There are seven candidates running for councillor in Ward 1 - Orléans East-Cumberland. Incumbent Matt Luloff is seeking a third term as councillor for the ward in Ottawa’s east end. He won the 2022 municipal election with 74 per cent of the vote. The challengers are federal public servant Yvette Ashiri, lawyer Bob Bell, entrepreneur Mazhar Choudhry, Barbara Daniela Gandolfo, lawyer Sherif Rizk and Tammie Trellert. Orléans East-Cumberland The ward in Ottawa’s east end runs along the Ottawa River, and includes the areas of Cumberland Village, Bella Vista, Fallingbrook, Cardinal Creek, Notting Gate and Springridge. It will be served by the new O-Train East Extension between Blair Station and Trim Station, which is scheduled to open later this year. Meet the candidates CTV News Ottawa invited all registered candidates to answer a questionnaire and submit a video introducing themselves to voters. Yvette Ashiri Age: 44 Political experience: I have run for municipal office twice: in the Cumberland (Ward 19) by‑election in 2020 and in Orléans‑South‑Navan (Ward 19) in 2022, driven by a desire to bring a credible, community‑centered voice to local decision‑making. These experiences deepened my understanding of the issues facing Orléans and Ottawa, from transportation and safety to housing, local revitalization, and family support, and together I garnered a combined total of 43.86 % of the votes, finishing as the second runner‑up. Professional experience: I am a federal public servant with a background in programme delivery, public relations and communications, governance, and strategic management. I serve Canadians with a strong commitment to IDEA values: inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. These principles guide how I work, how I lead, and how I show up for the people around me. I believe public institutions must be welcoming, fair, and responsive to the needs of all residents. How long have you lived in Ottawa? 18 years Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: Petrie Island What was the last book you read? Livre blanc- États généraux de l’Ontario français. What is the top song in your playlist? I don’t have How often do you use OC Transpo? I will be honest: like most residents of Orléans, I rarely use our public transit due to poor service Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? I strongly believe that residents of Ottawa, as the National Capital Region, deserve public transit that is safe, reliable, and efficient. It’s not about spending more but spending smarter - with better planning and interdepartmental communication. We need to be thinking past the next election cycle, far into the future. By 2051, the city is projecting Ottawa’s population around 1.7M people! We need to make it worthwhile to use public transit! Would you support increasing the police budget? Police play an important role in crime prevention and intervention. At the same time, we know that social determinants of health play a significant role in building healthy and safe communities. I would support increasing funding for social services, mental health support, youth programming, and community-led response teams. Orléans-Cumberland will see significant growth in the next 25 years. Let’s plan for the demands that will put on the Orléans-Cumberland CRC, the Eastern Ottawa CRC, le MIFO, our libraries and recreation facilities. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? No, I will not support that. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: Over the past years, I’ve had the privilege of listening to residents across Orléans and Cumberland — youth, seniors, newcomers, workers, and families. One issue that comes up time and again is public transit. People want a system that’s reliable, affordable, and accessible. Transit isn’t just about moving people; it’s about connecting communities, jobs, and opportunities. When service falls short, it affects daily life. My own daughter had to change schools last year and abandon a program that she really liked because a two‑hour bus ride for a four‑kilometre trip made continuing untenable. Another pressing concern is affordable housing. Too many families, young adults, single parents, retirees, and seniors are struggling to find homes that fit their needs and budgets. We need practical, community‑focused solutions that protect affordability and allow people to stay in the neighbourhoods they love. Residents also speak about equitable access to services, especially in French. Thirty‑two percent of Ward 1 residents are francophone — over 15,800 people who deserve fair, consistent, and quality services in French. This is essential to maintaining our cultural identity, heritage, and inclusion of francophone newcomers. Finally, the local economy needs renewed attention. Supporting small businesses, youth employment, and local entrepreneurship keeps our community vibrant and resilient. Many residents want to shop and dine locally and see more diversity in restaurants and gathering spaces. They shouldn’t have to travel to the West End for better options. Strengthening local opportunities means building a more connected, inclusive, and thriving Orléans‑Cumberland for all. Bob Bell Age: 38 Political experience: Green Party Candidate for Orléans in the 2014 provincial election. Elected to the board of the Carleton County Law Association in 2021 Professional experience: Lawyer specializing in real estate law and small business law How long have you lived in Ottawa? 37 years Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: Ottawa River What was the last book you read? The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis What is the top song in your playlist? Be ok by Scrawny How often do you use OC Transpo? A few times a week Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? I would actively work to bring the fare down to make transit more affordable for riders. Would you support increasing the police budget? No. The police budget has increased substantially over the past few years and will quickly become something the city can’t afford if we don’t get it under control. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? I am in favour of exploring all opportunities to close the gap on infrastructure funding. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: The big issues I hear about at every door across Orléans East-Cumberland come down to underfunding what exists and not appropriately expanding our infrastructure to match accelerated demand caused by growth. Transit, road conditions, road safety, and a lack of affordable housing are all a product of mismanagement. We need to address how we plan, fix the gaps we have created, and work together to build a better city. Residents need to know where the issues are, how much it costs to fix them, and how we are looking down the road to best equip ourselves for continued population growth. A lot of people also identify RTO, Alto, and Lansdowne as big concerns for them. All three demonstrate that transparency and accountability are sadly lacking at city hall. We need to shine a brighter light on decision-making and restore trust for voters. Mazhar Choudhry Age: 58 Political experience: 20+ years of community organizing, social services, and political campaigning supporting federal, provincial, and municipal campaigns across the Ottawa region. Professional experience: Founder and CEO of Rabbito Social, a Canadian digital communications platform; 20+ years in technology, product development, and business leadership serving organizations across Canada. How long have you lived in Ottawa? 25 Years Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: Petrie Island What was the last book you read? Think Like a Monk What is the top song in your playlist? Kamli How often do you use OC Transpo? On public holidays or duration busy times. Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? Decrease Would you support increasing the police budget? No Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? No Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: Our quality of life has been affected due to years of neglect in roads, transit, economic investment, and basic infrastructure. The federal Return to Office mandate hit Orléans East-Cumberland harder than anywhere else in Ottawa. Thousands of residents work for the federal government but have no offices nearby. Every morning they sit in gridlock on Highway 174 or pack onto buses for long downtown commutes. The west end has tens of thousands of federal jobs. Orléans has fewer than 250. RTO did not create this problem; it exposed a failure that has existed for decades. Our ward was built to house workers, not employ them. Our roads are among the worst in the city. Over half are rated poor or very poor, with nearly a billion-dollar maintenance backlog and no transparent system for prioritizing repairs. Transit is failing. The LRT cost over $2 billion and still does not reliably serve us. There is no accountability tied to performance. In Cumberland, 20% of wells have tested above safe coliform levels. Developers must fund water main extensions through development charges, as done in other growing parts of the city. Our parks and recreation facilities are aging and underfunded. Families and seniors deserve better. I am running because enough is enough. Orléans East-Cumberland deserves a councillor who fights for investment, holds city hall accountable, and builds a ward where people can actually live and work. Barbara Daniela Gandolfo Age: Political experience: I currently serve as Secretary for the Orléans Federal Liberal Association and have previously served as Policy Chair for the Orléans Federal Liberal Women’s Club. I serve as a Director for the Orléans Provincial Liberal Association and have previously served as President of the Orléans Provincial Liberal Women’s Association. I was a core campaign team member for both the 2025 Federal Liberal and 2025 Provincial Liberal re-election campaigns in the riding of Orléans. Professional experience: Before having my son and moving to Ottawa, I had the privilege of being a teacher in the education department at the Royal Ontario Museum. How long have you lived in Ottawa? My family and I moved from Toronto to Ottawa in 2021. This October will mark exactly five years that we’ve lived in Orléans. Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: National Gallery of Canada What was the last book you read? There is something very comforting about rereading the classics. I’ve just finished Sense And Sensibility by Jane Austen. What is the top song in your playlist? 90s songs that remind me of a more hopeful time have found their way back to the top of my playlist - Madonna’s Ray Of Light and Sneaker Pimps Spin Spin Sugar (Armand’s Dark Garage Mix). How often do you use OC Transpo? Most of my short distance trips are made by cycling, otherwise I rely on OC Transpo for my commutes. Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? Decreasing fares is an important part of creating an affordable and convenient transit system that remains accessible to everyone. Would you support increasing the police budget? Police presence is integral to community safety and I would support increasing the police budget. I would also advocate for the permanent funding of ANCHOR and a citywide expansion of the program, to ensure that crisis support is available for all mental health and substance use calls. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? An infrastructure levy is a tax on residents. It should not be the first option explored to close the funding gap for infrastructure and sewer maintenance. The upload of Highway 174 alone would redirect millions of dollars back to Ottawa’s infrastructure and core services. We need real action on Council to ensure that the provincial government follows through on that promise Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: For too long Orléans East-Cumberland has been shortchanged on investment and our communities have paid the price. After eight years of the status quo our streets are less safe, our transit is broken and families have to travel even farther to access the programs we rely on. I’ve talked to residents across our ward and there is a disconnect between what our communities are asking for and what we are getting instead. We need real action on transit to restore our local bus lines, accountability and transparency in spending, stronger community engagement and a streamlined process for new businesses wanting to open their doors and grow our local economy. Our communities deserve affordable, bilingual childcare options, investment for local EarlyON centres, strong climate resilience and protection of our precious green space for future generations. We need strong oversight on road construction projects to minimize the impact on our neighbourhoods and traffic calming solutions with measurable results that put an end to the dangerous, unchecked speeding on our local streets. I believe our quality of life is worth protecting. A safer, affordable, thriving community is what I will fight for every single day. Together we can build a stronger future for Orléans East-Cumberland. Matt Luloff Age: 42 Political experience: City Councillor - 2018-present Professional experience: Issues Manager to the Minister of National Defence 2016-2018, Parliament Hill Staffer 2009-2015, Infantry Soldier (GGFG and PPCLI) 2003-2008 How long have you lived in Ottawa? My whole life with the exception of when I was posted to Manitoba with the Canadian Armed Forces Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: Wilsondale Trails What was the last book you read? The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy by Tim Tate and Brad Johnson What is the top song in your playlist? Roisin Dubh - Thin Lizzy How often do you use OC Transpo? Several times a week Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? I’d work to increase reliable, frequent service, reduce wait times and cancellations, and keep fares affordable, with lower-cost options for students, seniors and people with limited incomes. Would you support increasing the police budget? I would support increasing the police budget where it’s needed to improve frontline service and community safety, but I also expect accountability and responsible spending. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? No. I believe road and sewer infrastructure should be properly prioritized within the existing budget rather than adding another levy. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: The biggest issues in Orléans East – Cumberland are transportation, growth and infrastructure, and making sure residents continue to receive reliable core services. Our community has grown quickly, and our infrastructure has not always kept pace. Congestion on Innes Road, Highway 174 and other major routes remains a daily frustration, while residents need OC Transpo to be more reliable, frequent and affordable. Completing Stage 2 LRT and improving connections to it will be critical. We also need to make sure new development is matched with the roads, water, sewer, parks and recreation infrastructure needed to support it. Growth can be positive, but residents should not be left dealing with the consequences when infrastructure comes years later. Affordability is also a major concern. Property taxes and fees continue to rise, so the City needs to focus on its core responsibilities, find efficiencies and make responsible choices with public money. I believe municipal government is at its best when you don’t notice it. The roads are maintained, the buses show up, the parks are clean, the water runs and your city services work the way they should. That is the standard we should be working toward. Sherif Rizk Age: 37 Political experience: President of the AEECLSS 2013-14 Professional experience: Licensed lawyer practicing law for 10 years and running my own business for eight years. Experience attending before various courts and tribunals including the Federal Court. Certified Fraud Examiner since 2019 and Notary Pubic since 2015. How long have you lived in Ottawa? I’ve been in Ottawa since 2014. Favourite Ottawa location/landmark: Kìwekì Point What was the last book you read? Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. What is the top song in your playlist? Nevermore by Denis Stelmakh How often do you use OC Transpo? I use OC Transpo anytime I need to travel downtown Would you work to increase or decrease transit fares as part of a plan to improve OC Transpo? First, you need to improve reliability of service and regain the trust of riders. Once you can get to justifiably consistent numbers, that’s when we can discuss increasing fares. Would you support increasing the police budget to boost officer presence in your ward? I’m not against it, but before any budget increases are approved, I would want to conduct a comprehensive budget review of allocations, especially the 21.6M in projected deficit caused primarily by overtime and project costs. Do you support an infrastructure levy to improve road and sewer infrastructure? Before any levy is approved, again I would want to conduct a comprehensive review of where the current allocations are going and if there are any inefficiencies that could be reallocated to better support out infrastructure. Describe in 250 words or less what the biggest issues are in your ward in this election: Public Transportation and Accountability Tammie Trellert No response from candidate
