Ottawa mayoral candidate Coun. Jeff Leiper is pledging to build a new recreation centre and a year-round, city-owned sports dome in Orléans if he is elected on Monday. With just days before voters head to the polls, the three-term councillor said residents in Orléans “shouldn’t have to sit in traffic to access basic recreation facilities.” Leiper said Orléans South-Navan is one of the fastest-growing parts of Ottawa, with the ward expected to grow from about 47,500 residents in 2022 to more than 54,000 by the end of this year. The plan includes applying for provincial funding to cover up to $10 million for the new rec centre. Leiper says he would work with residents, east-end councillors and francophone partners to choose the site and decide what goes inside. Residents would also help choose its name. The dome would be able to be built more quickly, and at a lower cost, he said. “The city would own and run it, so sports clubs, schools and families could book time directly with the city and keep playing soccer, football, and ultimate frisbee all year round,” he said. Leiper took aim at incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe in his announcement on Friday, saying Orléans is not mentioned in plans to build more parks and rec centres. “Mark Sutcliffe promised families lower fees and delivered higher ones,” said Leiper. “He backed a $418.8-million plan for Lansdowne, while families in Orléans and Navan are still waiting for the space they need. We need to plan for the community Orléans is becoming, not just the one it was.” Leiper voted against Lansdowne 2.0. Sutcliffe’s platform includes a plan to build “at least four” new community or recreation complexes in Ottawa if he is re-elected, “with at least one located in every region of the city.” The plank on his website specifically mentions the Barrhaven Civic Centre, a new facility at Confederation Heights, and a new facility in Vanier. Fourteen candidates are running to be mayor of Ottawa. In alphabetical order, they are: Queen Divine Priya Amber Bakshi, Zed Chebib, Bernard Couchman, Suraj Harish, Alex Lawson, Jeff Leiper, Geoff Nicholas, Josh Rachlis, Neil Saravanamuttoo, Ali Shayvard, Jacob Solomon, Mark Sutcliffe (incumbent), Amjad Ali Syed, and Peter Westaway. Election day is Oct. 26.
