Earlier this month, I posed several Kitchissippi-centric questions to the candidates running for the four major parties in our riding in the federal election. Below, I’ve reproduced the answers from Joel Harden (NDP), Yasir Naqvi (Liberal) and Amanda Rosenstock (Green) who provided their replies by the April 23 deadline, as well as Paul D’Orsonnens (Conservative) who replied on April 24.
1) The Central Experimental Farm is a jewel in the heart of Ottawa, on the border with Kitchissippi. How do you envision its future, and what actions will you take to protect that future?
Paul D’Orsonnens: Concur, it is a jewel indeed. No development. Sustain and support.
Joel Harden: The communities around the Experimental Farm value the scientific innovation that has gone on for almost 100 years and that research is even more critical as we search for innovative solutions to combat climate change. As your Federal MP I would work with the Department of Agriculture and the Farm specifically to ensure that the Farm has an essential role in research and fighting climate change long into the future.
It was very unfortunate that the new Civic building was built where it was – we lost so much of our natural environment. My vision includes replacing the same number of trees that were taken down for the hospital and in the adjoining communities restoring the tree coverage that generations of people have enjoyed.
Yasir Naqvi: The Central Experimental Farm is a national treasure—and I’ve fought hard to protect it. Over the last four years, I worked with my Liberal colleagues to bring forward Bill C-23, which would have offered stronger protections for sites of historic, cultural, and natural importance—like the Farm. I pushed to make sure The Farm would be covered under this new law.
Unfortunately, Conservative delay tactics blocked the bill from passing. But I’m not giving up. I’m committed to bringing this initiative back with strong Liberal support and finally getting it done.
In the meantime, we’re making progress. Just this January, Minister Steven Guilbeault designated the Dominion Observatory Complex—a key part of the Farm—as a national historic site. I also hosted Minister Guilbeault here in Ottawa to tour the Farm and hear directly from our community. He made clear that a Liberal government will stand up to protect the Farm in law, and that commitment is shared publicly.
This place tells a story about Canada’s history, our innovation, and our future. I’ll keep fighting to make sure it’s preserved and strengthened for generations to come.
Amanda Rosenstock: I look forward to the forthcoming report of the joint City of Ottawa, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and National Capital Commission Experimental Farm Working Group. I will be ready to support the implementation of any recommendations that better balance the need for more housing and the protection of this historic research site and community hub. We must do everything we can to preserve central Ottawa’s remaining green space that provides climate resilience and community well-being.
2) Kitchissippi ward is quickly gentrifying and housing in our ward is financially out of reach to many. What actions will you take to address this so that our neighbourhoods are an option for everyone?
Paul D’Orsonnens: Build more homes through incentives and tax breaks. Work with the other levels of government to incentivize building more affordable housing.
Joel Harden: Housing is on everyone’s mind this election. We have the solutions to the housing crisis right here in Ottawa Centre and in Kitchissippi Ward but we need the political will to support and expand them. I would work closely with our local solutions like Ottawa Community Housing and CCOC Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation to build and defend deeply affordable housing. Projects like the two new rent-geared-to-income housing developments by the CCOC on Carruthers St. These new housing developments are not just rent geared to income, they are family units, a crucial part of the housing puzzle we are missing. We need more money and more political support for our local housing initiatives. We know what the solutions are and we have them in Ottawa Centre, we just need the political will to rapidly expand them and scale them up.
Yasir Naqvi: Housing is one of the biggest issues I hear about—people are being priced out of the very communities they’ve helped build. We need real solutions, and we need them now.
Since 2021, I have brought in over $1 billion of housing funding to Ottawa Centre – helping to build over 3,200 new homes and retrofit more than 16,000 others. In Budget 2024, I helped secure $112.6 million over five years for the Federal Lands Initiative starting in 2024-2025 with an additional $4.3 million in future years. Building on these accomplishments, I will lead efforts to build thousands of affordable homes on public lands like LeBreton Flats, Tunney’s Pasture, and Confederation Heights. Affordable housing is a significant share of these new units and I have and will continue to advocate for a minimum 30% of new builds to be community housing, because public land should serve public good.
I have also ensured that the community is thoroughly consulted, as part of the Community Perspectives Group for the development of Tunney’s Pasture. I will always advocate for a robust role for our community association.
The Liberal Party will build 500,000 new homes a year across the country, including affordable, purpose-built rentals. We’re also removing the GST for first-time homebuyers to help people break into the market faster.
And it’s not just about housing supply—it’s about affordability overall.
Programs like Child Care and Dental Care are already saving families thousands of dollars a year. We’re delivering a tax cut worth up to $825 for low-income Canadians, and we’re working to make sure communities like Kitchissippi stay inclusive, livable, and within reach for everyone.
Amanda Rosenstock: The City of Ottawa’s Official Plan recognizes that “missing middle” housing is the solution to give both renters and first-time home buyers more options that can accommodate their needs. The missing middle is anything in between single family homes and large apartment buildings (ie. that is, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, etc.) I support this approach so that young professionals don’t have to flock to the suburbs when looking to upsize or build equity. As your MP, I would work more aggressively with the city to lift zoning restrictions that prevent larger housing types in multi-unit residential developments from being built. I would also work to speed up changes to the federal building code to allow for larger unit sizes and more energy efficient homes.
3) Our ward is becoming rapidly congested with vehicle traffic for which the only sustainable solution is public and active transit, including better bus service to supplement LRT with convenient connections. How will you advocate to facilitate improvements to public transit in Kitchissippi?
Paul D’Orsonnens: Work to secure more funding from the provincial government for public transit and keep expanding.
Joel Harden: As Ontario NDP Critic for Transit, this is an issue I am intimately familiar with. On November 17, 2021, the Ford Government declared a public inquiry into Stage 1 of Ottawa’s LRT. For months they said this was the “City of Ottawa’s problem”, but persistent advocacy from residents, local journalists, and myself as your MPP resulted in accountability for our communities. It was a major win for transparency and accountability in public infrastructure.
As your MP, I would work to make sure that the City of Ottawa gets the amount of financial support it desperately needs and deserves. I will call on the federal government to create a permanent, direct, allocation-based funding mechanism so that municipalities receive regular injections of federal transit operating money to ensure the survival of our public transit systems. We need LRT and bus systems that will allow people to access public transit that is reliable and efficient, while getting cars off the roads and fighting climate change. Currently our MP Mr Naqvi has not been able to secure for the city of Ottawa the right number of funds from the Federal government that is owed Cash in lieu. I would make this an utmost priority.
Yasir Naqvi: Reliable public transit is essential—and I’ve been a strong voice for getting Ottawa the support it needs.
Over the next decade, Ottawa is set to receive $180 million in federal transit funding. That’s part of a broader Liberal commitment to build greener, more accessible, and more connected cities.
Just last year, I helped secure $350 million in funding to deliver 350 new zero-emission buses for OC Transpo—getting us closer to a system that’s both sustainable and reliable.
But let’s be honest: the system needs serious improvements. The federal government is stepping up—but we also need the city and province to match that urgency. As your MP, I’ll keep pushing every level of government to get on board and deliver the quality transit service Kitchissippi deserves.
I am also a champion of improving active transportation routes in Ottawa Centre that should work year-round, for everyone. Whether you’re walking, biking, rolling, skiing, or using a mobility device, it should be easy and safe to get around the city. I am advocating for a major expansion of accessible active-use corridors, with permanent infrastructure that supports safe, clean, and inclusive mobility — even in winter. My plan includes wider, well-maintained paths, improved lighting, better snow clearing, and full wheelchair accessibility across core routes. It also prioritizes segregated pathways that clearly separate pedestrians from cyclists and fast-moving e-scooters — ensuring that people walking, especially seniors, children, and those with disabilities, can move safely and comfortably without fear of collisions.
Amanda Rosenstock: I do not own a car and don’t plan on buying one because it’s cheaper and better for the environment. My partner and I rely heavily on transit. City staff have indicated that the key reasons for the lack of reliability within our transit system is the City’s inability to hire new drivers and mechanics to repair our aging bus fleet. When you see a bus route cancelled or disappear on a transit app, it’s often because there’s no driver for that route or the bus has gone out of service due to mechanical issues.
Right now, the federal government only provides funding for capital costs (eg. for physical buses and the infrastructure to build stations). For the reasons mentioned above, this kind of funding does not address Ottawa’s key needs. As your MP, I would prioritize working across party lines to ensure that federal funding for transit gives municipalities like Ottawa the flexibility to use funds for operations and maintenance expenses that are essential to improving the reliability of our system. I would also work with the government to ensure that all federal funding for transit requires municipalities to show their plans to increase ridership year-over-year, so that we have transparency around whether or not funding is helping to get more cars off the road and improving reliability for riders.
4) 250 Lanark is a prime development opportunity yet there seems to be little progress towards achieving its potential. What future do you envision for the 250 Lanark parcel and how will you advocate to achieve that?
Paul D’Orsonnens: Advocate for responsible development that meets the requirements of the neighbourhood.
Joel Harden: If it is the desire of Kitigan Zibi to purchase 250 Lanark this is an initiative I would support fully. If Kitigan Zibi decides not to go ahead with the purchase, we need to look at turning the 250 Lanark property into affordable public housing in the heart of our downtown. Like 250 Lanark, across Ottawa Centre there are empty and unused federal office buildings, and we need to look at which of these offices can be transformed into affordable public housing. As your MP I will work to direct the federal public service to look at transforming empty and unused office buildings into housing that our communities desperately need. There is a vital need for housing, and it is irresponsible and shameful that there has been little movement on retrofitting federal office buildings into housing, or using empty crown land to build new affordable housing units.
Yasir Naqvi: We have an opportunity at 250 Lanark to build something meaningful—something that reflects the values of our community. That means using the site to help meet our urgent housing needs, while also investing in green space, services, and accessibility.
The Liberal Party has a plan to overcome obstacles that development opportunities like 250 Lanark face. For instance, upfront capital – we will provide 10 billion in low-cost financing across Canada to affordable home builders. We will cut development charges in half to multi-unit residential housing. We will reintroduce a tax incentive that will spur tens of thousands of housing units across the country and reduce housing bureaucracy, zoning restrictions, and other red tape that holds projects like this back.
With these significant tools we are putting on the table, I want to see all orders of government come to the table and treat this project like the priority it is. As your MP, I’ll push to ensure the federal government does its part to make this a community-centered development—not another missed opportunity.
Amanda Rosenstock: With the sale of 250 Lanark by the government to the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (KZA) originally slated to close on March 21st, as your MP, I would swiftly follow up with the Treasury Board and KZA to find out what is delaying the closing of the sale and to find out if there are any actions on the government’s part that can be accelerated or better executed to move this much-needed development forward.
5) Significant intensification in Kitchissippi is driving the need for infrastructure. Traditionally this is funded with development charges where related to growth, but federal parties have all suggested to one degree or another that funding for cities may hinge on much-reduced development charges. What is your preferred approach to funding needed infrastructure in Kitchissippi?
Paul D’Orsonnens: Responsible development cannot occur without infrastructure. A reduction in development fees is one way to speed up the build in infrastructure, but provincial and federal programs can also be structured to assist in the financing.
Joel Harden: The NDP is calling for increased municipal funding from the federal government, from transit, to housing, and other infrastructure. As well, the NDP is proposing the Communities First Fund which will support provinces in helping cities lay the foundations for building more homes faster, while requiring rent control, reduced development charges from cities, and housing security strategies to end homelessness and encampments. The plan is for provinces to access the funding by: freezing development charges and working with cities to cut them in half, lowering construction costs, implementing a Renters’ Bill of Rights, ending exclusionary zoning that blocks new homes, supporting the construction of pre-fabricated homes to speed up building timelines, requiring cities to allow at least four units on residential lots and more multi-unit homes. Cities need funding for vital infrastructure like gyms, bike lanes, transit, and public parks, and as your MP I will fight for a model that builds housing while ensuring continued funding for what makes our communities great places to live.
Yasir Naqvi: We need to build—and we need to do it right. That means strong, predictable infrastructure funding so cities can plan ahead and support growth.
As your federal representative, I’ve fought to deliver investments through programs like the Canada Community-Building Fund and the Investing in Canada Plan. These dollars help fund everything from water systems to transit to green infrastructure right here in Kitchissippi.
We’ve already announced $180 million over 10 years for Ottawa’s transit system. And we’re thinking long-term—with investments in high-speed rail, inclusive buildings, and trade infrastructure that makes life better here at home. I’ll continue to fight for permanent, predictable federal funding to help communities like ours thrive—without passing the burden onto local families.
Amanda Rosenstock: Ultimately, our city’s fiscal position is not sustainable. Municipalities in Canada own 60% of the infrastructure yet only receive 8 to 10 cents on every tax dollar collected within their jurisdictions. We need to break the vicious cycle of the city coming cap in hand to other levels of government whenever there’s a funding crunch. Over the long-term, the federal government must work with other levels of government towards a renewed fiscal framework that ensures financing for our public services is sustainable.
6) Is there anything you’d like to say that speaks to the unique concerns of Kitchissippi residents that you’ve heard in the campaign so far?
Joel Harden: Kitchissippi is proud to be a shining example of a 15-minute neighbourhood, where you can go to the library, buy your groceries, and enjoy the parks all in the same area. Kitchissippi is a model that we should have throughout the country.
However, working as an MPP I know that many of our neighbours, including those living with addiction, need additional government support to make sure they can recover and meet their needs. Kitchissippi has just experienced the Northwood Recovery Methadone clinic, a private clinic which provided safe supply but none of the wraparound services that are necessary to truly support those with addiction. At the time, I worked with the Hintonburg Community Association to achieve better regulation to hold Northwood to account. Safe supply needs to be matched with vital social services. A for-profit private safe supply model like Northwood is unacceptable – we are fighting for public, accountable, and non-profit safe supply with the good of those accessing the system and the entire neighbourhood in mind. Unfortunately this exploitative system moved to Chinatown. The Federal government must follow-up with the right support for those suffering with addiction, ensuring that our community members have the dignity and respect they deserve.
Yasir Naqvi: Kitchissippi is one of the most engaged, thoughtful, and caring communities in the country—and I hear that every time I knock on a door. People are proud to live here, but they’re also worried: about the cost of living, the rise in misinformation and division, and what a Trump-style politics would mean for Canada.
The number one issue people raise? The threat of Pierre Poilievre and what his cuts and chaos would mean for our future.
That’s why I’m running. We can’t let Canada go down the path of division and privatization. We need steady leadership, grounded in our values. We need to keep standing up for public healthcare, affordable housing, accessible transit, and a strong, compassionate Canada. And I’ll never stop fighting for that.
Amanda Rosenstock: In my conversations with residents, I have been hearing that a lack of access to primary care is a top concern. Without urgent action, the number of Ottawa residents without a family doctor could double by 2026. This is unacceptable.
Right now, the government forgives the federal portion of student loans for doctors and nurses, but only for those working in areas where the population is 30,000 or less. As your MP, I would work to expand eligibility based on local needs so that we can attract more healthcare workers to Ottawa and help them stay. The Green Party will also work with the government to modernize federal health legislation to guarantee that every Canadian has access to primary care – whether provided by a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or community health team – without having to pay out of pocket.