McKenney leads latest election poll

New election polling has McKenney ahead and housing as the top issue.

Good morning!

I ended up inserting myself into the election a little more directly than I usually mean to with such things. I was going through the affordable housing announcement by Catherine McKenney, and the response from the Mark Sutcliffe campaign, and I noticed a quote in Sutcliffe’s response that seemed… off. 

Long story short (you can read the long story in my Twitter thread) the Sutcliffe campaign took a snippet of an old interview McKenney had done, stripped away all the context, and made out as if McKenney had said something they didn’t.

Politicians don’t always play fairly in these things, and sometimes the line of what’s acceptable is fuzzy. But sometimes it’s pretty clear. This was one of those times where as a journalist, I felt it needed to add some context. 

It’s unfortunate, politics doesn’t have to be like this. But sometimes, that’s just how it is. It’s not my favourite part of the job, but it has to be done. 

Anyway, let’s get to it.

PS - There’s still time to complete our Municipal Election Survey to shape what we cover.

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor

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ELECTION

McKenney announces plan to end homelessness

Catherine McKenney at a press conference

Handout/McKenney Campaign

Ending homelessness: Catherine McKenney promised to end homelessness in the city in their first four years. There are about 500 homeless individuals in the city, according to the campaign

Their plan: To get them into homes, McKenney would build supportive housing for 250 people, and give housing allowances to the remaining 250 people.

McKenney would increase spending on homelessness to $30 million, CBC reported. It would be double the amount the city currently spends on homelessness. While adding new spending of $20 million, the city would also save $5 million by no longer paying for motels, which can cost up to $3,000 per month, well above average rents in the city.

For more on McKenney’s plan, see their website.

McKenney said they would be open to removing R1 zoning, which forbids multi-unit housing to be built in certain neighbourhoods, CBC reported. McKenney told reporters their earlier vote against expanding the city’s urban boundary was because expanding the boundary costs taxpayers money and is environmentally damaging.

Sutcliffe said his housing policy would be released soon.

  • Currently, the campaign has released policies on transit, bikes and roads. You can find our analysis here

Sutcliffe campaign updates

Official campaign launch: Mark Sutcliffe officially kicked of his campaign Wednesday night with a speech extolling the virtues of unity. “We’re not going to solve the challenges of tomorrow by continuing the divisive tactics that we’re seeing more and more often in politics. Instead of working against each other, we should be working together,” Sutcliffe said. You can read the whole speech here.

Calls fundraiser criticism ‘smear’: Sutcliffe said it was “bogus” to call events where people had to pay large donations to have access to the mayoral candidate cash-for-access events. “I am meeting with people all over the community constantly throughout this campaign. Anybody who wants to meet with me, I’m happy to talk to them,” he told the Ottawa Citizen. Two more fundraisers are listed online for the coming week, one which would cost $600 to $1,200 to attend, and another $1,200.

ELECTION

New election poll results show McKenney in the lead, housing top issue

New poll lands: Catherine McKenney is the preferred candidate of 34 percent of Ottawa voters, a new poll conducted for iPolitics by Mainstreet Research suggests. Sutcliffe has the support of 20 percent of voters, and Bob Chiarelli has the support of 11 percent. 

  • Only the second major poll of the campaign so far, it suggests 20 percent of Ottawa voters are still undecided.

Top concerns this election: 

  • Creating affordable housing, 31 percent

  • Improving transit, 24 percent

  • Decreasing taxes, 16 percent

  • Increasing/improving services, 15 percent

  • Roads/infrastructure, 15 percent

Housing: According to the Mainstreet poll, 48 percent of Ottawa voters feel there is too little housing being built, compared to 37 percent who think there’s just enough. The remaining 16 percent said there was too much housing being built. 

Not in my neighbourhood: Interestingly, 71 percent of people said there were enough homes being built in their neighbourhood, compared to 29 percent who said more should be built in theirs.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS
  • 14%: The amount hotel average revenue per available room — the industry’s key metric — in the city will rise next year, from $95 to $108. [OBJ]

  • 4.6: The average wait time, in hours, to see an ER doctor at the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital, the longest in Ontario for July. [CTV]

CRIME

Accused murderer had violent past

What happened: The man charged with the killing of his 22-year-old female roommate was previously convicted of assault, breaking and entering, and other charges and was out on probation at the time of the killing. 

Previous issues: He broke into his ex-girlfriend’s house with an axe Halloween night 2021 and threatened to kill her, the Ottawa Citizen reported. The woman’s son was fortunately home and was able to subdue the man, and he was jailed for the incident.

  • The ex-girlfriend had previously got a restraining order against him after he threw a rock through her window. The woman told his probation officer she feared for his safety.

Enters plea: The man, Nikolas Ibey, remains in police custody. His lawyer told the Citizen Ibey waived his arraignment which automatically enters a plea of not guilty. His next court hearing is Sept. 29.

CITY HALL

Big OC Transpo deficit, investigating a health clinic

Large OC Transpo deficit: The city’s overly optimistic — reckless, even — assumptions that transit ridership would recover to nearly pre-pandemic levels has come back to bite. OC Transpo projects it will face a $85-million deficit by the end of the year. In the budget, it expected ridership to be at 82 percent of pre-pandemic levels They only reached 49 percent of that level in July. The transit agency needs promised federal and provincial funding to make up the shortfall, but does not yet know how much it will receive from the Safe Restart Agreement. [Ottawa Citizen]

Clinic under investigation: The Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre is under investigation by the city for misusing public funds. The city provided about $1.5 million to the centre for a housing program, that the Ottawa Citizen reported was not spent on the intended program, staff were not hired, and some community programs were not offered. [Ottawa Citizen]

HEALTHCARE

Forced LTC rules come into effect, community health centre under investigation

Hospital relocations: Next week patients can be forced out of hospital beds and into long-term care homes against their will or face daily charges of $400. The new provincial law allows patients in southern Ontario to be moved as far as 70 kilometres away without their consent, and 150 kilometres in northern Ontario. [The Canadian Press]

CHEO treats record number of patients:The region’s children’s hospital has seen 60 percent more children with respiratory illnesses this year than it did last year. The hospital told the Citizen the number of children they are treating in the emergency room is typical of what they would see in the winter. CHEO is seeking help from the province to deal with the surge. [Ottawa Citizen]

STORIES YOU MIGHT’VE MISSED

Police officer resigns: An Ottawa police officer once charged in a tow truck kickback scheme has resigned from the force. Former constable Hussein Assaad faced corruption charges laid by the RCMP in 2020. Those charges were stayed because of prosecution delays. Assaad had been on paid suspension before resigning. [CBC]

Police officer faces misconduct: Const. Kristina Neilson is facing a misconduct charge and a disciplinary hearing for donating to the convoy during the occupation. Investigators allege Neilson gave money Feb. 5 to the convoy through GiveSendGo. [CTV]

Seniors protest trucks: Seniors who live in Manotick took to the intersection of Manotick Main and Bridge streets to protest the number of trucks that roll through. About 800 tucks per day roll though the area, which includes a senior’s home. The route is used as a shortcut between the 417 and 416. About 100 members of the community came out. [Ottawa Citizen]

WEEKEND GUIDE

Stray dogs, fungus, and a big green ogre

FungiQuest | Now until Oct. 15 | Anywhere | The Great North American FungiQuest has begun! Become a Citizen Scientist by taking photos of mushrooms. Great activity for all ages, plus, there are prizes!

613Flea | Saturday | 10 am to 4 pm | Lansdowne Park | Free | The flea market is back at Lansdowne with all the assorted goodies on sale you know and love.

Stray Dog Day of Summer | Saturday | 2 pm to 11 pm | 501 Lacolle Way | $8 | Celebrate Stray Dog Brewing’s fifth annaversary with live music, games, food trucks, and of course beer. Family and leashed-dog friendly!

Shrek and Jaws at the drive-in | Friday and Saturday | About 9 pm | Port Elmsley Drive-In | $6 to $14 | Check out a mega double-feature with two fantasitc films at the drive in. Tickets are for the double feature. The drive-in is about halfway between Perth and Smiths Falls.

Richmond Fair | Until Sunday | Various times | Richmond Fairgrounds | $5 to $15 | The 177th edition of the Richmond Fair has everything you’d want from an agricultural fair. Entertainment for the kids, a dair show, a midway, a demolition derby, horse shows, beef shows, sheep shows. 

Gem and Mineral Show | Saturday and Sunday | 10 am to 6 pm | Nepean Sportsplex | $8 | Annual  Ottawa Lapsmith and Mineral Club show. Door prizes, dealers, and exhibitors or all sorts of gems, minerals, fossils and crystals. The show is also the Club’s main fundraiser which keeps their wookshop open. 

Puff N’ Paint | Sunday | 7:30 pm to 9 pm | Zephyr Cannabis Kanata | $50 | Here’s one that’s a little more offbeat. Head on out for a guided painting session. Includes a $5 cannabis product of your choice so you can indulge. Plus, at the end of the night, you can take your art home.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
  • The 67’s season kicks off in a few weeks, and they’ve had to make some slight changes to the schedule. [CityNews]

  • Check out the tips & tricks that are just some of the reasons we're Ottawa's top rated Organizing & Decluttering company. See what all the fuss is about!*

  • There’s always a suprise to be found at a neaby pizza joint, that’s why the Pizza Safari was born, to find the hiden pizza gems of this city.

  • Speed limits on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Colonel By Drive will be permanently lowered to 40 km/h on Monday.

  • Dunrobin Distillers signed a big partnership with Swiss whiskey maker Seven Seals and our food editor was there.

  • Don’t forget, the deadline to check if you’re on the voter list and apply for a mail-in ballot for the municipal election is 4:30 pm today!

  • Voting may be closed for the short list for Ottawa’s Best Home Garden, but it’s worth checking out the finalists. [Apt613]

  • Ottawa Public Health recommends wearing a mask indoors as COVID in the community remains high. [CTV]

*Sponsored content

OTTAWA WORDLE

Congrats to Jean, who is the only person who correctly identify Bridge Street in Manotick (site of a seniors’ protest this week!) in Wednesday’s GeoGuesser. 

Today’s Ottawa Wordle should test your skills. Play now!

LATEST COVID STATS

Note: Ottawa Public Health is now only updating COVID stats twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Because of the Lookout’s publishing schedule, this means the numbers here may be out of date.

  • Active Cases: 487 (+167)

  • Total deaths: 885 (+2)

  • Ottawans In Hospital: 25

  • Ottawans In ICU: 1

  • Acute Beds Occupied: 99% 

  • ICU Beds Occupied: 75% 

  • ICU Ventilator Beds Occupied: 25% 

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