It was during what should have been a quick trip to the grocery store last week that former Nepean MPP and Ontario cabinet minister Lisa MacLeod began thinking about municipal politics.
The Barrhaven resident said on Facebook that a normally 10-minute drive “turned into a 45-minute crawl” through the suburb because of traffic congestion, construction and detours.
She outlined her frustrations on social media, arguing that anyone running for city council or mayor should explain what they intend to accomplish within their first 100 days in office to make Ottawa a more livable city.
“Tell me how you’ll get Ottawa finances under control so taxpayers see better value for their money. Tell me how you’ll fix traffic and transit so people can get to work on time…,” MacLeod wrote. “Tell me how you’ll make it worth going downtown again. Today, too many people avoid the core because of unreliable transit, traffic congestion, public disorder, vacant storefronts, and the simple feeling that it’s easier to go somewhere else.”
The post struck a nerve. In just over a day, it had been viewed more than 19,000 times, with many commenters suggesting MacLeod herself should consider running for mayor. As it turns out, she has been thinking about it, too.
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