🧵1/8 Ben asks if #Lansdowne 2.0 is litmus test for 2026 election. Major test for Sutcliffe & @jleiper.bsky.social Mayor already has 12 Yes votes to win. Unintended effects? @neilsara.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social Lansdowne’s The Big Mayoral Test: BENN bulldogottawa.com/lansdownes-t...

1/5 Mike Patton says that Mayor Sutcliffe is on cusp of having his 12 Lansdowne votes. I argue that he already has them. @seandevine9.bsky.social @riverwardriley.bsky.social cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/lansdowne-... Lansdowne 2.0 Is On The Cusp: PATTON bulldogottawa.com/lansdowne-2-...

This short speech may mark the 'official' beginning of @jleiper.bsky.social campaign in the pre-campaign period. @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @riverwardriley.bsky.social @arieltroster.com Leiper Campaign Speech No. 1? POTTER bulldogottawa.com/leiper-campa...

Today, @jleiper.bsky.social sounded like he was giving his first campaign speech. He's laying ground for his 'Mayor-for-all-of-Ottawa vision. He must prosecute his case in suburbs with this intensity to reduce Mayor's margins. @arieltroster.com @seandevine9.bsky.social @riverwardriley.bsky.social

@kanatanorth.bsky.social Curry check-mated @jleiper.bsky.social on 5-day-office-policy. Didn't Leiper see this coming? I think HR is purview of City Manager, but politically Leiper had to win. @kengray20.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

1/5 Mayor Sutcliffe has the votes for #Lansdowne 2.0. It’s all over but the counting. Or is it? Real drama starting for '26 election. @neilsara.bsky.social @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @jleiper.bsky.social cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/lansdowne-...

@fiverdrive.bsky.social Thanks for heads up. I've changed it.

1/6 @jleiper.bsky.social can defeat Mark Sutcliffe. It's a narrow path. See how he can do it. @kengray20.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social Along a Narrow Third Path: How Jeff Leiper Becomes Ottawa's Next Mayor open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...

@brucegarrioch.bsky.social says good chance City will find way to lend hand to @senators.bsky.social for $1 billion+ arena. On zoning: Yes. Use #Ottawa tax base as developer bank. Given #Lansdowne: No way. @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @arieltroster.com

1/4 We're what 6 weeks from #Lansdowne vote & @senators.bsky.social CEO Leeder talking P3 arena deal? Dear Sir.... @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social Ottawa Senators’ Cyril Leeder admits urgency drove LeBreton Flats deal ottawasun.com/ottawa-senat...

While @stephanieplante.bsky.social won't suffer any political repercussions in her ward from this episode, she was rebuked by the Mayor in his official response. @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social Plante Is Never Having To Say You’re Sorry: BENN bulldogottawa.com/plante-is-ne...

Council spoke, Councilor Plante spoke, & so did Integrity Commissioner (IC) Shepherd. Fair question about whether the IC's sanction was 'proportionate'. Still, the IC sent a message to Councilors. @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

1/6 L'Affaire Plante: @kengray20.bsky.social & I agree on sanctity of free speech for @stephanieplante.bsky.social & other Council members but we have differences. @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social Case Against Plante Should Be Rejected: GRAY bulldogottawa.com/case-against...

Defending Coun. Stephanie Plante @stephanieplante.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @kanatanorth.bsky.social @clarkekelly.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @lainejohnson.bsky.social @riverwardriley.bsky.social @glengower.ca @timtierney.ca @shawnmenard.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...

Good piece by Charlie Senack in the Ottawa Outlook. We'll find out on Wed, Aug. 27 where Council stands on the Integrity Commissioner's findings and recommendations with regard to @stephanieplante.bsky.social online conduct. @seandevine9.bsky.social www.ottawalookout.com/p/integrity-...

1/2 City of Ottawa Integrity Commish's report on @stephanieplante.bsky.social social media comments Goes to Council vote Aug 27. @kengray20.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @horizonottawa.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social ottawacitizen.com/news/integri...

Clive Doucet reacts to discussion between @JCHIANELLO & John Willing Doucet reminds us that #Lansdowe approval process was highly managed by #ottcity from Day 1. Why? Cui Bono? Who really gains? @shawnmenard.bsky.social Lansdowne Took Meanest Approval Route bulldogottawa.com/lansdowne-to...

A sobering analysis on why #ottcity cannot ignore the warning lights on #lansdowne 2.0. Big red light is downtown Sens arena that effectively torpedoes the Lansdowne revenue model. Councilors see that, right? @kanatanorth.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social glebereport.ca/articles/lan...

What's happened to local reporting on #Ottawa City Hall? There's much less of it, says @kengray20.bsky.social We're less informed today on local issues despite being drowned in info @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @horizonottawa.bsky.social open.substack.com/chat/posts/3...

1/7 #Ottawa votes for Council in 14 months— practically tomorrow in town where approving a patio takes longer than signing peace treaty. City of Ottawa Politics puts spotlight on 2026 election. @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/ottawa-cit...

1/7 @senators.bsky.social and Claridge (Malhotra family) just inked deal for LeBreton Flats. In 2031/2032, puck drops — and Lansdowne retail business model drops with it. Ottawa Council and City Hall have some serious thinking ahead... @neilsara.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

Welcome to my new City of Ottawa Politics page on substack. Let's decode #ottawa City Hall and Council in next 14 months before the votes are cast on 24 October 2026. @jleiper.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @kengray20.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...

#ottawa Mayor's Race Excellent scene-setting profiles of @jleiper.bsky.social and Mark Sutcliffe Leiper, who grew up in Orleans, must project clear contrasting agenda that resonates with suburban voters. @seandevine9.bsky.social @kengray20.bsky.social kitchissippi.com/kitchissippi...

#ottawa youth lose free transit. Recall how Council rejected 120% fare increase for seniors. Now Youth face some of the highest fares of a major Canadian cities. @seandevine9.bsky.social made statement. We hope to hear from @jleiper.bsky.social ottawasun.com/news/oc-tran...

1/3 Can @senators.bsky.social and #lansdowne 2.0 co-exist. Yes. But can #ottawa taxpayers afford Lansdowne business model? @lainejohnson.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @jleiper.bsky.social @rawlson.bsky.social @kengray20.bsky.social www.ottawalookout.com/p/lebreton-l...

"Many years ago the @ottawacitizen.com published a biennial report card for every Ottawa councilor giving each one a grade from A+ to F along with an explanation for the ranking." Hmm. @seandevine9.bsky.social Pay Councillors What They’re Worth: CRERAR bulldogottawa.com/pay-councill...

1/14 Construction Cone-'gate' + @timtierney.ca I don’t know whether to laugh or cry about this one. Some thoughts on a hot summer 'controversy' @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @tkavanaghbayward.bsky.social bulldogottawa.com/mayor-respon...

🧵1/6 @jleiper.bsky.social soft launches campaign to beat @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social Leiper has new vision for #ottawa. Race is on. Thoughts from my @ottawacitizen.com op-ed. @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social ottawacitizen.com/opinion/pott...

1/4 Why is #Lansdowne 2.0 a Cautionary Tale? Dan Stankovic: "...the OSEG proposal to city council was unsolicited which then was followed by a sole-sourced procurement process." @neilsara.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social bulldogottawa.com/cutting-thro...

1/8 🧵What happens when you propose a $419 M #lansdowne 2.0 & a @senators.bsky.social arena district shreds your revenue model? @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social #ottawa ottawacitizen.com/ottawa-senat...

The 2026 Ottawa Election campaign is definitely on. See Mayor's video on X. The message from Mayor: Challengers enter the ring at their peril. @neilsara.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @lainejohnson.bsky.social

NIMBYism is often a convenient label used to dismiss residents' valid concerns. Councilors who trot it out repeatedly are devaluing democratic decision-making. @kengray20.bsky.social @timtierney.ca #ottcity #ottpoli Tierney Doesn’t Understand NIMBY bulldogottawa.com/tierney-does...

1/3 Tone of public engagement at #ottcity: Watch Councilor @timtierney.ca question resident at Transit Committee (1:24-1:37 mark) who delegates about a bus not stopping for her. @lainejohnson.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @riverwardriley.bsky.social www.youtube.com/live/pvcVjEx...

1/10 🧵On your mark, get set, go! Race for Mayor has unofficially kicked off— 12 months early. @jleiper.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @shawnmenard.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...