Ottawa Now - Mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper talks property taxes, balancing affordability in 1-on-1 chat with Kristy Cameron

A day after talking to the present-day Mayor of Ottawa, Kristy Cameron went 1-on-1 with one of Mark Sutcliffe’s biggest competitors. That would be Kitchissippi councillor Jeff Leiper, who has held a seat at Ottawa City Hall for the past 12 years. Sutcliffe’s announcement on Monday was shifted towards public transit, but it was Ottawa’s property taxes that his adversary was asked to address on today’s Ottawa Now. More specifically, the cost of improving city services and balancing affordability. Leiper suggested that it’s a question he would pose to residents for the second budget of his term, if elected into power. And when the first-time mayoral candidate was asked if voters would need to prepare for an increase above 5 percent, he casted his doubts, but added there needs to be an honest conversation about the services that residents would receive if taxes were increased beyond what City Hall has done historically.