The CTV News Ottawa mayoral debate is Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. Watch on CTVNewsOttawa.ca, listen on Newstalk 580 CFRA and watch on the Newstalk 580 CFRA YouTube Channel. Incumbent Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe is making a pitch to senior citizens, offering safer streets, cheaper recreation, and property tax deferrals when downsizing. Sutcliffe made the announcement Friday morning, saying he is committed to making everyday life easier for Ottawa’s senior population. “When I talk to seniors, I hear about the little things that can make a big difference, being able to reach someone when you need help, having a place to sit while you’re out in your neighbourhood, or feeling safe crossing the street,” said Sutcliffe. “We need to make sure that as Ottawa grows and technology evolves, we are not leaving anyone behind. We need to make sure Ottawa is safe and accessible for everyone.” The plan includes creating a dedicated 3-1-1 option for seniors to connect them with trained personnel who can help them navigate common requests. Sutcliffe is also promising to install more benches near retirement homes and in communities with a high concentration of seniors and improving crosswalks in such neighbourhoods. He would freeze recreation fees for seniors. Rec fees typically rise every year alongside property taxes. Sutcliffe is also promising to introduce property tax deferral for seniors who downsize their homes, “giving eligible seniors greater flexibility as their housing needs change,” he says. Ottawa’s population is aging, with the number of senior citizens in the city growing by nearly 20 per cent between 2016 and 2021. The City of Ottawa says there are now more seniors than children under the age of 15 living in Ottawa, and by 2031 seniors are expected to make up more than one in five people living in the capital. Election day is Monday, Oct. 26. An advance voting day will be held on Friday, Oct. 16. 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.
