Unbelievable HELP from so many

Before closing the blog I want to note some very special help from extraordinary people.

My late wife's family were always there to do what needed to be done.

Richard and Brian worked to keep the campaign on the rails.

Doug and Diane knocked on doors and managed the finances but so many others did what they could.

Financial help was a big surprise with donors from outside of Ottawa and from areas outside the ward. I am/was very touched to hear the congratulations from so many who felt I did all we could.

The sign guys both up and tear down were superb, and of course the webmaster (my son in Vancouver) was on top of the postings.

I am very fortunate to have as many people who believed in me and our efforts were not rewarded as they should have been...all that said I could not be more proud of the work done by all. We were up against a force we did not recognize until the Sunday before voting day. Colour me blue or rather I did not have that colour behind me!. I believed that party politics were not supposed to enter in to Municipal elections but now I know differently. So the outcome is as I voiced before.

Pete would have been PROUD OF YOU ALL as I am.

THANKS

Bruce

CFRA Interview - Sunny Side Nick

This past Sunday morning, I was on the 'Sunny Side Nick' show on CFRA. Have a listen to the audio by clicking the play button below. Running time is around 20 minutes.

Also, see some photos while I was in the booth below.

CFRA Pre-Election Radio Special

CFRA recently aired a great pre-election special.

Below is the less than 2 minute portion that pertains to Ward 21.


Below is the entire show for those interested in the entire nearly 1 hour show.

Mr. Brooks Is In Error

Lynne Owen has brought to my attention a terrible error on Mr. Brooks' website. Here's what she told me via email.

A recent posting on the election website of candidate Glenn Brooks blatantly misrepresents the truth about rival Bruce Webster’s commitment and service to Ward 21 and the City of Ottawa.

Mr. Webster's active involvement has not been restricted to his home community of Richmond as stated by Brooks. Bruce has held many volunteer positions in Richmond, including 12 years of service to the Village Association, but his experience and volunteerism does not end there.

Bruce served as president of the Rural Council of Ottawa-Carleton, a coalition of rural citizens and organizations across Ottawa, from 2006 to 2010. He began his involvement with the council as a founding member in 2001. He was also a member of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee from 2004 to 2010, working with the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of City Council to resolve rural issues that affect the entire city.

Mr. Webster has made many presentations on behalf of Ottawa’s entire rural community, logging more than 400 meetings with various organizations and trips as a city-wide volunteer driver for the Canadian Cancer Society over the past four years.

This, among other excellent credentials that Bruce has, makes him the clear choice as the next Councillor for Ward 21 - experience and credentials that Betty Hill, former Mayor of Goulbourn, took into her consideration when endorsing Bruce Webster as the best choice for Rideau-Goulborn Ward.

While Mr. Brooks suggests a vote for him will “make Ward 21 a better place to live, to work and raise our families,” in the same sentence he admits he has had 33 years to do this...but obviously he has failed. It’s time for a change – for the best.

Thank you Lynne for taking the time to write me and for shedding light on this matter for me. I hope that by posting your note here that folks will see that there is no truth to what is being said on his site with respect to my credentials.

I couldn't agree more with what you say: It's time for a change - for the best.

'Our Ottawa' releases their endoresments

I'm happy to have read that I am among the three candidates that 'Our Ottawa' is endorsing.

Read this Ottawa Citizen article (click) for more details.

Bruce

Debate Feedback Welcomed

This past Wednesday night I participated in my first (of many to come) live debates, and welcome your feedback on it, please post below in the comments section your thoughts.

Regards,

Bruce

Q&A With Ottawa Citizen

Recently a reporter named Kristy Nease from the Ottawa Citizen asked that I respond to a survey of questions. I did so, and would like to share my unedited responses with you here, as I think you could find them of value.

ISSUES PAST

Kristy Nease: How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the Lansdowne Park redevelopment plan as it was finally presented at the beginning of the summer?

Bruce Webster: I would have voted against because of the improper process leading up to the approval. Sole source is not the best way to achieve the best outcome from a financail perspective

KN: How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2008 Transportation Master Plan update that included a plan for light rail in a downtown tunnel?

BW: As I have not yet after many requests been able to obtain all the pertinent information on funding "without affecting the tax base" Ottawa Staff quote I would at the time have voted against until the requisite information was made available and then would have been voting with a clear understanding.

KN: What's been the greatest success of amalgamation?

BW: I see no great success

KN: What's been the greatest failure?

BW: The city is still fractured into Urban/Suburban and Rural parts There is still a discontent in all three parts because of the different life styles and needs

KN: What are the three most important issues in your ward?

BW: Roads..Recreation..Taxes

KN: What specific measure will be your top priority if you're elected?

BW: Financial stability while controlling expenses and tax increases

KN: If you aren't the incumbent, say something nice about the incumbent.

BW: Glenn has served the area well for over 35 years during his career as a politician and he should now retire as he promised his wife in 2006

KN: Now, what specifically would you aim to do better than he or she does?

BW: Listen to the voices of all the comunity not just the richest and most vocal

CITY SERVICES

KN: Taxes. On the whole, are they too high? Just about as high as they need to be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?

BW: We can no longer tax to this limit and we need to control our expenditures to match our income. This is a definition of BUDGET

KN: Should OC Transpo be designated an essential service?

BW: PublicTransportation in the western world is essential

KN: The National Capital Commission has identified cycling as a priority in its work in the capital. Do you support this? What do you think Ottawa needs to do to make bicycle commuting more appealing?

BW: Better and safer cycling lanes particularly in the suburban/rural areas

KN: It's city policy to promote intensification downtown, but of course it's often difficult to get neighbourhood support for any particular project. Is downtown intensification the right path for the city? How should the city government smooth the way?

BW: The maximization of IN PLACE infrastructure is needed to slow down the expenditures associated with growth. 22% of the tax dollar now goes to growth related infrastructure supporting developer profit which results in urban sprawl and hence core decay. The city should encourage nodes of revitalization/intensification which reflects the area impacted

KN: Should the urban boundary be expanded significantly?

BW: The city staff have identified enough available land to sustain the city for the next 20 years WITHOUT urban boundary expansion This reflects on the need to maximize the present infrastructure and leapfrogging the urban boundary to build high density bedroom communities outside the present boundary is counterproductive to financial stability as the need for capital expense to service these village areas is greatly disproportional to revenues

KN: Please list some city services you consider "core" and any you consider "frills" that could be cut back.

BW: Core...Emergency services..Road maintenance...Waste collection. and treatment(s)...water electrical services...schools. social housing, Most others could be considered "frills" BUT the province does mandate many of which we have no choice

KN: Larry O'Brien has publicized a financial platform aimed at producing tax freezes and is asking council candidates to say whether they back it or not. What have you told him?

BW: As noted above I believe we can and MUST do better without adding to the present tax burden

GOVERNANCE

KN: Roughly how many city council meetings have you attended in the last year?

BW: 6 to 8 Plus as a member of a citizens committee reporting to ARAC I attend about another 10 to 12

KN: Should city councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?

BW: Yes maximum of 2 terms but allowed to return after a one term absence. I remember when people actually "served" their communities for 3 to 6 years when they had achieved the ability to do so. There were NO PROFESSIONAL politicians who looked on it as a job. SERVE actually meant something.

KN: What would you like to change to make city council work more smoothly?

BW: The process where items and issues are staff driven rather than council driven and examined. Council needs to regain control

KN: Do you support a borough system, or something like it, for devolving local issues to more local control and keeping them off the city council agenda?

BW: Items which are already covered under the city bylaws should rarely be placed before council.Staff should be able to work with the ward rep to resolve many ward related issues and certain items ( stop signs/minor variances/speed bumps/tree cutting/cow signs should be resolved thoughtfully rather than by adherence to rules

KN: Do we have about the right number of councillors? Should there be significantly more or fewer?

BW: From the rural perspective we have already made it near impossible to serve the vast areas. Reducing any more will be a disenfranchisement as would any reduction in other areas because of numbers of residents. A consideration of a different electoral system...Alderman and council or a mixed at large/ward might be more efficient.

KN: Is your campaign accepting corporate and union donations?

BW: I have not yet done so

KN: Some people think they should be banned. What do you think?

BW: The definition of corporate is too vague Would this exclude the corner store? mac's Milk or the local grocery? Unions I believe should not contribute to municipal campaigns

ABOUT YOU

KN: What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?

BW: Education is some University non grad...E.O.I.T (precursor to Algonquin) 28 Years in communications industry..14 years working as a volunteer for the greater Ottawa area ..as volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke ..President of four different sports and community organizations...member of Rural Issues Advisory Committee, (a city support organization)

KN: If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?

BW: I can work well with either J. Watson or Larry O'Brien and have worked with Larry during his present term in office as well as with staff.

KN: Do you live in the ward you're seeking to represent? If not, what's your interest in the area?

BW: I have been a resident in the ward for 40 years

KN: Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?

BW: I was born in Vancouver B.C. but have lived in Ottawa all my adult life

KN: When you were growing up, how did your parents or guardians support your family?

BW: My father was an employee of the Federal Government and my Mother was a registered Nurse working at the Cancer Wing of the Civic Hospital

KN: What's the most significant position of responsibility you've ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?

BW: ...Although the significance may not be in stature I believe my most appreciated and therefore to me most impactive contribution is my driving as a volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society...taking patients to their treatments and appointments

KN: Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids?

BW: ... I was married for almost 40 years until my wife passed away in July of this year. She strongly supported my campaign as my wife and also office manager. Our one child a son was married this Sept. 4th in Vancouver

KN: Who's been the best Ottawa municipal politician (including the pre-amalgamation municipalities) you know of? Why?

BW: I lived for some time in Nepean and have great respect for Aubrey Moodie, Ben Franklin and Andy Haydon Jim Durrell and Charlotte Whitten were visionaries as was a non politician, Doug Fullerton of the NCC They all worked to better and build what is now Ottawa

KN: When did you last take the bus to commute or run an errand?

BW: There is very limited bus service to the rural areas ( 3 commuter buses) so I am forced to use a car...but we do car pool to meetings and such

KN: When you did you last take a bike to commute or run an errand?

BW: I am able to walk to my coffee shop and grocery store as well as most other daily needs.