Larry O’Brien

I was disappointed to read a story earlier this afternoon that may have given the impression that work on solutions to the recent flooding could be two years away.  Several other reporters, who were in the same scrum earlier today, were just as surprised as I was after reading the Ottawa Citizen article.

At the time we were talking about Ottawa River spillage and were not discussing the situation in Kanata.  The story on the Ottawa Citizen’s website was unnecessarily provocative for residents affected by the recent flooding.

I want to be clear that the City’s priority is repairing our infrastructure and we are actively reviewing what happened in Kanata and Stittsville.  Council will be taking action on projects, once identified, that will reduce future risk.  Also, we are currently working on a record number of projects that will reduce the unintended sewer spills, improve our aging infrastructure and protect residents from floods.

These are long-term projects and the problems can’t be solved overnight because past administrations never made it the priority that my Council colleagues and I have.

The last few months have been difficult and exhausting and I want to extend my thanks to you, the citizens of Ottawa, for your warm wishes of support and encouragement.  While I regret that my family and I had to go through this painful ordeal, it was very important for me to defend my name and to have justice and the truth come out.

Now it is time to turn this unhappy page and move forward.  And that is exactly what I have done.  This morning I was very pleased to return to City Hall and continue my work as Mayor of the greatest city in Canada.  I have spent my day being fully briefed by City staff on a variety of issues including the recent flooding in Kanata and Stittsville, Lansdowne Park proposal, the transit file and upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference.

I have returned to the office with a renewed sense of purpose and I thank you once again for your continued support.