Coreen Corcoran

Why are you running?

I want to bring some level of transparency and accountability to City Hall. It is unacceptable that we have been dealing with project delays and cost overruns on just about every project this city has started over the past 20 years. I remember when we had to rebuild the bridge over the Airport Parkway. The new library is already double the original cost, and the end date is nowhere on the horizon. Nevermind the OTrain. It is appalling that our elected officials act like they don't need to be accountable for their failures. If I was a councillor on my third or fourth term, I would be embarrassed by the track record. We also seem to be a fragmented city with councillors only caring about what they are doing for the residents in their own ward. There has to be bigger picture, some kind of vision that they are all collectively working towards. All I see are egos and legacy projects. Twenty-Year plans mean nothing to me. I would come up with projects that can be completed within a term so we can see some real value quickly.

What is the single biggest issue facing the people you want to represent, and what would you do about it?

For the biggest issue facing my ward, you're going to get answers around lack of housing, safety, and affordability, but these are all just part of a bigger problem that not very many media outlets or politicians are willing to admit. We are losing the middle class, and that is having a direct impact on all these other areas. When we don't have a strong middle class, we don't have disposable income to fill the gaps in our communities. Our food bank is desperate for donations, as are all other charities across the city and the country. Our local businesses and restaurants are losing their regular clientele. The middle class is cutting back like we haven't seen in decades. This creates a domino effect where our most vulnerable have no support system to keep them afloat. When the middle class starts depending on these support systems as well, and they are, we are in deep trouble as a community and as a country. How would I resolve this? Any small initiative to put money back into middle class pockets would be the first step. I would immediately pull the mandate forcing city workers into the office if their job has the option to work from home. Lost hours commuting and paying for transit or parking is hurting families and communities. I would also eliminate the 3-item limit for garbage, and look at freezing the prices or removing paid parking in parts of downtown.

Name one specific thing you would work on in your first year in office.

Homelessness is an issue across the city. It is not just a downtown issue, but we continue to push people into that area. We need to spread resources across the city and meet people where they are. It is a tragedy that I am talking about expanding support for homelessness in the nation's capital. I want to see the numbers go down over the next year, and then in the three years after that.

What is something the City gets wrong today that you would change?

Where do I start? I have to question the project management skills on our council. It is not normal for every project to fail on the three key metrics of scope, time, and cost. I don't know if it's voter apathy or something else, but letting our long-term councillors get away with this lack of accountability is unacceptable. I also think these 20 and 30-year plans need to be abolished. When I look back over the past 20-30 years, we could not have accurately foreseen how much technology would change the way we work. When the OTrain was approved, the expectation was that even more people would be heading downtown to work. Even without Covid disruptions, technology would have led to more remote positions. Finally, the ego and legacy-driven projects need to stop. Our infrastructure is crumbling under our feet and it is time to spend taxpayer dollars on fixing that instead of the next shiny project.

What should residents know about you that would not appear on a campaign flyer?

I am resilient, resourceful, and reliable to a fault. If I don't know something, I will figure it out. I always do. I can see three and four steps ahead, and I have (shockingly) found out that most people in leadership don't. They love to fight fires and be the heroes. I work quietly in the background and resolve problems before they come to light. You likely won't see a single selfie from me during this campaign either. It's not about me, it's about helping people and fixing what's broken. I don't take credit very often either. I just want to see progress and success.

Anything else you would like voters to know?

I have lived and worked in Ottawa most of my life. I grew up in the south end mostly, and have lived in Beacon Hill for 12 years. My relevant experience is living here for more than 50 years, and seeing the changes the city has gone through. I have a degree from Carleton University and a Masters Degree from Athabasca University. I have mostly worked for government-related organizations as a Technical Writer, in governance and compliance, and in multiple project roles. I have also been politically involved provincially and federally in my spare time, and have run as a candidate multiple times since 2014. I actually ran for city council in 1994. I also want people to get out and vote. Local government impacts you every single day, but it has the lowest turnout. We elect people with fewer than 40% of the votes, which is absolutely abysmal. We let incumbents sail into office because they are not being challenged by the media or by voters. I really hope we see a shake up at City Hall this year.