Brett Byers

Public policy and communications. Views expressed are my own.

[Ben Woodfinden @BenWoodfinden]

I'm in @WDiminishment today. Conservative ideas have never been better, but having the ideas was never the hard part.

We fight over cliques, not substance and somewhere along the way, being boorish and abrasive started to code as conservative, and being civil started to code as Liberal, a loyalty test that has nothing to do with actual conviction. A reply to my friend @HowardAnglin.

[Mark Sutcliffe @_MarkSutcliffe]

For too long, building a home in Ottawa has been too expensive and bogged down by too much process and red tape. We're finally changing that, and saying YES to housing. Today, city council approved a plan to cut development charges by 54%, reducing the cost of a typical new home in the suburbs by $34,000.

In return, we're receiving almost $700 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments to pay for critical infrastructure, including widening Brian Coburn Boulevard and Carp Road, and realigning Greenbank.

Let's keep making it easier and cheaper to build homes, and let's keep fighting for more infrastructure money from other levels of government.

Pendant trop longtemps, construire un logement à Ottawa était devenu trop coûteux et trop compliqué, en raison de processus lourds et de trop de paperasse. Nous sommes en train de changer les choses en disant OUI au logement. Aujourd’hui, le Conseil municipal a approuvé un plan qui réduira les frais d’aménagement de 54 %. Pour une maison neuve typique en banlieue, cela représente une économie d’environ 34 000 $.

En contrepartie, Ottawa recevra près de 700 millions de dollars des gouvernements fédéral et provincial pour financer des projets d’infrastructure essentiels, notamment l’élargissement du boulevard Brian Coburn et du chemin Carp, ainsi que le réalignement du chemin Greenbank.

Continuons à rendre la construction de logements plus simple et plus abordable, tout en poursuivant nos efforts pour obtenir davantage de financement des autres ordres de gouvernement afin de construire les infrastructures dont notre ville a besoin.

[Brett Byers @Brett__Byers]

It’s regrettable that the Councillor has spent much of the last 12 years opposing housing. His opposition to the DC Reduction Program follows on from his opposition to a $400m agreement with BCH to build over 3,000 affordable and mixed-income homes on public land.

[Dean Tester @DeanTester]

Unsurprisingly Jeff Leiper opposed this plan to cut development charges, claiming cutting DCs will do nothing to get more housing built or make it more affordable.

It’s shocking that after four years as chair of the planning and housing committee he still lacks even a basic understanding of housing economics.

But of course, he’s made his entire career out of standing with arms crossed in front of housing developments and bolstering NIMBY voices in his ward.

To say his mayoral campaign has been an incredible disappointment would be an understatement.

I have spent most of the past four years heavily criticizing Mark Sutcliffe but it has become clear to me that his primary mistake on housing was putting Jeff Leiper in a position of power on council and trusting him.

If the next election is a choice between these two, pro-housing voices should 100% choose Mark Sutcliffe. Jeff Leiper’s housing policies are incredibly reckless and would be enormously damaging to our city.

[Dean Tester @DeanTester]

Unsurprisingly Jeff Leiper opposed this plan to cut development charges, claiming cutting DCs will do nothing to get more housing built or make it more affordable.

It’s shocking that after four years as chair of the planning and housing committee he still lacks even a basic understanding of housing economics.

But of course, he’s made his entire career out of standing with arms crossed in front of housing developments and bolstering NIMBY voices in his ward.

To say his mayoral campaign has been an incredible disappointment would be an understatement.

I have spent most of the past four years heavily criticizing Mark Sutcliffe but it has become clear to me that his primary mistake on housing was putting Jeff Leiper in a position of power on council and trusting him.

If the next election is a choice between these two, pro-housing voices should 100% choose Mark Sutcliffe. Jeff Leiper’s housing policies are incredibly reckless and would be enormously damaging to our city.

[Brett Byers @Brett__Byers]

@DeanTester @_MarkSutcliffe Thanks for your support, Dean!

[Brett Byers @Brett__Byers]

Unless I’m misremembering my stats course, a sample size of 400 carries an MOE of ~5% whereas a sample of 1000 carries an MOE of ~3%. The directionality of an error could be +/-. A poll of this size is statistically very similar, particularly given the monstrously large margin.

[Evan H. Potter 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 @EvanHPotter]

New Quorus poll on Mayoral campaign. Sample: 400.
I'll stick with @davidvalentin Capital Tracker poll.
Plus, there's X factor. I discuss w @bpellerin

@pollingcanada @DavidColetto @VoiceOfFranky @niknanos @Stephen_Yardy @Alex_S_Cullen @EmrysGraefe

https://t.co/mM9X6M1O9q

[David Coletto @DavidColetto]

Lawson can’t be at 21% city wide if less than that know who he is…

“Sutcliffe is the only candidate for whom even half (50%) feel they know enough to make an informed decision at the voting booth. With Leiper, the proportion is far lower ( 19%), while Lawson finds 12% and Saravanamuttoo 9% feeling they know enough about the candidates.”

Remember, every single poll, especially IVR polls, had Catherine McKenney leading all the way up to the end of the 2022 election. Sutcliffe won by almost 13 points.

My polling had Sutcliffe ahead by that margin after Labour Day for a most two months.

[Brett Byers @Brett__Byers]

Exactly right

[Ben Woodfinden @BenWoodfinden]

It is revealing about the nature of parties in Canada that while Liberal generally aim their guns at their actual opponents, many Conservatives tend to prefer to aim them at each other and many seem to care more about petty personal grievances than winning. Explains a lot.

[Brett Byers @Brett__Byers]

Among decided voters, Ottawa’s mayoral race is currently:

54% Sutcliffe
25% Leiper
13% Lawson
8% Saravanamuttoo

https://t.co/FTqm11is0J

[David Coletto @DavidColetto]

New poll on the Mayor’s race.

Among decided voters, that means the race for Mayor is currently:

Sutcliffe 54%
Leiper 25%
Lawson 13%
Saravanamuttoo 8%

No accurate or realistic model would suggest anyone but the Mayor is polling above 40%.

Full results from Quorus Consulting: https://t.co/7RSxYZ5i3D

#ottawa #ottmayor

[Mark Sutcliffe @_MarkSutcliffe]

For the past four years, I’ve been fighting for a better future for Ottawa residents. At a time of rising costs and economic uncertainty, I believe we must keep property taxes low while investing significantly in the priorities that matter most to you: policing, paramedics, and public safety, better public transit, fixing and expanding our roads to ease congestion, and building more community infrastructure.

But not everyone agrees. Some of my opponents believe that you should pay much higher taxes, that we are investing too much in policing, or that we should make it harder for drivers to get around the city.

This is a critical time for our city. We can't afford a U-turn toward higher taxes, more congestion, and divisive ideology. We must remain focused on building a stronger Ottawa, together.
__

Depuis quatre ans, je me bats pour offrir un avenir meilleur aux résidents d’Ottawa. En cette période de hausse des coûts et d’incertitude économique, je crois fermement que nous devons maintenir les impôts fonciers à un niveau bas, tout en investissant massivement dans les priorités qui comptent le plus pour vous : la police, les ambulanciers et la sécurité publique, un meilleur réseau de transport en commun, la réparation et l'élargissement de nos routes pour réduire la congestion, et la construction d'infrastructures communautaires supplémentaires.

Mais tout le monde ne partage pas cette vision. Certains de mes adversaires estiment que vous devriez payer des impôts beaucoup plus élevés, que nous investissons trop dans les services de police, ou qu'il faudrait compliquer la vie des automobilistes qui tentent de circuler en ville.

Notre ville traverse un moment crucial. Nous n'avons pas les moyens de faire un virage à 180 degrés vers des taxes plus élevées, davantage d'embouteillages et une idéologie qui divise. Nous devons rester déterminés à bâtir une ville d’Ottawa plus forte, ensemble.

https://t.co/SIp1a4HyRz

[Mark Sutcliffe @_MarkSutcliffe]

I have some very good news to share about the 417. Unless the weather interferes, all lanes of the 417 near Pinecrest will reopen in just over a week, on Monday, June 22. That’s more than five weeks ahead of the original timetable.

I know how frustrating it’s been for drivers in the west end due to lane closures and construction. I asked for the project to be significantly accelerated so we could reduce disruption and get relief for commuters as quickly as possible. I’m pleased to see staff have followed through on my request.

To accelerate the work, there will be some overnight lane reductions next weekend. These are the final steps necessary to get the work done. If the weather is a factor, the work may be delayed to the following weekend but so far it’s looking good.

Thanks for your patience. We’re almost there!

[Ottawa Citizen @OttawaCitizen]

New homes: Partnerships paving way for affordable housing to be built https://t.co/RrfP9Zskev

[Mark Sutcliffe @_MarkSutcliffe]

Our responsibility is to get more homes built and make the building process as affordable as possible. After yesterday's historic $8.8-billion infrastructure announcement by the federal and provincial governments, Ottawa is ready to cut development charges to make new homes cost less, and make sure new projects get built faster. We'll be fighting for Ottawa to get as much of that funding as possible to pay for major infrastructure projects, including roads, sidewalks, and transit. As a result of this move, and the more than 50 measures in our Housing Action Plan, more families will have access to housing they can actually afford. We're saying YES to housing and affordability in Ottawa.

Notre responsabilité est de faire construire davantage de logements et de rendre leur construction aussi abordable que possible. À la suite de l’annonce historique de 8,8 milliards de dollars faite hier par les gouvernements fédéral et provincial en matière d’infrastructures, Ottawa est prête à réduire les redevances d’aménagement afin de diminuer le coût des nouveaux logements et d’accélérer la réalisation des projets.
Nous allons nous battre pour qu’Ottawa obtienne sa juste part de ce financement afin de réaliser les infrastructures essentielles dont notre ville a besoin, notamment des routes, des trottoirs et du transport en commun. Grâce à cette initiative, ainsi qu’aux plus de 50 mesures prévues dans notre Plan d’action pour le logement, davantage de familles auront accès à un logement qu’elles peuvent réellement se permettre.
À Ottawa, nous disons OUI au logement et l’abordabilité

[Mark Sutcliffe @_MarkSutcliffe]

I'm going to continue to take the side of fighting for affordability for the residents of Ottawa. Hear more.

Je vais continuer à défendre l’abordabilité pour les résidents d’Ottawa. Écoutez la suite.

[Mark Sutcliffe @_MarkSutcliffe]

We must continue to work hard to build more homes and keep the dream of home ownership alive in Ottawa.

Today's announcement from the federal and provincial governments commits $8.8 billion to infrastructure projects in Ontario. I'll be working hard to ensure Ottawa gets our fair share of this funding, to pay for the critical infrastructure we need, and to unlock thousands of new homes for construction.

Thanks to our federal and provincial partners for making this historic announcement in Ottawa, where we are saying YES to housing.

[Brett Byers @Brett__Byers]

@SteveOnSens @RiverWardRiley Should it be this way? Probably not! But municipalities are responsible for the vast majority of public infrastructure with the fewest tools for funding. Increased property taxes are also increased costs on homes (including renters.) We need to rethink funding models for cities.

[Brett Byers @Brett__Byers]

@SteveOnSens @RiverWardRiley Basically it only works one direction: higher taxes *can* mean lower DCs if the City is specifically shifting cost burden from DCs to taxes. However, higher DCs don’t mean lower taxes as not all costs (whether capital or operating) are DC eligible.

[Brett Byers @Brett__Byers]

@StreetNepean @RiverWardRiley @SteveOnSens If you have evidence that Ottawa is shifting non-growth costs onto DCs, I’d be interested to take a look at it. Industry quibbles with our benefit to existing vs benefit to growth numbers, but again, our DCs are very substantially lower than GTA peers