Better Ottawa This Project is Not in Jeopardy!
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Dec 5, 2025 Budget season in Ottawa is heating up with a hefty $156 million boost for new and ongoing LRT construction. Delays at the Adisoke library have raised eyebrows about potential deeper issues. The panel discusses the political implications of a long-term financial plan set for 2026 and various funding strategies for infrastructure, including tax hikes and facility sales. They also tackle the controversial $1 million for private security in ByWard Market and the risks it poses for community displacement. A must-listen for local governance enthusiasts!
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Why LRT Is In Finance Committee
- LRT construction falls under the Finance Committee because the city funds it centrally and council assigned oversight there.
- Joanne Cianello and John Willing stress the committee is treated like council's cabinet for big-ticket items.
$156M Ask And Hidden Legal Costs
- The city requested $156 million extra for LRT work, with $6.5M for stage one legal and $150M for stage two overruns.
- Panelists flagged lack of public detail and heavy legal cost components as concerning.
Breakdown Of The Stage Two Overrun
- About $70M of the $156M covers extended deadlines and staffing/consultant costs.
- Another ~$80M covers unanticipated site issues, train allocation, noise and safety measures.