Meet the College Ward candidates in Ottawa’s municipal election

The Algonquin Times reached out to both candidates to learn more about their top issues in the community.

What do candidates believe is the biggest issue for students within the ward?

Laine Johnson

Highlighting transit as one of the biggest issues, Johnson plans to work with OC Transpo to routinely meet with the Algonquin Students’ Association so concerns can be heard directly from the student body.

She believes Algonquin College students, who have the highest U-Pass tap frequency compared to any other post-secondary institution in Ottawa, have not been properly served with transit in the city.

Aside from transit, Johnson said the cost and availability of housing is another important issue for students in this the ward and across the city.

Abakar Malloum

Malloum said housing and transportation are among the most pressing issues students face in this city.

“As a councillor, we can work to find a better solution,” he said.

Malloum wants more transparency about the status of the western LRT extension after some stations were flooded on Canada Day.

“I want all the costs and the delay, when it’s going to be finished, everything, published,” he said.

Malloum believes Ottawa has an issue with transparency. When the city needs a solution, they raise taxes and it’s not clear how this money is being managed, he said.

Malloum also highlighted transit as one of the most impactful city-wide issues. He mentioned that, per the city budget, Ottawa is expected to have 1.5 million daily commuters by 2040.

“Transit is growing,” he said. “The building developments are being approved. But the infrastructure is not going the same way.

“The transit and then the housing are the deepest problem for the City of Ottawa, according to what I see,” he said. “It’s about planning. The solution is planning.”

How do candidates communicate with their constituents?

Laine Johnson

To hear issues first-hand from community members, Johnson says she goes door-knocking and, for issues related to Algonquin College, she speaks with the Students’ Association and the athletics department. To help better connect with student voices, Johnson says she aims to create a youth liaison position.

Abakar Malloum

“I try to communicate as much as possible,” he said.

Malloum said that he meets constituents when he goes door-knocking and has meetings for coffee.

Why do they think they are the best candidate to represent the ward?

Laine Johnson

Johnson believes she is the best candidate to represent this ward because she is an honest and effective councillor who wants to make sure everyone benefits.

“I’m an effective councillor, ” said Johnson. “Not only because I came from a civic education background and I came from a public participation background, I actually am incredibly curious about understanding other points of view and trying to figure out how to get somewhere with them.”

She also noted her investment in the local community.

“During the floods I was out every day meeting with residents, campaigning for more resources, dragging the city along to get their act together to deliver more for residents and that, I understand, gave residents a lot of comfort because they didn’t have the time or energy,” she said.

“That’s why you elect somebody to show up for you and advocate for you — because life is hard and you’re busy and you’re overwhelmed.”

Johnson said hosting a town hall with the chairs of the transportation, transit and housing committees at Algonquin College was one of her biggest accomplishments of the current council term.

In the midst of mass program cuts at the college, students came to the town hall to advocate. They explained how many local public services are largely employed by Algonquin College graduates, so cutting programs such as applied museum studies reduces the number of capable workers for Ottawa’s museums.

“The students were able to demonstrate to me that by cutting these programs there was actually several museums that the City of Ottawa offers that all of a sudden wouldn’t have staff,” she explained.

“There were going to be direct labour implications for programs that the City of Ottawa offers, things that obviously are really important to residents and they did such a good job of making it my problem. I couldn’t look away. And so from then on, I worked really hard to advocate to the provincial government.”

Abakar Malloum

Malloum says he is the best councillor to represent the ward because of his accountability and transparency. Despite the increasing property tax, Malloum says taxpayers have nothing to see for it.

“People need to know what’s going on,” he said. “So, I want to bring transparency and then accountability because I think this issue is important for good management.”

Malloum also explained how issues with transit and housing stem from a lack of addressing the development of critical infrastructure alongside the growing population.

“People, if they want transparency and then accountability, people should vote for me,” he said. “That’s what I think, that’s why I’m running.”

Voters have many opportunities to vote in this upcoming municipal election. The advance voting day is Oct. 16, ahead of the official voting day on Oct 26, both from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.