Lo, Hill Sworn In At City Hall
By Charlie Senack
It’s the beginning of a new era in city Ottawa politics with a new mayor and 11 new city councillors representing the city.
On Nov. 15, council chambers at city hall was packed with hundreds of people who came to witness the new reign get officially sworn in. It was more for ceremonial purposes than anything with then councillor-elects signing their oaths days after the Oct. 24 election.
This year the ceremony was toned down, held at council chambers instead of a big ballroom in the Shaw Centre. Ceremonial robes were not worn, and councillors swore the oath instead of individually.
Barrhaven East councillor Wilson Lo was the first to be bagpiped in during the procession of new and returning faces to city hall. He now represents the newly created ward 24 which used to be part of Gloucester South-Nepean and Barrhaven West.
What was going through my mind is ‘please don’t trip, please don’t trip. As soon as I sat down I had to lower the seat,” Lo joked. “But it was nice to see the landscape of what I’ll be seeing for the next four years.”
This was the biggest shakeup city hall has seen since amalgamation. Only three councillors from 2014 remain and all councillors from before amalgamation have retired.
Nearby, Laine Johnson takes over for Rick Chiarelli in College ward; Sean Devine takes over for Kieth Egli in Knoxdale-Merivale; David Hill takes over for Jan Harder in Barrhaven West; Steve Desroches takes over for Carol Anne Meehan in Riverside South-Findlay Creek; and David Brown takes over for Scott Moffatt in Rideau-Jock (formally Rideau-Goulbourn).
Further out in the city, Clarke Kelly takes over for Eli El-Chantiry in West Carleton-March; Jessica Bradley takes over for Diane Deans in Gloucester-Southgate; Marty Carr takes over for Jean Cloutier in Alta Vista; Stéphanie Plante takes over for Mathieu Fleury in Rideau-Vanier; and Ariel Troster takes over for Catherine McKenney in Sommerset. Another 13 incumbent councillors returned for another term.
With so many new faces coming to the council table, Lo said he’s excited to start working on important city files.
“All 25 of us were elected on the premise of being a more unified council so we have to prove that we are serious about it and that we are serious about all the concerns that got us elected in the first place,” he said.
New Mayor Mark Sutcliffe appeared emotional as the chain of office was placed around his neck.
The local businessman and journalist said the divisiveness of the last term of council needs to be left behind as we build a better and stronger version of Ottawa.
“Unfortunately, we have witnessed a disturbing trend in politics. More than ever people who view the future as a choice between one team and another; between competing ideologies; between black and white,” Sutcliffe said in his first speech as mayor. “I don’t want to win the battle, I don’t want there to be a battle at all. I want to work with everyone — not just the people who agree with me. I want all of Ottawa to win.”
The new council will debate many projects and developments impacting Barrhaven — now one of the fastest growing suburbs in the country.
The Barnsdale/Highway 416 interchange, public transit, LRT Phase 3, community safety, and the Greenbank Road realignment are all expected to be front and center concerns.
The new local representatives are striving to play a crucial role over the next four years and want to ensure Barrhaven voices are echoed throughout council chambers and in committee rooms.
Newly elected Barrhaven West councillor David Hill, who has a background in military, is hoping to get a seat on the Police Services Board to help combat the record-breaking crime his ward saw last year. Wilson Lo, an employee of OC Transpo for nine years, is expected to widely-speculated to receive a spot on transit commission. Because of his two terms serving as a councillor in the past, Steve Desroches may receive a more prominent committee position, possibly serving as chair. During his last term, he served as deputy mayor.
Mayor Sutcliffe said he’s aware of the challenges this term of council will face but is up for the job. Protecting greenspace, fixing light rail transit, prioritizing climate change, and dealing with “serious financial obstacles” are all part of his plan.
“Let’s not underestimate the task ahead, but let’s not underestimate what we can accomplish together,” Sutcliffe said. “This is the opportunity to set the stage for a better and brighter future for everyone.”
One of the first orders of business will be tabling the budget which currently sits at about $4.1 billion.
Municipalities are unable to run deficits, meaning they need to be cautious around spending. Because of reduced ridership — which is currently around half of pre-pandemic levels — OC Transpo is dealing with a downfall of $85 million.
“There are a lot of financial pressures, but I have been meeting with city officials and we are looking for solutions,” Sutcliffe said. “I remain confident that we are going to be able to stick to our commitments, find savings and make the right investments for the people of Ottawa.”
Councillors and the mayor plan to spend the next month setting up their offices and hiring staff. The date for the term’s first council meeting has not been decided.
Sutcliffe began the swearing-in ceremony by taking a selfie with the new team of councillors. Innes ward councillor Laura Dudas and West-Carleton March councillor Clarke Kelly were not in attendance. Kelly was unable to make it after testing positive for COVID-19.
Wilson Lo was sworn in as the East Barrhaven Ward 24 councillor.
Charlie Senack photos
David Hill replaces the retired Jan Harder as the Barrhaven Ward councillor.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe was sworn in at the City Hall council chambers last week.
