Is Orléans getting its fair share?

On October 26, Ottawa residents will elect a mayor, councillors and school board trustees. Their decisions affect our daily lives, including roads, transit, parks, recreation and our children’s education.

As election day approaches, I hope Orléans residents ask a simple question: Are we getting our fair share.

Our community has grown rapidly. We’ve welcomed thousands of new neighbours and contributed significantly to Ottawa’s tax base. Yet property taxes keep climbing. Have roads, transit, recreation facilities and other amenities kept pace? After four years, what has really improved.

Has the mayor delivered for Orléans, or are we simply treading water? Are we seeing completed improvements or more “promises” for the future? Residents deserve clear answers about how their tax dollars are being invested. Examine the candidates’ records and plans, including those running for school board trustee, and above all, vote!
There is progress in Orléans worth celebrating. This fall, three new elementary schools opened in Orléans: Marie-Soleil, L’Aventure and Brian Mulroney. More schools are under construction or funded. I’ve worked hard to secure these investments from the province and will continue pushing for more classrooms close to home.

Young families also need affordable child care. The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program can save participating families thousands of dollars each year. But those savings mean little if parents cannot find a space. The federal and provincial governments must increase funding, while the City of Ottawa, which administers the program locally, must prioritize spaces in growing communities like Orléans. Few measures provide such direct relief to family budgets.

On October 27, the Ontario Legislature returns after a 146-day break from regular sittings. The House may have been away, but families’ concerns didn’t go away. I’m eager to get back to Queen’s Park and hold the government accountable. Last session, I pressed for fair Ottawa transit funding, better special education support and stronger consumer protections. That work continues, alongside health care and affordability.

Whether at City Hall or Queen’s Park, what matters isn’t just what governments promise. It’s what they deliver. Orléans has grown. Our expectations should too.