Alayne McGregor
A BUZZ poll of the candidates for Ottawa’s mayor shows they’d rather work collaboratively with city councillors.
Catherine McKenney, for example, termed the provincial bill that would substantially strengthen the mayor’s powers an “anti-democratic move.”
Six candidates were opposed, while three supported or somewhat supported the bill. Graham MacDonald said the proposal ensured the mayor was accountable, and and Greg Guevara said it did not go far enough, while Nour Kadri somewhat supported it.
The BUZZ also sought to put the bill in context by first asking each candidate how they would direct decision-making at Ottawa City Council, and to give a real-life example of how they worked with others in making decisions. Almost all the responses showed a strong preference for consensus-building and working collaboratively, although one candidate saw his role more as a CEO of a corporation. Another advocated “anarcho-totalitarianism.”
The candidates were given 2 1/2 weeks to respond, with one reminder. Bob Chiarelli and Celine Debassige did not respond. Bernard Couchman said he would not be answering any questions until a press conference on August 22. Zed Chebib and Jacob Solomon registered after the BUZZ deadline.
Many new powers added in Strong Mayors bill
Bill 3, the “Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022” was tabled in the legislature by the Ontario government on August 10. It currently will only affect Toronto and Ottawa, but the Premier has said could be extended to other Ontario cities later. It’s expected to come into force with the new city council in November.
Under the bill, mayors would gain the power to write the city budget and choose or fire many senior city staff, in particular the Chief Administrative Officer and other senior administrators. The Act specifies that the Mayor cannot touch some staff: the city clerk, the treasurer and deputy treasurer, the auditor-general, the integrity commissioner, the chief building official, police and fire chiefs, the medical officer of health, and officers who must be appointed according to provincial acts.
The mayor would also be able to appoint the chairs and vice-chairs of all local boards (presumably including the police board and the library board) and the chairs and vice-chairs of all standing committees. The mayor could also dissolve or establish any committees of council, and set the their terms of reference.
The provincial government can also ordain provincial priorities, for example increasing housing supply. If a city council decision is in those areas, the mayor can override that decision and can only be overriden in turn by 2/3 of council. The mayor can also make unilateral proposals in those priority areas and require city council to consider them.
What the candidates said
Following are the responses from each candidate, in alphabetical order by last name. In one case, where the candidate went well over the word limit, we deleted a section (on municipal political parties) that was not relevant to the questions. Otherwise, we left their words as submitted.
Brandon Bay
1. In what ways do you think the Mayor should be able to direct the decision-making process of Ottawa City Council?
The mayor, as any leader, should lead council by working with them. The highest office should have the strongest vision for what kind of incredible city we will be, and work with councillors and residents to build it. Agreement and consensus should be won through diplomacy and inspiration, and decisions should be made as a group.
Working together leads to the best decisions, just not always fast ones. In a crisis situation, having emergency act type powers available may be appropriate, but even then it would be best to empower the council or a committee of it, instead of a single elected official.
2. Please give one example of where you have led others in a group whose members you did not choose and how you shared and/or delegated decision-making authority with them.
As a manager, I empower my team at Welbi to be in charge of their own destiny. When the team has obstacles hurting their productivity, or when existing processes no longer work efficiently, we discuss and find solutions as a team. When working on tasks, implementation details are left to the individual developer.
My role is to identify when those obstacles exist and failures occur, encourage improvement, and ensure no one loses sight of the forest for the trees. A mayor’s role should be similar – maintain the vision, build morale, eliminate barriers, foster success.
3. Do you agree with the provincial proposal to create a Strong-Mayor system in Ottawa, including giving the Mayor a veto on Council decisions?
The province’s stated goal with these changes, moving faster, is good, and is one of the main things I am calling for in my campaign. However, giving too much power to one office will not accomplish this in an effective or democratic way.
The announced veto power in particular is bad – having one office able to completely override the decision of councillors undermines council, voters, and democracy itself. There is a huge potential for corruption in this change.
Given how little has been announced, I have no more specific comments, but I have no expectation that a strong mayor system will improve the city.
Greg Guevara
1. In what ways do you think the Mayor should be able to direct the decision-making process of Ottawa City Council?
The mayor should have the power necessary to enact anarcho-totalitarianism: that is, the mayor should be given enough power to distribute that power evenly amongst their citizens.
Anarcho-totalitarianism was run on an early iteration of my discord group of 20000 people: there would be no rules, except for when the anarcho-monarch was summoned by the masses, in which case I would come and do whatever needed to be done: ban people, create new channels, etc.
3. Do you agree with the provincial proposal to create a Strong-Mayor system in Ottawa, including giving the Mayor a veto on Council decisions?
To the ideological end of totalitarian anarchism, I am in full support of giving the mayor more power by any means necessary, especially as it will be essential for my creation of the Ottawall. In fact, I would say the Strong Mayor proposal does not go far enough.
Nour Kadri
1. In what ways do you think the Mayor should be able to direct the decision-making process of Ottawa City Council?
The Mayor is the leader of the city. They are the one who is able to integrate ideas coming from all 24 councillors and spanning the issues residents face such as property tax, public transit, environmental stewardship and all other policies under the jurisdiction of the city. A strong leader rallies others around their vision and inspires them to work collectively towards the common good. While decisions are made by voting in a democracy, having a consensus around the table is what I aspire for. I plan to build a collaborative team from the day I take office, one that puts the city and its residents first, not factional ideologies and egos.
2. Please give one example of where you have led others in a group whose members you did not choose and how you shared and/or delegated decision-making authority with them.
I led a process with the National Democratic Institute of Washington to help progressive Egyptian political parties form a coalition. Many of them had not worked together before, had different ideologies, and unresolved public conflicts. We started by defining the objectives of forming a coalition and the advantages of collaboration. We had another exercise on the strengths that each party brought to the table. Using the Delphi Technique to eliminate bias, I asked each political party to come with ideas that met those objectives and benefits in the first round, refined them in the second round, and produced a coalition collaboration document signed by 13 of the 14 participating political parties after three robust sessions over three successive days.
3. Do you agree with the provincial proposal to create a Strong-Mayor system in Ottawa, including giving the Mayor a veto on Council decisions?
The provincial proposal to create a Strong-Mayor system in Ottawa is recognition of the importance of the city as the capital of the country especially after the experience of the protests this year. It is very limiting from the standpoint of effective governance and leadership for the Mayor to hold one vote on council when the responsibilities of overseeing a major city with urban, suburban and rural competing priorities are so immense. To best serve the residents of Ottawa, the Mayor should have more authority than a ward councillor, but that authority should not defeat the majority of the council. As a collaborative leader I always seek to build consensus. Expanded powers come with tremendous responsibility. I would not make use of such powers other than in exceptional situations where leadership is called upon to make decisions that support the safety, betterment, and well-being of all the residents of Ottawa.
Graham MacDonald
1. In what ways do you think the Mayor should be able to direct the decision-making process of Ottawa City Council?
I believe the Mayor should be able to direct the decision making process at council in the best interest of all citizens while taking into consideration all of the variables that present not only issues but also opportunities for improvement and advancement of the city as a whole. It is important for the Mayor to operate similarly to a CEO when dealing with City Council, the Mayor must operate strategically and collectively to ensure all working parts of the systems are being utilized effectively and efficiently for all city departments, councilors, wards and citizens alike.
2. Please give one example of where you have led others in a group whose members you did not choose and how you shared and/or delegated decision-making authority with them.
For a decade I served as CEO at a corporation, in that role I regularly worked with and advised the Board of Directors on the strategy and direction of the corporation. Further to advising it was also my responsibility to execute the tasks after deliberations at Board Meetings. It was my responsibility to roll out new initiatives and ensure management and staff had the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to fulfill the corporation’s goals. That being said, it was in my best interest to work cooperatively and effectively with the Board Members to further the corporation’s goals while mapping out clear paths to achieve these goals.
3. Do you agree with the provincial proposal to create a Strong-Mayor system in Ottawa, including giving the Mayor a veto on Council decisions?
I do support a “Strong-Mayor” system in Ottawa as it is a beneficial way to ensure accountability is put on the Mayor as the Mayor is accountable to the entire city and not just a single ward. I believe the veto on council decisions reassures accountability to the Citizens of Ottawa. A Mayor would no longer be able to say things like “it’s out of my control” or “I can’t change that” when the majority of citizens don’t agree on something. I do not foresee these strong-mayor powers being utilized often but it would reassure residents of Ottawa to know that the Mayor can act accordingly and effectively when required.
Mike Maguire
1. In what ways do you think the Mayor should be able to direct the decision-making process of Ottawa City Council?
The Mayor leads Council meetings and is able to participate in Council committees and, like every other member of Council, the Mayor can seek to build a coalition of members of Council to support any specific initiative. Other than the implied authority that comes from being elected with a City-wide mandate, the Mayor has no specific abilities to direct or influence decision-making. Having said that, it is specifically because the Mayor has support across all 24 wards the implied mandate is significant. I see no reason to change this approach.
2. Please give one example of where you have led others in a group whose members you did not choose and how you shared and/or delegated decision-making authority with them.
I’ve been a management consultant for decades, essentially all engagements I’ve been involved in for the last 30 years use this exact workplace model. It’s a standard practice to identify leaders in any group and to empower them to succeed by encouraging decision-making authority and creating comprehensive communications tools to keep all stakeholders aware of progress and challenges.
3. Do you agree with the provincial proposal to create a Strong-Mayor system in Ottawa, including giving the Mayor a veto on Council decisions?
I’m not sure why the province introduced this element into the election, Ottawa doesn’t have a culture of tension around City Council so it sounds like a solution in search of a problem. I would encourage a bit more accuracy in the way this is portrayed however, at present the effective veto at Council is 13 votes. If ‘Strong Mayor’ goes forward the veto becomes 15 votes (60% of Council). That’s 2 extra Councilors to reverse the Mayor. As I say, I don’t see the reason for this capability but, let’s not make it more than it is.
Catherine McKenny
1. In what ways do you think the Mayor should be able to direct the decision-making process of Ottawa City Council?
City Councillors speak on behalf of the residents they were elected to represent. From my experiences working for a councillor in Kanata and my past two terms as a city councillor for Somerset Ward, consulting with residents on the issues that matter to them always guides my recommendations.
Council’s discussions, priorities and decision making must reflect the range of resident needs across the city – rural, urban and suburban. Residents want engaged representatives who discuss issues and have an equal vote. The mayor is a part of this democratic process, but should not receive a disproportionate amount of power.
A mayor can play an important role in helping bring different points of view together and finding workable solutions, but that requires leadership, not legislation.
As I’ve been knocking on doors and hearing from residents across the city these past weeks, they’ve raised a range of concerns and also shared great ideas. I share their excitement about the potential and future of our city – around transit, the environment, housing and more. Residents also want and deserve more accountability and transparency at city hall.
2. Please give one example of where you have led others in a group whose members you did not choose and how you shared and/or delegated decision-making authority with them.
Sharing decision making and empowering people is my daily approach to city issues. While working for a councillor in Kanata and in my past two terms as a city councillor for Somerset Ward, residents told us about the needs and ideas to focus on. We need to empower people, instead of centralizing power.
A clear example of this was during the convoy, when Centretown residents were surrounded by noise pollution and harassed for three weeks. While the city and police dragged their feet, I used every tool at my disposal to make decisions with the community and fellow councillors to end the convoy – from supporting Zexi Li in her lawsuit, to leading safety walks with fellow councillors. Community members and I also went truck to truck with waivers informing truckers that they could leave without facing legal repercussions.
3. Do you agree with the provincial proposal to create a Strong-Mayor system in Ottawa, including giving the Mayor a veto on Council decisions?
I do not agree with the provincial “strong mayor” proposal. Bringing “strong mayor” powers to Ottawa is an anti-democratic move.
Taking decision-making power away from councillors means stripping democratic rights from people in our city – and that isn’t right. We need stronger cities rather than ‘strong mayors’ if we’re looking to build the types of communities people are looking for. I believe in collaborative leadership aimed at making decisions grounded in the public interest, rather than a mayor issuing vetoes at City Hall.
Ade Olumide
1. In what ways do you think the Mayor should be able to direct the decision-making process of Ottawa City Council?
Political parties that market a common platform to voters can be necessary to avoid gambling with big city budgets. There is a reason why 94% of the world’s population is led by political party governments. What is good enough for progressive Vancouver, is good enough for us. Olumide respects Councillors’ ward vote mandate, the Premier should amend the unconstitutional Municipal Elections Act to comply with Platform 1- End Ottawa Elections Gambling Bylaw.
If Olumide is elected to implement a 1% cap on taxes and pay for no fare transit for the working class (less than $53K annual income) through a hiring freeze, a group of Councillors can vote for an 8% rate of inflation increase in taxes and a $1,000 property tax bill to fund free transit for everyone; that platform was not communicated to voters. In this scenario, it would be better to hold a referendum than permit Council to overturn a substantial city-wide mandate. Another example would be a 120-Days Police Complaints Bill of Rights which disproportionately affects Aboriginals, visible minorities, and female police officers.
2. Please give one example of where you have led others in a group whose members you did not choose and how you shared and/or delegated decision-making authority with them.
While with the Ottawa Community Budget Advisory Team “CBAT”, Olumide lead the Technology Process Improvement Recommendations but shared decision-making on all recommendations equally with other members of a group that was chosen by Councillors.
3. Do you agree with the provincial proposal to create a Strong-Mayor system in Ottawa, including giving the Mayor a veto on Council decisions?
No, Olumide does not agree with giving a mayor power to dictate to Council, he agrees with a Constitutional Municipal Political Parties solution.
A mayoral veto can be anti-democratic because requiring a party leader to maintain the confidence of the caucus, is a healthy check to the risk of dictatorship by any party leader. It is democratic for a party caucus to be able to change the party leader in a Westminster government, but for an s1 Charter compliant reason, voters have freedom of expression and association right to elect a municipal party caucus to implement an election platform.
A Council veto can be anti-democratic because a mayor was elected with a citywide platform. For a Council veto to be democratic, Councillors should run as the representative of a party’s platform, or like some European countries, run for a specific ward, based upon a city-wide vote.
Param Singh
1. In what ways do you think the Mayor should be able to direct the decision-making process of Ottawa City Council?
The Mayor is to preside over council meetings, provide leadership and represent the city at official functions. I will be there to make sure that the council works as a team. We can agree to disagree, but we must always respect one another and not only listen but understand each other in order to move forward as a council for the greater good of our residents.
2. Please give one example of where you have led others in a group whose members you did not choose and how you shared and/or delegated decision-making authority with them.
Unfortunately, this is a question I cannot speak about due to my work. However, I can say that the process involved in any decision-making type of situation with anyone I have ever worked with, has always been successful. There are pros and cons in any example, and I always strive to learn from mistakes in order to make better decisions in the future.
3. Do you agree with the provincial proposal to create a Strong-Mayor system in Ottawa, including giving the Mayor a veto on Council decisions?
I totally disagree with the Strong-Mayor system. We need to work together as a team, not continue creating a divide within the council. We need a Mayor that will be able to bring the new council together.
Mark Sutcliffe
1. In what ways do you think the Mayor should be able to direct the decision-making process of Ottawa City Council?
I believe that the best way to get results for people is through consensus – not by dividing people or groups into categories or clubs. I’ve practiced that consensus building approach throughout my career in business and in journalism and I believe it stands absolutely true when we talk about governing. Finding common ground to deliver better results for people is the most important part of being a leader, and a Mayor.
Having a Mayor who will set clear priorities and direction for Council is very different than directing Council’s decision-making. A Mayor’s vision should respond to the needs of residents and build on the invaluable work Councillors do for their communities.
I am ready to work within the system we have to build the consensus Ottawa needs, and voters expect from their Mayor.
2. Please give one example of where you have led others in a group whose members you did not choose and how you shared and/or delegate decision-making authority with them.
I’ve been in several leadership roles for which I didn’t choose the other members of the team, in both professional and volunteer board capacities. I’ve been hired to be the leader of a team that was already in place and I’ve taken over as a board chair with members who were previously elected. My approach is always the same: I strive to engage with everyone, understand their values and objectives, and work together respectfully to find common ground and solve problems together.
3. Do you agree with the provincial proposal to create a Strong-Mayor system in Ottawa, including giving the Mayor a veto on Council decisions?
I am committed to working with all councillors, in the current system and under a new one, to deliver the results and services that our residents need.
For me, that means resolving issues people in Ottawa are facing on affordability, on transit, on safety, and on the livability of our city. I will work across the council table to make sure we deliver on these priorities for everyone, regardless of where they live in Ottawa.
Councillors work hard at representing their constituents, and I deeply respect their voice and the work they do. Any major change to the way decision-making is done should be fully evaluated by a newly-elected City Council.
My approach to leading is rooted in leading, and consensus-building. That’s the approach I would bring forward as Mayor.