Politics

CITY HALL – Ottawa’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee (ARAc) made rural transit options a topic of conversation at Thursday’s (April 2) regular committee meeting and passed a motion exploring options to allow private bus service to supplement transit options.

ONTARIO – There’s not much new in the 2026 Ontario budget for Ottawa, but there is some funding earmarked for the nation’s capital already mentioned in previous announcements.

OTTAWA – Dunrobin’s Alex Lawson can’t officially declare his candidacy for mayor of Ottawa until May 1, but he has his first rally scheduled for May 23.

STITTSVILLE – Two term City of Ottawa Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower will stay true to his word and not seek re-election during the 2026 municipal election scheduled for next fall.

CARLETON – First time Carleton MP Bruce Fanjoy is not on board with his party and the prime minister’s decision to send federal employees back to the office.

CITY HALL – The Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee (ARAc) received an update on commitments made during the 2024 Rural Summit during today’s (Feb. 5) regular committee meeting.

TORONTO – West Carleton-March Coun. Clarke Kelly says his focus at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference was making sure provincial politicians matched infrastructure needs with growth.

CARP – Last weekend (Jan. 10), the Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum, was renamed the Carney Cubby.

DUNROBIN – No stranger to West Carleton, Kanata-Carleton MPP Karen McCrimmon’s career has included three decades in the Canadian Forces followed by six years as a Liberal MP for Kanata-Carleton (2015-2021).

CITY HALL – It was a marathon session for councillors (and reporters covering it), but after more than 10 hours of questions and deliberations City of Ottawa Council approved a $7.1 billion 2026 budget in the early evening of Wednesday, Dec. 10.