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Over the past few months, I have spoken to thousands of people at the door in Cumberland Ward. They want long-term stability and assurance that necessary services get the funding they need. They want a city where the cost of living is affordable and where their families can thrive. As a mother of two and resident of Cumberland Ward for over a decade, I want my children to be able to live in a neighbourhood where they not only feel safe but also have space where they can flourish, like after-school programming.
For years, Ottawa Council has underfunded public libraries, child care, long-term care, public housing, public transit and environmental programs, while continuing to spend hundreds of millions paying developers to remediate land for development. We need safer roads, a higher standard of transit service, and access to quality public services. It is time to advocate for a budget and a process that puts people and their needs first.
Yvette Ashiri, a local community activist and long-time resident of Cumberland Ward, is a candidate in the Oct. 5 byelection for Cumberland Ward.
