Budget 2026: Making Every Dollar Work for Ward 21

In my last Manotick Messenger column, I walked through the highlights from the draft 2026 City budget. This week, I want to focus on what it means for Ward 21 and how it reflects my commitment to responsible government, fiscal discipline, and making sure residents get real value for the taxes they pay.

Ward 21 is seeing one of the highest road investments in the city next year, and that is not happening by accident. A total of $8.865 million is allocated for roads in Ward 21, with $1.25 million for rural road upgrades to hard surface, $4.758 million for intersection improvements across the ward, and $3.907 million for culvert replacements. I have been very clear at the Council table that suitable and reliable infrastructure is a top priority for our residents, and I have pushed to make sure that priority is reflected in the budget year after year. When I sit down with staff and colleagues, I make the case for rural roads, for safe intersections, and for the everyday projects that matter in our communities.

Rural roads are only as strong as the drainage that protects them. In 2026, we’re investing $3.6M in rural ditching; $10.7M this term, 80% more than last term. This will improve safety, fix the broken Ditch Tax, keep rural dollars in rural Ottawa, and lower costs for rural taxpayers. These kinds of investments are not flashy, but they are exactly what rural residents expect when they pay their property taxes.

There are also specific local projects that residents will notice in 2026, many of which I have advocated for directly based on what I hear at your doors and in community meetings. McBean Street in Richmond will be resurfaced from the Jock River Bridge to Perth Street, and this project will include new sidewalks that improve safety for pedestrians. Fallowfield Road will be resurfaced from Munster Road to Dwyer Hill Road. The Rideau Valley Drive South Bridge over Stevens Creek will undergo bridge works. Doctor Leach Drive in Manotick and Community Way in North Gower will be resurfaced for corridor improvements. Details about specific locations for culvert work and other upgrades and road resurfacing projects will be shared by early spring next year, and I will keep pushing for clear communication so residents know what is happening on their roads and when.

Beyond Ward 21, the broader 2026 budget continues to invest heavily in the core services that residents count on. Citywide, the budget proposes $135 million for roads, bringing the total this term to more than $533 million, a record level of investment. Sidewalk rehabilitation funding rises to $25.4 million, a 77 percent increase since the last term. I have supported these increases because strong citywide infrastructure also benefits our villages, our farmers, and our businesses that depend on safe and reliable connections into and out of the rural area.

Public safety and emergency response are also front and centre in this budget, and I have worked closely with colleagues to make sure rural needs are part of those conversations. For a large rural ward, emergency response times are more than a statistic; they can be a matter of life and death. In 2026, the City will hire 23 new paramedics. Since 2022, level zero events, when no ambulances are immediately available, have dropped by nearly 80 percent. That is meaningful progress for communities like North Gower, Kars, Richmond, and Manotick, and I have been firm that we must keep building on those gains. On policing, the draft budget adds $26.1 million to the police budget, funds 25 new officers, supports the district policing model, and expands body worn cameras for frontline officers. For fire services, the budget includes $3.6 million to replace firefighter breathing equipment.

The budget also reflects a strong commitment to supporting vulnerable residents and addressing the housing challenges that affect families across the city. The draft 2026 budget invests $222 million to support vulnerable residents. Within that amount, $476,000 is dedicated to food security, a 15 percent increase to help local food banks keep up with demand, and $400,000 is focused on youth homelessness, helping young people find stability before they fall deeper into crisis. On housing, the City is proposing $105 million for affordable housing in 2026, a 133 percent increase from last year and well above the $45 million per year average from the last term of Council. By the end of 2026, we expect to deliver over 850 new affordable homes, more than double the total from the last term.

Finally, transit and our relationship with the province play a crucial role in protecting local taxpayers and improving life for rural commuters, and this is an area where I have worked to make sure Ward 21’s voice is heard. A major win this year is the province’s commitment of over $500 million and the uploading of LRT to Metrolinx. That move alone saves the City about $85 million every year. Instead of being lost inside a large system, those savings are being reinvested in better service for riders, including those who connect from rural villages. On top of this, the west LRT extension to Moodie Drive is expected in 2027, shortening trips for many Ward 21 commuters. I have consistently argued that major transit decisions must work for rural residents, not just the urban core.

I will keep doing the hard work, line by line and project by project, to secure these kinds of investments, to ensure rural priorities stay on the agenda, and to make sure that every tax dollar works hard for the people of Ward 21 today and in the years ahead.