A Call To Action For All Right Thinking Ottawans

Tomorrow is E-Day.

It's the most important election in the history of the city of Ottawa... for two fundamental reasons.

1) This is the first of the four-year municipal terms as so legislated by the province of Ontario. That means an extra 365 days of agony should we mess this one up and we either get Tax and Spend or Taxer and Spender as our mayor. This is also very important when considering your choice for councillor, so I hope you've been keeping good notes in your ward. (see post below, if yer stuck)

2) As both of the Munterelli's have been trying like mad to turn this election into a referendum on light rail, let me say this about THAT!

It has been called the single most important transportation project and capital expenditure in the history of this city. We can debate the capital issue until we're all blue in the face when factoring in the various economic climates, rates of inflation, etceteryadaya. But consider this:

The biggest transportation project in our history was the Rideau Canal. In 1832, Colonel John By was recalled to London due to his inability to control the cost of constructing the Rideau Canal. By's cost overrun was less than 43% against the June 1828 estimates. Initial O-Train estimates were $600 million with an original municipal commitment of one third. As the project's runaway costs top $1 billion, the city's portion, now at $600 million, is already 200% over-budget before it begins.

This is an intolerable development. Col. By was called home for a paltry 43% overrun by comparison and people (though not many, these days) are still considering Bob Chiarelli for another term.

If this, indeed, is a referendum on LRT (which I don't think it should be) then there is only one logical choice: Larry O'Brien.

Alex Munter thinks he can solve the issue East-West, North-South, Up-Down and inside out within two weeks of wielding the gavel. As O'Brien says, all Munter will succeed in changing is the colour of the train in that amount of time.

And further to my argument, Munter will only somehow succeed in adding to the already miserable cost overrun and further contribute to the fiscal tailspin.

This, by the way, is not a referendum on Light Rail. It's a referendum on responsible Leadership.

Munter doesn't possess it. Chiarelli fails to exercise it. O'Brien owns it and he consistently displays it.

DO YOUR PART

Take some time this evening and visit Larry O'Brien's website. Please copy and paste the open email from former mayor Jacqueline Holzman and send it to your friends, relatives and neighbors who are either supporting O'Brien or leaning toward him. I can't possibly come up with more urgent words than hers.

This is important.

Alex Munter, as reported in the Citizen today, is doing the same grass-roots email plea for support and turnout. Bob Chiarelli will, no doubt, be doing the same. He's likely to have people on hand to perform traditional Liberal campaign tasks (catch drift HERE - this for effect to underscore the Munterelli moniker) as well.

Let's not fail in this effort. Let's not fail ourselves. Let's not fail Ottawa!

One more thing: A wake-up call to RENTERS:

Recent Decima findings:

Also, 51 per cent of homeowners say they are leaning toward supporting Mr. O'Brien, while 60 per cent of renters say Mr. Munter is their choice.

This about THAT ONE:

Renters may not be that concerned with property taxes because they don't pay them directly. But if the landlord's taxes go up, their rents will increase proportionately. Though, they may not feel it this year, they will definitely see an increase at renewal and a substantial hike should they decide to move to another rental unit. You pay taxes even if you rent. The costs are included in your lease. You pay and you'll pay more if you end up with Munterelli.

Lastly.

Larry O'Brien will not be gutting city hall. He will not be indiscriminately cutting services. He will not be rampaging on some slash and burn firing spree. Those are the accusations of scare mongerers with no intention of arming themselves with the facts.

Larry O'Brien has done nothing but grow, develop and evolve everything he's been involved with. There is no reason to doubt that this man can utilize the resources at his disposal and make our city's workings more efficient and make the very staff within our city even more proud of the work they do and services they deliver to us; The very people who employ them.

Tomorrow's Election Day. Engage and Activate... and exercise the very democratic privilege that so many fought to establish and, subsequently, so many others fought to preserve for you to possess.

Let's git' er done!!