People for a Better Ottawa

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Ottawa City Council passed the full 2009 budget December 10th and it is official: we won back the cuts to recreation, arts, culture, festivals, the 700 subsidized childcare spaces, some housing dollars, museums, heritage and transit among other items!

Many Councilors in their summaries stated that they were responding to the needs of the community as presented to them through the ward consultations, public delegations to Council and the many emails and phone calls they received from their constituents. *It is the acts of individuals working together that create the change we seek. Congratulations to all of us for doing our part to make this City the kind of place we want to call home!*

Now to work towards an improved system of budget decision that does not cause so much disruption in our community year after year.

The final vote for quality of life and a 4.9% tax increase was 16 to 7. Here is the breakdown:

For the amended budget: Diane Holmes, Jan Harder, Georges Bedard, Rick Chiarelli, Marianne Wilkinson, Diane Deans, Rainer Bloess, Glenn Brooks, Michel Bellemaire, Peggy Feltmate, Jacques Legendre, Peter Hume, Alex Cullen, Christine Leadman, Maria McCrae, Clive Doucet.

Against: Shad Qadri, Rob Jellett, Bob Monette, Eli El-Chantiry, Doug Thompson, Steve Desroches, Larry O'Brien

So, a big pat on the back for all of you for making time (once again) to fight the cuts: to come out to the rally, to make those presentations and contact your Councilors and the Mayor.

Together we did it!

Help us to develop a strong campaign that keeps City Council at the heart of building a caring, safe, healthy, environmentally sustainable and inclusive city for all.