Roads, Snow Removal Top Rural Priorities

By David Brown, Rideau-Jock Councillor

As we head into 2023, the city has begun its budget cycle to craft the 2023 city budget. This budget will aim to set a limited tax increase of 2.5 percent and will seek $30 million in savings and efficiencies. The tax target and savings will force the city to live within its means at a time where many are struggling to pay their bills.

A challenge for Council will be determining which core programs and services Ottawa must provide and which ones may not necessarily be an immediate priority.

For rural Ottawa, roads maintenance and repair, snowplowing and ditch maintenance are service areas that seem to come up often when speaking with residents.

These few services are the basic services we use in Ward 21.

Other concerns, that I hear about often are speeding, new infrastructure to support our growing communities, and waste collection.

As the 2023 budget is crafted, this is your opportunity to tell me what is important to you. I ran because I wanted to see a change in how Ottawa provides programs and services to rural residents. The one-size fits all policy does not serve residents well. The needs of living in rural, suburban and urban areas of the City are very different from each other. Changing the polices to allow for the difference in realities is what I am to do over the next four years.

Over the next two months, I’ll be reaching out to each community within Ward 21 to see what the City can do differently and better. If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments, I want to hear from you.

I hope you will be able to enjoy the holidays, to slow down and enjoy this time with your family and friends. If there is anything my office or I can do, please do not hesitate to reach out.

David Brown, Councillor, Ward 21