FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE: Horizon Ottawa Calls on City Hall to Limit Police Budget Increase, Prioritize Real Affordability Solutions
PRESS RELEASE: Horizon Ottawa Calls on City Hall to Limit Police Budget Increase, Prioritize Real Affordability Solutions
OTTAWA - Horizon Ottawa is urging City Hall to rein in police spending, freeze transit fares, and focus on real affordability solutions in the 2026 municipal budget.
OPS Budget Increases
The draft 2026 police budget proposes a 5% tax levy increase (~$26 million) even as other city services face cuts. Horizon Ottawa says the increase should be limited to 2.9%, the same as other departments, or frozen until data shows higher spending delivers real results.
Artificially Low Tax Rate & Affordability Framing
Horizon Ottawa argues Mayor Mark Sutcliffe is misleading residents with his repeated positioning of affordability as his top priority by pursuing low tax increases as the only solution. Taxes are one lever of affordability but far from the only one. Housing costs, transportation costs, recreation fees, and utility costs all factor heavily.
If housing remains unaffordable and transportation gets more expensive, then focusing on low tax increases is a shallow version of affordability. Public policy should address the full cost-of-living equation for all residents.
Transit Fares and Funding Unsustainable Price Trajectory
The draft budget suggests an 8% transit levy increase for 2026 alongside 2.5% fare increases and a projected capital/operating budget for OC Transpo of ~$938.7 million.
Transit fares in Ottawa are already among the highest in Canada. As fares rise, ridership falls, making the system even less sustainable. Horizon Ottawa is calling for a fare freeze and new funding models to reduce costs for riders.
Process & Political Context
A longstanding issue and concern is that the budgeting process remains opaque. The early stages of public engagement were limited and the mayor’s office drives the budget agenda. Horizon Ottawa urges a more open process, earlier release of budget directions, and full transparency.
“This budget isn’t about helping everyday people, it’s about helping the mayor’s re-election campaign,” said Tom Ledgley, Coordinator of Horizon Ottawa. “That’s not affordability, it’s austerity. You can’t build an affordable city by starving public services and writing blank cheques for the police.”
Demands for Budget 2026
Horizon Ottawa believes the 2026 draft budget fails to align affordability, equity, sustainability and transparent governance. Instead, it doubles down on large policing increases, fare hikes, and low tax framing that doesn’t address the real cost-pressures that residents face.
Horizon Ottawa calls on council and the mayor to:
- Limit the OPS levy increase to 2.9% or freeze it entirely;
- Freeze transit fares and explore new transit funding models;
- Replace the “low-tax equals affordability” approach with a real cost-of-living plan;
- Fund core services like public health and libraries fairly alongside policing.
- 30 -
For Media Inquiries:
Tom Ledgley
613-663-7018
[email protected]
Latest posts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City issued $12,500 worth of tickets at protests in 2023-24
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
