Ottawa taxpayers will pay out nearly $175,000 in severance packages to the three councillors leaving City Hall this fall. The City of Ottawa provides a transition allowance of one month’s pay for each consecutive year of service, up to a maximum of six months, for members of council who do not seek re-election or are defeated. Jeff Leiper was defeated in his bid for mayor, while Coun. Allan Hubley lost in the riding of Kanata South after four terms as councillor. Coun. Glen Gower did not seek re-election after two terms as councillor in Stittsville. In total, the three outgoing elected officials are eligible for severance packages totalling $174,481. Hubley, Gower and Leiper are entitled to a transition allowance of $59,827 each. Every outgoing member of councillor is also entitled to a three-month career transition program. Departing councillors returning to a previous job they held before being elected are not eligible to receive the transition allowance, according to the city. The current salary for a City of Ottawa councillor is $119,692, while the salary for the mayor is $213,921. In 2022, the city paid out $633,033 in transition allowance to 11 departing elected officials following the municipal election.
