Rideau-Vanier: Boutaleb — Let's fix the historic 'heart' of Ottawa

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The Citizen invited candidates in the Oct. 24 municipal election to share their thoughts:

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People ask me: “Why are you running?” The short answer: “Because I’m angry.”

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My wife and I moved here a few years ago, from overseas, and were confronted with non-stop problems in transportation, administration and safety. Our many discussions with long-term residents revealed it’s only been getting worse. I have never before spent so much of my life calling and writing letters to OC Transpo, MPs, MPPs, councillors and administrators. With few exceptions, simple solutions are made needlessly complicated, dodged or ignored. Having been raised in British Columbia, and now starting our family in Ottawa, I find Canada seems almost unrecognizable.

Instead of whining, I decided to run for councillor: use my energy, experience, education and sheer will to address issues head-on. I’ve never shied away from a good fight, and the more I hear, the more I want my campaign slogan to be: “Let me at ’em!”

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Ward 12 includes the historic beating “heart” of the city. It supplies the blood for the administrative “head” in downtown/city hall/Parliament Hill, even if that head is often obliviously in the clouds. Our ward has so many challenges, and the most candidates!

First, the homelessness and drug problem. I can’t tell you how many times myself, my wife, our baby, our toddler, have walked nervously home while vagrants shouted at us or blocked pathways. My heart goes out to them, and I honestly believe deteriorating social safety nets and urban neglect are mostly to blame. Follow examples: other cities are dealing with this better.

Second, Ottawa public transport is disgraceful. Moving here from Prague, an Ottawa-sized capital in Europe, I found the contrast in public transport could not be more stark: from schedules posted at every stop, trams/buses on time, and a rail system that rarely malfunctions and, when it does, backup is secured. And this from a less-wealthy country!

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There is no accountability here and a careless disregard for efficiency. Follow better examples: other cities, such as Montreal, do transport better.

Third, we need shading and green spaces, more brain and heart, over quick-buck development. This includes contingency planning for upcoming climate disasters. I’d condition building projects on keeping/making essential services accessible. I’d encourage landscaping solutions, urban art, and outdoor museum projects. Crucially, arrange solar-panelled businesses to serve as communal hubs during power outages. Again, follow better examples. Ottawa: you’re our national jewel; we deserve better, together. See hichamb.ca.

In a world where an educated public receives accurate news, we’d all come together to make this world a better place. Globally, we face two grave threats: avert the impending climate catastrophe and reduce/eliminate risks of nuclear annihilation. These twin shadows hang over us, despite convenient denials by greedy corporations and professional politicians/pundits using PR firms — anxious to hide and increase their wealth NOW … the world be damned tomorrow.

Looking at my young, innocent children, and other children at the day care, I can’t even fathom the absurd levels of callous short-termism that endangers us all. We cannot — must not — let this happen. Let’s start locally, democratically. Vote. Hicham.