Councillor eyes local priorities as budget process unfolds

Manor Park residents are out for a walk on a sunny afternoon. Trees have donned blazing red and orange leaves to welcome the Thanksgiving weekend. As temperatures drop for autumn, another season looms ahead: budget season. This year’s city budget — which outlines how municipal resources are collected and allocated for the year — is currently under works. For Manor Park residents, the 2025 city budget could mean increased funding for neighbourhood improvements.

“The budget … is always a very important document to all neighbourhoods, and really expresses the desires of residents in terms of the investments that they want to see in their communities,” says Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Rawlson King.

The councillor says he hears frequent calls from residents for more investment in parks and road infrastructure, particularly “the need for safer streets” and “traffic functionality.”

“We are working on an integrated renewal project that would also see improvements to intersection design on different streets,” he added, specifying Arundel Ave., Farnham Cres. and Killbarry Cres. as current targets for the project.

Improved parks

Another issue Coun. King said he hears from residents about the 2025 city budget is the need for improved parks in the neighbourhood.

Area resident Leigh Adamson says she’s noticed a lack of opportunities for children to play outside. “There’s not a lot of activities for children,” she says. “There is one big park, but there’s no play structure in it. There’s nothing for kids to do there.”

Councillor King said discussions and work are underway for Manor Park green spaces.

“We’re going to see replacement of junior play equipment and swings at Hemlock Park and other improvements,” he says. He is also in talks with the community to freshen up Alvin Heights Park and London Terrace Park.

Councillor King says his office is working with Manor Park community groups to advocate for more green space and parks in the neighbourhood.

The Manor Park Community Association did not respond for comment in time for publication.

Local concerns

“I really pride myself with taking the concerns of residents seriously, listening to their concerns, and translating that into policy,” Councillor King says, pointing to a 2022 bylaw he helped initiate allowing residents to replace grass in boulevards and right-of-way areas with plants, after concerns raised by New Edinburgh residents.

“I think it’s important for us to listen to residents for them to ascertain where the investments need to be made, and follow up with staff and to try and translate that into reality.”

The councillor hosted two budget consultations at the end of October: One for all residents of the Rideau-Rockcliffe ward, and one for Ottawa’s Black, Indigenous and racialized communities.

The other issues that may impact Manor Park, like public transit, are city-wide, Coun. King noted.

“It is a city-wide concern that will probably really drive the full dialogue, discussion and debate at council concerning the budget,” he said about transit. “We want better frequency and we want reliability. I would like people not to be calling our office saying the bus has been cancelled.

“All these things require resources [and] investments.”

Plea for fairness

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s Fairness for Ottawa campaign identified a $120-million transit funding deficit. Hiss proposed solutions include a transit levy increase upwards of 37 per cent and a fare increase up to 75 per cent.

“Whether it’s the state of the frequency of transit, fees require real investments … The only real tool that we have for that is the property tax base,”

Councillor King says. “Personally, I want to ensure that we have affordable fares, and that we keep them affordable.”

Noting she’s only riddenthe bus from Manor Park once before, Leigh feels raising bus fares would be “ridiculous.”

“It just seems like it’s a Band-Aid to a bigger solution,” she said.

Councillor King added that the budget is an “ongoing process.”

According to a September 16 press release, council will table the budget on November 13. Council is set to adopt the final budget on December 11.

“It’s not just ongoing during the so-called ‘budget season’ when the budget is tabled,” he said. “It’s important for people to continue to provide input to our offices about where they want to see investments.”

This article was written by contriubutor Alexa MacKie.