In a series of letters to the editor published in the Ottawa Citizen on Saturday, June 27, 2026, residents of Ottawa voiced strong opinions on the city's future, focusing on the need for a comprehensive economic growth plan and a willingness to raise taxes to address a growing infrastructure deficit.
Jeff Leiper Urged to Raise Taxes Significantly
Sharon Moren of Kanata declared her conditional support for mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper, stating she would vote for him only if he commits to raising taxes substantially. She criticized the current practice of modest 1-2% increases, which she argued merely keep the lights on but fail to address crumbling infrastructure, roads, and sports facilities. "It has been too easy for too long," she wrote, calling for serious tax hikes comparable to other major Canadian cities, despite potential hardship for residents amid high gas and grocery prices.
Moren praised incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe for finding efficiencies but warned that further cuts are now cutting "into muscle and bone." She urged Leiper to have the courage to tell residents that higher taxes are necessary to maintain existing services and infrastructure.
Call for 'Ottawa 2040' Growth Plan
Another letter, from Paul Jenkins of Ottawa, responded to recent Citizen articles highlighting the city's $11 billion infrastructure gap and the scale of the problem. Jenkins acknowledged the existing $10.3 billion long-term financial plan for roads, parks, public buildings, and water and sewage systems. However, he argued that a crucial complementary element is missing: a long-term economic growth plan to expand the tax base and create sustained employment and income opportunities.
Jenkins proposed an ambitious framework called 'Ottawa 2040', a unifying economic growth plan that would outline the kind of economy the city aims to have by mid-century. He suggested Ottawa could leverage its innovation hub to become a globally recognized center for artificial intelligence, quantum computing, defense technology, and cybersecurity. The plan would also create conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises to start, scale up, innovate, and attract talent.
Closing the Gap Requires Vision
Jenkins emphasized that closing the infrastructure gap must be part of a broader growth equation. He called for a vision that complements efforts by provincial and federal governments, using policies and incentives to unleash a 'can-do' spirit across both private and public sectors. "We need the vision of a growth plan to complement what is being done at other levels of government," he wrote, noting that Canada faces a growth and productivity challenge amid a changing world order and technological revolution.
The letters reflect a growing sentiment among some Ottawa residents that the city must take bold steps to secure its economic future, even if it means higher taxes and a more strategic, long-term approach to development.
