Mayor Mark Sutcliffe calls the results of the Ontario election “good news” for the City of Ottawa, noting Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives have promised to upload the light-rail transit system to provincial responsibility.
Voters elected five Liberal MPPs, two NDP MPPs and a Progressive Conservative in the eight Ottawa ridings on election night.
“I think it’s good news for Ottawa in the sense that we have strong local representatives, and, in addition to that, Premier (Doug) Ford promised during the election campaign to upload our light rail system to the provincial government, which I think is a game changer for the City of Ottawa,” Sutcliffe told CTV Morning Live Friday morning.
“It’s a huge opportunity for us to really make progress in public transit in this city. It will be a game changer financially, it will have a huge impact on our budget, and it will also mean that we’ll be able to deliver better and more reliable transit going forward.”
Ford promised during the Ontario election campaign that a re-elected Progressive Conservative government would upload Ottawa’s LRT system and integrate its operations under Metrolinx. The Premier told reporters that uploading the LRT system would save the city $4 billion over 30 years.
Sutcliffe says negotiations between the City of Ottawa and the Ontario government “will take time.”
“It’s a big negotiation; it’s a big deal and we have to make sure it’s the right deal for Ottawa,” the mayor said.
“At a high level, it makes sense because it relieves an enormous financial burden, it takes risk away from local taxpayers and it aligns with how public transit is delivered in other cities in Ontario.”
If Ottawa’s LRT system is uploaded to Metrolinx, the mayor says OC Transpo would still operate the system, set the schedule and hire staff.
“But the infrastructure, the assets will be owned and maintained by the provincial government, which will alleviate an enormous financial burden and a lot of risks for local taxpayers. We’re going to work closely with the provincial government to deliver on that,” Sutcliffe said.
Last March, Ford and Sutcliffe announced a new Ontario-Ottawa deal, which included uploading Regional Road 174 to the Ontario government, and funding for the Kanata North Transitway and a new interchange on Highway 416 at Barnsdale Road.
Three Members of Provincial Parliament representing Ottawa at Queen’s Park have previously served as councillors. Liberal MPP Stephen Blais was re-elected in Orléans, former Ottawa Councillor Catherine McKenney won the riding of Ottawa Centre for the NDP, and current Councillor George Darouze will be the new MPP for Carleton under the Progressive Conservative banner.
“I want to congratulate the local candidates who were elected representing all three parties in the Ottawa area, including my city council colleague George Darouze,” Sutcliffe said.
During a media conference Friday morning, the mayor was asked about Ottawa only having one MPP in the Ontario Progressive Conservative government.
“It’s always a concern; you want to have as many representatives within the government as possible,” Sutcliffe told reporters.
“But at the same time, I think over the last two years we’ve had a very strong working relationship with the provincial government. We’ve gotten a lot done together, and now there’s going to be a very strong voice in George Darouze. He has lots of municipal experience that will serve him well in this new role.
“He will be a champion for all of Ottawa.”
Sutcliffe says discussions will be held at Ottawa City Hall on how to fill Darouze’s seat in Osgoode once he resigns. A special council meeting may be be held on Wednesday to discuss next steps, according to the City Clerk.
The City of Ottawa could hold a byelection to elect a new councillor or appoint a councillor until the end of the term in October 2026.
Councillors Katherine Kitts and David Brown will be assigned to oversee the riding of Osgoode until a new councillor is elected or appointed.
A byelection was last held in Ottawa in 2022 to fill the Council seat left vacant by Blais when he was elected an MPP.
