Today is municipal election day, and as we are choosing candidates for Ottawa City Councillor, I think it is important to reflect on how some of the incumbents voted on an issue that was important to HAO members.
Remember the Atheist Bus Ad Campaign of Spring 2009 that was almost banned by City Council?
Well, below is a list of all of the incumbents and how they voted. If you find yourself on the fence in choosing your councillor, perhaps this list might help tip the scales for you:
Approved by:
Clive Doucet: Mayoral Candidate
Christine Leadman: Ward 15 – Kitchissippi
Peter Hume: Ward 18 – Alta Vista
Diane Holmes: Ward 14 – Somerset
Jan Harder: Ward 3 – Barrhaven
Michel Bellemare: Ward 11 – Beacon Hill-Cyrville
Peggy Feltmate: Not Running
Steve Desroches: Ward 22 – Gloucester-South Nepean
Jacques Legendre: Not Running
Georges Bédard: Ward 12 – Rideau-Vanier
Gord Hunter – Not Running
Shad Qadri: Ward 6 – Stittsville-Kanata West
Alex Cullen: Ward 7 – Bay
Voting against the motion:
Larry O’Brien: Mayoral Candidate (current Mayor)
Marianne Wilkinson: Ward 4 – Kanata North
Bob Monette: Ward 1 – Orleans
Rainer Bloess: Ward 2 – Innes
Eli El-Shantiry: Ward 5 – West Carleton-March
Doug Thompson: Ward 20 – Osgoode
Rob Jellett: Ward 19 – Cumberland
2010/10/25 at 12:50 pm
Also: I notice that Larry O’Brien made a point of talking about how he was praying about the election yesterday.
With respect to Ward 23 (Kanata South), Peggy Feltmate is not running. One of the candidates (Aaron Helleman) mentioned his church in some of his campaign literature, so I asked the following question:
I am a resident of Katimavik-Hazeldean, and have lived here for 30
years. I noticed in your brochure that you say you are a leader in
your church. I’m sure you recall the controversy from early 2009
concerning the proposal to run ads on OCTranspo buses that said
“THERE’S PROBABLY NO GOD, NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE”. I
would like to know how you would have voted on this issue if you had
been a member of city council at the time.
Here is Helleman’s reply:
I would have voted to run the ads. Regardless of one’s religious views, or lack of them, protecting freedom of expression should be important. If one wants the right to speak publicly, one must be prepared to defend the rights of others with different views.
The values I would bring to council as a city councillor are based on my faith. However, as a city councillor I would have a responsibility to speak for all residents of the community and not single out one group over another for support. As well, I recognize many of the values that, for me stem from my faith, are also held by people of other faiths and people who are atheist or agnostic.
I should add that, as a Christian, I welcome anything that causes people to think about faith issues. The ads, “THERE’S PROBABLY NO GOD, NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE”, did that – and faith groups weren’t even asked to help pay for them!
2010/10/25 at 12:54 pm
Fixed Peggy’s status. Thanks =)
2010/10/25 at 1:22 pm
Thank you Tony. I had taken the vote into consideration. Michel Bellemare is my councillor and I will be voting for him for sure.
2010/10/25 at 4:08 pm
Seanna mentioned “I notice that Larry O’Brien made a point of talking about how he was praying about the election.” I noticed this too but am not surprised, first of all he otherwise doesn’t have a prayer of winning. Second, it is consistent with his irrational performance a the incumbent mayor.
2010/10/25 at 5:11 pm
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2010/11/05 at 10:25 am
Unfortunately, this didn’t help me determine whether any of my councillor’s opponents would have approved the ad.