Ottawa votes on Monday, October 26, 2026, and we wanted to hear from the people on the ballot in their own words. So we sent the same six questions to every certified candidate in the city, with one promise: we publish what you send back, unedited.
Michael Tay is running for councillor in Somerset Ward. Here are the answers, exactly as they arrived.
Why are you running?
I’m running because I want to bring practical leadership and frontline experience to City Hall. I’ve spent 17 years working in social services, settlement, mental health and housing, and I’ve seen how decisions made by governments affect people in their everyday lives. I want to make sure all voices are heard, that nobody feels too small to be part of the conversation, and that we work together to get practical results.
What is the single biggest issue facing the people you want to represent, and what would you do about it?
Community safety and well-being. Somerset is facing the combined pressures of housing instability, homelessness, mental health and substance use. We need to support people who are struggling, while also making sure residents and businesses can enjoy safe, clean and welcoming public spaces. I believe in compassion with accountability, and in making sure the right response is available for the right situation.
Name one specific thing you would work on in your first year in office.
I would work to create a coordinated Centretown response to safety and neighbourhood concerns by bringing together residents, businesses, police, City services, outreach teams and social-service organizations. People should know who is responsible for what, how to report a concern, and what kind of follow-up they can expect. Everyone should be able to participate in creating the safe community they want to live in.
What is something the City gets wrong today that you would change?
Too often, consultation feels like something that happens after decisions are already largely made. I want engagement to happen earlier and in ways that allow more people to participate, including seniors, students, shift workers and people who cannot attend daytime meetings. The more doors I knock on, the more I see how much knowledge and experience exists in this community. Consultation should not be about checking a box; it should genuinely shape decisions, and residents should hear back about how their input was used.
What should residents know about you that would not appear on a campaign flyer?
I’m a big sports person. I love watching sports, playing sports, and just being around that kind of community. Soccer is probably the biggest one for me; I play regularly with a local pickup group, and I’m also a big supporter of Atlético Ottawa and a season-ticket holder.
The other big thing is food. I love trying new restaurants, eating food from different cultures, and cooking. My father was a chef, and I worked in restaurants for years before moving into social services. Cooking has stayed a big part of my life ever since, including teaching young men how to cook as an important life skill and showing them that it can also become a career.
Anything else you would like voters to know?
I believe we live in one of the best parts of Ottawa, but I also believe we can make it even better. Somerset should be a place that is safe, compassionate, vibrant, accessible and welcoming to everyone. I’m running because I want to work with the people who already care deeply about this community and help turn good ideas into practical results.
Who else is running in Somerset
Somerset is Ward 14: Downtown, including Parliament Hill, Centretown, Chinatown and Little Italy. 5 people are on the ballot here. Alongside Michael Tay: Ariel Troster (incumbent), Dillon Anderson, Robert Dekker and Nicholas Gollé.
They have all had the same six questions. We publish each set of answers as it comes in.
When you can vote
Ottawa votes on Monday, October 26, 2026, with advance voting before then. The City's certified candidate list is the authority on who is on your ballot.
About this piece
These are Michael Tay's own words, published as sent. We have not fact-checked the claims in them, and running them is not an endorsement. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
Michael Tay's ottown page: https://www.ottown.ca/elections/somerset/michael-tay
