Letters to the editor of the Ottawa Citizen for Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026

Guess what drew the largest crowds in the last two years at Lansdowne Park’s TD Place stadium? The Panda Game.

Shamefully, this event is saddled with way too much security. The rowdiness of the past is gone, but security remains so tight.

It’s strange that the city insists on having hundreds of police there and that every student and parent who attend the game is frisked. This security is set up for a Saturday event, but, despite all the hurdles and a noon kickoff on Sunday, it is still sold out.

Hats off to all the loyal fans from both universities.

Brian Vachon (Ravens alumnus), Greely

Thank you. Brigitte Pellerin, for your reflections on the mayoral race in Ottawa. Helpful. I was one of the 44 per cent of eligible citizens who voted last time and will be voting this year, perhaps vainly hoping that the percentage will be higher. I wonder how many of the complaints that we subsequently read come from the other 56 per cent. They deserve whatever they don’t like.

Many of the problems of running the City of Ottawa in 2026 stem from long-term pinching on essential expenditures. As Michael Wiggin observed in a letter on Sept. 29, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s commitment to cap tax increases may be artful short-term electoral politics, but it does not deal with chronic under-investment in many areas. For example, Ottawa has a high per cap­ita rate of home­lessness, many with drug issues, and many roads are in terrible shape, resulting not just in uncomfortable travel, but costs in repairs.

A responsible leader in any domain should look at the big picture and make a balanced case for what is needed.

John Hollins, Gloucester

Does this city really need a night commissioner (really a night mayor) when the majority of the city now live in the outer suburbs and are trying to catch up on their sleep at night?

What this city desperately requires is a city that works, transportation- and infrastructure-wise.

It’s fine to have a so-called fun city, but how can you play if the city doesn’t work? The Queensway (Highway 417) is a parking lot, public transportation is a mess, city infrastructure is out of date, parking is expensive, city urban planning and rural involvement are at odds, etc.

Ottawa doesn’t need two mayors, even if one is politically correctly called a “commissioner” and only works the night shift. The city needs only one mayor to get it moving to the eventual point where the city can feel comfortable and actually have fun living in the city.

It’s the day shift that will provide the progress. Night follows day, not the other way around.

Douglas Cornish, Ottawa

Mark Carney blames Donald Trump for Canada’s problems. Thus the elbows-up gang is born. American personalities become spokespeople for the cause. Carney begs Canadians to avoid the U.S. like it was the plague. Yet, he hires an American, Maia Johnson, to become head of the PMO, a COO position established in July 2026. Imagine, an American is at the head of the Prime Minister’s Office. He hires an American firm, E2K Events x Entertainment, to host the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto. His children have studied or are studying at American universities.

For a guy who wants fellow Canadians to avoid the U.S., that is surely cause for concern.

It appears the U.S. is very bad for Canadians, but very good for Carney.

Albert O’Connell, Cornwall

Do you have an opinion or idea you want to share with thousands of smart Ottawa Citizen readers? Good news, you can write to us too, at letters@ottawacitizen.com