There is no appetite for major tax hikes without tangible results

Over the past few weeks, city council’s focus has been on the proposed 2026 budget directions. As the City grapples with inflation, a growing population, and more com-plex service demands, this budget cycle is proving especially challenging

I consistently hear from residents that you don’t want “Toronto-style” tax hikes of nine, 10, or 11 per cent year after year. I’ve cautioned my urban colleagues against viewing large tax increases as an easy fix. Imagine ordering a meal that arrives cold or poorly prepared and sending it back, only to receive the same plate, then being asked to pay more. That’s how I believe many Ottawa residents feel.

Like households, cities must also take cost-cutting seriously. That’s why I serve on the Agile Government Working Group, aiming to reduce red tape and improve service delivery. I also supported a motion tied to the 2026 budget to cap the number of City employees, excluding front-line roles like paramedics, firefighters, transit, and bylaw officers to help control costs.

In my view, transit remains the toughest budget challenge. We won’t bring riders back by cutting service or raising fares, yet ridership still doesn’t cover operating costs. Ottawa’s large geography makes transit expensive. While LRT Stage 2 in the east is in progress, it won’t fix everything.

Transit service in Ward 19 is infrequent and unreli-able, with congestion adding to long commutes. At Transit Committee, I flagged serious gaps in South Orléans and raised concerns about Route 30. I continue to work with OC Transpo and the Mayor’s office on solutions, but without real service improvements, fare or levy hikes are not justifiable.

Lastly, this year’s draft proposes the largest police budget increase in 15 years. I remain in regular contact with our Chief and local officers and have raised concerns about drag racing, speeding, and car theft. I’m encouraged by plans for stronger local presence and better communication.

Thank you for staying engaged as we head into a busy fall legislative season.

 

Changing lifestyles require a new of thinking about how we work

Much has been said about the privileges of working in the public service – pensions, union protections, and job stability. It’s true that not every worker enjoys these benefits, and I don’t dismiss that reality. But regardless of sector, we are all confronting the same problem: the way we structure work simply doesn’t fit the realities of modern life.

The traditional eight-hour block is increasingly out of step with how families live. Parents drop their children off at school around nine and must be back by 3:30, long before the standard workday ends. Buses don’t run on parents’ schedules, and many families don’t have grandparents nearby to help. For many, the rigid model just doesn’t work anymore.

But “new” doesn’t always mean old habits stay behind. In fact, I also discovered Ronald Malfi – an author whose horror-tinged style reminded me of King’s, even if not every story sticks the landing – who’s become a favorite in his own right. Now, instead of binge-watching TV, I find myself on tenterhooks waiting for his next novel, the same way one waits for a new season of something gripping.

Meanwhile, office spaces sit empty for large portions of the day – costly to maintain and rarely used to their full potential. At the same time commutes are longer and em-ployees are spending hours of unpaid time just getting to and from their desks. The environmental impact of forcing thousands of cars onto the road each morning and even-
ing cannot be ignored either. Reducing unnecessary commuting means fewer emissions, cleaner air, and healthier communities.

I often hear the argument that working from home is a perk that should come with a pay cut because of the savings on gas and lunches. But there are taxpayer savings too: less wear and tear on roads, less demand on public infrastructure, and less need for expensive office space. Asking people to commute just to log into Zoom or Teams is not an efficient use of anyone’s time or money.

Of course, I recognize the need for in-person collaboration and the value of shared space. But a blanket mandate without reasonable accommodations isn’t the solution. We can’t keep designing workplaces as though it’s still 1975. It’s 2025, and our policies should reflect the realities people are living today. Let’s focus more on getting the job done on time and less on where it is completed.

 

Ward 2 residents invited to provide their input into 2026 budget process

Over the past months, as I’ve gone door-to-door speaking with residents across the Ward, I’ve consistently heard about your priorities for our community, concerns about the rising cost of living, and a desire for continued investment in our neighbourhoods to improve our quality of life.

These conversations have a lasting impact on me, especially as we enter the City’s annual budget cycle, and I meet with the Mayor and Senior City Staff to advocate for improvements in our community.

Your feedback has helped me push the City to invest more in the east end, recognizing that we have lagged behind other areas in transportation and infrastructure renewal.

As a result, more arterial and local roads have been repaved, splash pads in the Ward upgraded or replaced, new playgrounds built, Lois Kemp Arena expanded, sidewalks and pathways renewed, funding for a new Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans (MIFO) building secured, along with traffic calming and safety improvements.

Although much has been accomplished, there is always more to be done. Budget season is in full swing, making this a critical time to advocate for the projects and upgrades our community needs. Please take a moment and share your priorities with me through my survey at lauradudas.ca/2026-city-budget-survey/. All ideas are welcome and greatly appreciated.

Pivoting to another subject that is dear to my heart: tree planting. We were successful in receiving a grant for 500 trees from Trees for Life to be planted at 1754 St. Joseph Blvd. on the former Convent grounds.

Volunteers will be needed to help plant trees on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9 a.m. Everyone is welcome and youth can receive community hours by participating. Bring a shovel, bring your friends, and spread the word!

Please let me know you are coming by RSVP’ing to Laura.Dudas@Ottawa.ca so I can plan accordingly. This will be lots of fun and will leave a lasting legacy for our community.

 

Keeping pedestrians and cyclists safe is everybody’s responsibility

With the school year now in full swing, there’s a fresh energy in our neighbourhoods. Sidewalks and crosswalks are busier, school-yards are alive with chatter, and bikes are out in full force as kids ride to class or head home at the end of the day.

It’s a wonderful time of year, but it’s also a moment when road safety deserves our full attention.

Our youngest residents are some of the most vulnerable people on our streets. Children may be distracted by friends, rushing to get to class, or simply unaware of the traffic around them.

Cyclists – especially younger riders – can be harder to see and may not always signal or travel in a straight line. Even adults walking or biking are at greater risk than someone protected by a vehicle. That’s why, as drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, we all share the responsibility of making our roads safer.

For motorists, that responsibility starts with slowing down. School zones, residential streets, and intersections are areas where extra caution is never wasted. A few moments of patience can prevent a life-changing accident. Be alert for children darting out unexpectedly, watch carefully when turning, and always give the right of way to those at crosswalks and pedestrian crossovers.

For pedestrians and cyclists, safety comes from being visible and aware. Making eye con-tact with a driver before crossing, wearing bright or reflective clothing, or using lights at dusk or dawn can go a long way.

Intersections deserve special attention. They bring everyone together – drivers eager to move forward, cyclists approaching from bike lanes, and pedestrians stepping off the curb. Taking a second look before moving through, yielding when needed, and slowing down are small acts that can prevent tragedies.

At the end of the day, road safety is about more than rules – it’s about the kind of community we want to live in. One where parents feel confident letting their kids walk to school, where cyclists feel safe, and where everyone feels respected. Let’s keep looking out for one another, not just at the start of the school year, but every single day.