourhood safety before about 200 residents at the Nepean Sportsplex on October 15, the Algonquin Times reported. The Knoxdale-Merivale Community Association hosted the event.

Incumbent Sean Devine, challenger Anna Ielo-Tal and challenger Cole Fraser Jones took part. An earlier televised debate between Devine and Ielo-Tal had led to public accusations between the two, but the October 15 debate remained focused on policy, the Algonquin Times said.

**Transit was the central topic**

Ielo-Tal called the city's bus service "a mess" and said she would push to bring back express buses and make the system more reliable. "When the bus says it's going to come, it actually has to come," she said, according to the Algonquin Times.

Fraser Jones said LRT construction had not been well planned and proposed that the next mayor appoint a special cabinet secretary for transit to ensure political accountability on future transit decisions. Devine said the priority was making the LRT extension, which is preparing to open, successful.

**Summer flooding raised concerns**

Ielo-Tal said residents had told her the city "could have done a lot more" during several summer flooding events but did not detail a specific infrastructure plan, the Algonquin Times reported. Devine said the city needed to do a better job protecting against extreme weather and criticized mayoral candidates for not making weather preparedness a priority.

**Policing split the candidates**

All three said neighbourhood safety was a concern. Devine told the debate he had voted against police budget increases in three of four budgets during his first term, saying the issue was how funds were allocated rather than the total amount. He said he supported the fourth year's budget after seeing improvements, the Algonquin Times reported. Fraser Jones said he would also not support police budget increases. Ielo-Tal said she would work with police on crime prevention measures including more lighting in parks.

Voting day is October 26. Ward 9 Knoxdale-Merivale has three candidates. Their profiles, including those of [Sean Devine](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/sean-devine), [Anna Ielo-Tal](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/anna-ielo-tal) and [Cole Fraser Jones](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/cole-fraser-jones), are at [/on/ottawa-2026/races/councillor/ward-9-knoxdale-merivale](/on/ottawa-2026/races/councillor/ward-9-knoxdale-merivale).

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