Meehan Enjoyed Serving Gloucester-South Nepean

By Charlie Senack

While her time at city hall was short, Carol Anne Meehan said she’s enjoyed serving the residents of Gloucester-South Nepean.

The now former ward 22 representative attended her final council meeting on Nov. 9. It was the first time in over two years council chambers was full again, with almost everyone attending in-person.

Meehan had initially expected to seek a second term in the newly created ward of Barrhaven East, and even put her name on the ballot. But with three months to go until Election Day, the former media personality had a change of heart.

“With my youngest off to university this fall, I am now at a stage in my life that it’s possible to consider tackling different pursuits and checking off items on my bucket list,” Meehan wrote in a July 2022 statement.

“I have enjoyed advocating for and being an independent and vocal voice around the Council table,” she added. “Ottawa is on the cusp of an exciting new chapter. Next term there will be a new Mayor and many new Councillors and I am confident those who are making the tough decision to seek election have the best interests of their communities in mind. I wish them all well.”

It was a rocky four years for Meehan who struggled to fit in with a divided council. She spoke out on controversial projects the city was trying to push through, such as the South Merivale Business Park warehouse and changes to the floodplain in order to make way for a Caivan development.

While this didn’t make Meehan popular with her council colleagues, many in the community admired her unique style to local politics.

This summer, Meehan wrote a column in the Barrhaven Independent expressing “a derailment of epic proportions” which was taking place at city hall over the light rail transit inquiry. The problem-plagued Phase 1 system was in the midst of getting its issues ironed out, and questions over accountability were circulating.

In the column, Meehan blasted Brian Guest, of Boxfish Infrastructure Group, who was in the midst of testifying at the inquiry.

“People always worry that politicians have dark, sinister, secret plans up their sleeves,” she wrote. “It’s the unseen machinations of the bureaucracy inside City Hall we all need to worry about.”

This winter, Meehan, who sat on the Ottawa Police Services Board, became the center of attention during the so-called “freedom” trucker convoy, which held downtown Ottawa under siege.

The board came under fire after hiring a new Chief of Police less than 24 hours after former chief Peter Sloly Resigned. While the board had jurisdiction to make such a move, it wasn’t accepted by council who felt left in the dark.

Mayor Jim Watson called for Meehan and Diane Deans, then chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board to resign, said sources, but they did not. That led to Rideau-Goulbourn councillor Scott Moffatt tabling a motion to oust the two councillors from the board with council support.

While Ottawa city council voted to remove Deans from the board, Meehan narrowly won her confidence vote, but resigned shortly after in solidarity.

“I’m astounded by what’s happening tonight,” a tearful Meehan said during the late-night emergency meeting. “Yes I’m an emotional person, but I can say that I am truly disgusted by the cheap political stunt that is being played out here tonight.”

Meehan also had a direct message for Mayor Watson, whom she feuded with regularly during her time in council.

“What’s happening tonight is truly disgusting,” Meehan said. “It demonstrates the lengths that you as the Mayor of this city will go to protect your legacy. This is politics at its worst and certainly the fish stinks from the head on down.”

While there were highs and lows during her time on council, Meehan has tried to keep an eye on the positives.

When a swarm of coyote attacks took place in Riverside South, Meehan went out into the parks and forests herself to find the animals. She pushed city staff to do more and held public meetings about the issue.

When concern of rising crime arose in Findlay Creek and parts of Riverside South, Meehan held a community barbecue with police officers to strengthen community relations.

Unfortunately, over half of her time on council was plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought an end to in-person activities. Meehan said it took away many fun parts of the job.

In an Ottawa Citizen opinion piece, Meehan offered her “congratulations and condolences” to Ottawa’s new term of council, who will face many challenges over the next four years. They will need to improve public transit which is running at half its normal ridership levels, strengthen ties between the community and Ottawa Police, and prioritize where funds need to be spent.

In the column, Meehan urged the new councillors to stand up and ask questions, choose priorities carefully, and be an independent thinker.

“Don’t be a lap dog for the mayor, the bureaucracy, or anyone else,” Meehan wrote. “Sure, it can be a delicate balance, but you can do it. Don’t purely be a cheerleader nor an apologist for staff. Do everyone a favour and think for yourself. Don’t allow yourself to be bullied into a decision.”

Meehan said she plans to spend her retirement bird watching and traveling. She plans to still be involved in the community and is excited to try something new.

Featured photo: Carol Anne Meehan is surrounded by supporters after winning the Gloucester-South Nepean seat in the 2018 municipal election.