Ottawa’s budgetary gameplan for 2026 includes a transit fare increase and a noteworthy uptick in the police budget. It’s a plan, according to Ottawa’s Mayor, that promotes fiscal stability. Kitchissippi councillor Jeff Leiper isn’t on the same side of the fence, dubbing it a ‘status quo budget’. In his eyes, the police budget increase is too high, mainly because the ANCHOR program is performing well. Meantime, College Ward councillor Laine Johnson feels that collective bargaining is driving the need for dollars, and fears that we are falling behind on road repairs. And as the price of everything goes up, a new program is being designed by the City of Ottawa, in which city money is being raised through donations. Both join Kristy Cameron with their honest thoughts about the city’s path forward.