What Ontario Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie would do for Ottawa

Good morning!

I hope everyone had a nice weekend! It sure was a cold one, but the weather seems to be warming up ever so slightly this week. 

On Sunday I had the chance to sit down with Ontario Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie to discuss why Ottawa residents should vote for her to be their next premier. Our hope is that we’ll be able to interview every leader!

I also had the chance to start meeting with some of the local candidates for riding profiles, which the Lookout hopes to start publishing later this week.

Let’s get to it!

— Charlie Senack, managing editor

[email protected] 

X: @Charlie_Senack

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WEATHER

Monday: 0 🌡️ -12 | ❄️ 5 cm | Windcill -17

Tuesday: -7 🌡️ -21 | 🌤️

Wednesday: -8 🌡️ -17 | 🌤️

NUMBERS

☎️ 83%: The increased percentage of calls to Ottawa’s fraud and waste hotline. It resulted in two employees being terminated and one resigning after the auditor general investigated. [CBC]

💰 25%: The percentage of tariffs Canada is putting on $155 billion worth of US goods. [CTV]

🍷 3,600: The amount of different products being pulled from LCBO shelves because of the US tariff war. The crown agency sells up to $965 million worth of American alcohol annually. [CTV]

🏥 2.3M: The amount of money raised for a new CT scanner at the Kemptville Hospital. [CTV]

PROVINCIAL ELECTION

Q&A: Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie discusses platform for Ottawa

Strategic campaigning: Ontario Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie campaigned in Ottawa on Sunday to try and keep support in an area of the province that is crucial to her party's success. 

Four of the nine Ontario Liberal seats are in Ottawa: John Fraser in Ottawa South, Stephen Blais in Orleans, Lucille Collard in Ottawa-Vanier, and Karen McCrimmon in Kanata-Carleton. 

For the most part they are all Liberal strongholds with the east end of the city almost always voting red. But Kanata-Carleton could flip: McCrimmon won the area in a 2023 by-election after PC MPP Dr. Merilee Fullerton resigned by 800 votes.

Some could flip: The Liberals also hope to pick up some new seats in the Capital. They are eyeing Ottawa Centre, where incumbent NDP MPP Joel Harden is leaving Queen’s Park to try for the same job on Parliament Hill. That riding commonly flips between the two centre-left parties and was previously represented by Liberal MPP Yasir Naqvi. 

There is also some hope for Nepean. While it’s been a PC stronghold for decades, incumbent MPP Lisa MacLeod is retiring from politics after almost two decades. The Liberals are again running Tyler Watt who might be a familiar name. The nurse by trade also ran there in 2022 and came in second place with only about a 2,000 vote difference — MacLeod’s smallest margin to victory ever. 

The Lookout had the chance to sit down with Crombie during a campaign stop in Kanata to hear about her platform specifically for Ottawa. Answers have been edited for length and clarity. 

Crombie says more supports for Ottawa transit and healthcare are needed 

Lookout: You're running to be the next Premier of Ontario. One of the most common complaints that comes from Ottawa residents is Doug Ford is too Toronto-centric. You’re the former Mayor of Mississauga. So how would you be different? 

Crombie: Ottawa has never been a priority for the Premier. I’m not sure he can find it on a map. He never comes here. He’s never come here in times of crisis whether it was the convoy or the tornado or anytime. I love Ottawa. I had a federal career here. My son lives here. I love coming to Ottawa and so I make it a priority to return often. 

I think a focus on (Ottawa) priorities has been lacking. I have experience as a businessperson, as a leader and as a politician. I’ve run a government in the third-largest city in this province for a decade, so I have strong governing experience. I come from very humble beginnings.

I think I understand what the people need. People are afraid for their jobs. This is a time of crisis. But they are also worried about the basics. This is a premier who’s focused on his rich friends and insiders, not the people of Ontario. There are people getting ahead, but it’s not regular people, it’s not Ontario families. 

Lookout: So what would some of your priorities specifically for Ottawa be?

Crombie: I want to talk to the Mayor about his infrastructure and transit needs. Obviously the LRT and prioritizing Infrastructure for transit. 

But you know my most critical priority for Ottawa, but also everywhere, is healthcare and continued access to family doctors. There are 275,000 individuals in the Ottawa area who don't have access to a family doctor and specifically, here partially in Ottawa, we need healthcare in French-language services. 

Bringing back affordability for people. Removing tax off of home heating and healthcare, bringing down prices. But I’m also concerned about the mental health and addictions crisis which Ottawa feels acutely. There are parts of the city that we are concerned about. We need a provincial strategy with the attached funding that goes with it. You can’t leave mayors and councils to fund these priorities on their own on the back of the municipal taxpayer. 

• Background: According to statistics released at the beginning of January,  the average cost of an apartment in Ottawa was $2,165 a month in December 2024. Average rents in Ottawa in December ranged from $1,646 for a bachelor to $2,498 for a two-bedroom apartment, wrote CTV. And if you’re looking to purchase a home, the average price in December was $663,781 — up 4.4 per cent from the year before.

Lookout: You mentioned transit as being a priority. As I’m sure you’re aware, Mayor Sutcliffe launched his ‘Fairness for Ottawa’ campaign last year and has been pleading with the province for transit operating costs. What would you be putting on the table?

Crombie: We are talking about a 50/50 split. I think Toronto got a better deal than Ottawa and we need to fix that. 

Lookout: Your candidate in Ottawa Centre, Thomas Simpson, has suggested offloading the LRT system onto the province. He says that would not only save the money loads on transit, but also open up possibilities for a future Go Transit-like system in Eastern Ontario. Is that on the table?

Crombie: This is something to look at. I know that there have been discussions in the past with Ottawa and Toronto about their transit services. The subway, the LRT. That’s something I want to look at a little bit more closely. As a former mayor I have that kind of experience and I know the burden the operating costs can be on a city. 

• Background: OC Transpo is currently facing a $120 million shortfall due to low ridership and the cost of LRT. Mayor Sutcliffe has also previously stated many times that Ottawa isn’t getting the same amount of transit funding than Toronto, and the numbers are there to prove it: The Toronto economic region received per-resident Transit subsidies of $191 in 2022-23, while Ottawa's region — which also includes five other transit agencies in eastern Ontario — got $59.61. In 2024-2025 Toronto's per-resident subsidy rose to $196.49, whereas Ottawa's fell to $31.91, reported CBC. 

Editors note: The Lookout has also reached out to both NDP leader Marit Stiles and Progressive Conservative Party leader Doug Ford for interviews.

SPONSORED BY MĀDAHÒKÌ FARM

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Celebrate the rich traditions, flavours, and artistry of Indigenous communities with Taste of Nature. Join Mādahòkì Farm and the Museum of Nature on Thursday, February 6, from 6 PM to 8 PM for an unforgettable Indigenous dining and storytelling experience. Enjoy a six-course meal crafted with foraged, natural ingredients by chefs Billy Alexander, Trudy Metcalfe-Coe, and Joseph Shawana. Each dish highlights traditional foods and the deep connection to the land. Entertainment includes Sunsdrum Inuit Throat Singers and First Nations Dancers. Limited tickets available—secure your spot today!

OTTAWA JOBS

1. Lifeguard at the City of Ottawa

2.  Educational assistant at Ottawa Carleton District School Board

3. Sales account manager at Uline

4. Senior staff accountant at Welch LLP 

5. Ottawa warehouse worker at LCBO

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted.

POLL RESPONSES

Last week we asked Lookout readers what their biggest priorities were for the provincial election. Here’s what some of you had to say:

For our next newsletter we want to know…

THE AGENDA

🥗 If you’re skating on the Rideau Canal and looking for healthy food options, three new vendors are available this year. Dumpling Soup and Super Crunch Tanghulu are located at the northern end of the Rideau Canal Skateaway near the Rideau Centre. Meanwhile, Spring Chips can be found at the Concord access point south of the big bend at the University of Ottawa. [CBC]

🏭 After nine months, the owner of Kanata’s nuclear facility has started negotiations with striking workers. In press releases, the factory's owner has claimed losses of tens of millions of dollars at Best Theratronics, blamed what he described as the low productivity of Canadian workers, and threatened to close the company. [CBC]

🔥 Two people suffered minor injuries after an apartment fire in the Britannia area Sunday morning. The blaze was declared under control at 11:01 a.m. and was contained to one area. Fans were used to ventilate the residual smoke out of the structure before residents were allowed to return. [Ottawa Citizen]

💸 Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe is planning a motion to strike back against U.S. tariffs. It would see the City of Ottawa prioritize buying Canadian products instead of from across the border. He also plans to host a meeting with the business community this week. [CBC]

🎤 Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari has officially confirmed that she won’t seek re-election as an independent. In a press release, the two-term representative said she was most proud of having 15 schools built, expanding the Larry Robinson Arena in Metcalfe, bringing natural gas to York’s Corners, and fight for agricultural landowner rights. [X] 

🐀 Rats have been reported coming up through toilet bowls or hanging from bird feeders. It’s becoming a growing problem in Ottawa. So what can be done once rats decide to make your home their home? One city councillor has suggested rodent birth control. Another says education and prevention are the answer. [CBC]

🐍 Hundreds gathered in Ottawa’s Chinatown on Saturday to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The parade began on Somerset Street and featured a number of performances like lion and dragon dances, waist drums and a symbolic Yangko dance. This is the year of the snake. [CTV]

🚗 The intersection of Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive was the most dangerous intersection for collisions in Ottawa last year. New data from the Ottawa Police Service shows there were 96 collisions at the intersection in Ottawa’s southwest end in 2024. Out of those, 16 collisions resulted in injuries. [CTV]

EVENTS

Toddler Tuesdays | National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St. | Feb. 4, 10 am | Free

Ottawa Symphony Orchestra | Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre | 9 February, 3:30pm | Join us for a fantastical matinee concert as we explore Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, a journey of passion and imagination that will captivate your senses. \ Tickets here [Sponsored]

Kora Flamenca - Fusion afro-mandigue / flamenco-jazz | Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper St | Feb. 5, 7 pm| Tickets are $20

Winter Pride in ByWard Market | Feb. 7, 4 pm to 8 pm | Free

Great Canadian Kilt Skate | Lansdowne Park | Feb. 8, 1 pm to 3 pm | Free

613 Flea | Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park , 1000 Exhibition Way | Feb. 8 | Free

Illusions The Drag Brunch Ottawa - Drag Queen Brunch Show | 104 Clarence St. | Feb. 8, 4:30 pm | From $27.96 

Diefenbunker Winter Carnival |Outdoor Rink at Huntley Community Centre, 108 Juanita Ave | Feb. 15 | Free

African Day on the Hill | Collège La Cité, 801 Aviation Parkway | Feb. 15 | Free

Unravel Ottawa’s mysteries with our exciting outdoor escape game! | Parliament of Canada | Now until April 9th 

Laugh Lounge Pro Comedy Nights | 61 York St. | Every Friday and Saturday, 8:30 pm | From $25.50

City LOVE Scavenger Hunt for Couples Date Night! - Ottawa Area | 120 Metcalfe St. | Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays | From $12.51 

Want to see your event here? You can purchase them through our self-service portal here.

QUIZ

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• These Inuit sculptors are creating a celebration of their culture carved out of ice. [CBC]

• Join Mādahòkì Farm and top Indigenous chefs for a delicious six-course feast at the Museum of Nature on February 6! Limited tickets—get yours now! [Sponsored]

• What does it take to be an Ice Hog at Winterlude? [Ottawa Citizen]

• Thousands of Reddit comments helped this Ottawa cafe owner open his downtown coffee shop. [Ottawa Business Journal]

• Read about the history of Holland Avenue. [Kitchissippi Times]

• Check out the original vision for Champlain Park. [Kitchissippi Times]

• Here is a list of some of Ottawa’s best cheap restaurants to visit. [Capital Eats]

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