The following are 5 questions that we sent out to every Ottawa City Council candidate in hopes of getting to know them better. We publish the responses exactly as we receive them, in the order that they were sent to us. Here are the responses from Capital (Ward 17) Council candidate Farah Gulzar.
1. Who are you? Where are you from? What relevant experience do you have for the job?
My name is Farhaaz Gulzar, and I am a proud Canadian and a resident of Ottawa, Ontario.
I am the Founder, President and Director of Quick World Women and Child Protection Foundation, and I have been serving my community for more than 12 years.
My work has focused on supporting women, children, youth, seniors, people with disabilities, refugees and families in need.
This is who I am a proud Canadian, an Ottawa resident, and a community advocate who has spent more than 12 years serving people.
2. The city spends nearly $1B/y on OC Transpo, though many constituents remain dissatisfied with the state of Ottawa’s public transportation. What would you do as a councillor to improve the city’s transportation system?
Ottawa residents deserve a public transit system that is reliable, accessible, affordable and accountable.
As a councillor, I would push for better service reliability, more effective routes and schedules, and stronger accountability for how transit funds are being spent. We need to listen to riders and measure whether the service we are paying for is actually meeting their needs.
I would also advocate for more affordable transit for children and youth under 18, as well as free off-peak transit for seniors 65+, while working toward practical solutions that do not place an unreasonable burden on taxpayers.
My approach would be simple: listen to riders, identify what is not working, measure results, and hold the system accountable for improvements.
3. In a December 2025 poll from Abacus Data, 37% of respondents said that cost of living was the most important issue facing the city; another 19% responded ‘housing affordability.’ What would you do as a councillor to make the city of Ottawa more affordable?
Affordability is not just about housing. It is about the total cost of living rent, transportation, groceries, utilities, insurance and everyday expenses.
As a councillor, I would focus on increasing the supply of affordable and attainable housing, supporting responsible development, and making sure city policies do not unnecessarily increase costs for residents.
I would also advocate for practical measures that reduce everyday expenses, including more affordable public transit, better access to community services, and initiatives that support seniors, families and people living on limited incomes.
Most importantly, I would ask a basic question before supporting major spending: How does this decision affect the affordability of life for ordinary Ottawa families?
4. Certain city services like OC Transpo and the OPS have run significant deficits in recent years. Is there anything that you would do as a councillor to try to balance the city’s budget?
es. I believe taxpayers deserve responsible spending and transparency, but balancing the budget should not simply mean cutting essential services.
I would support reviewing city spending to identify inefficiencies, unnecessary duplication, administrative costs, procurement opportunities and programs that are not delivering measurable results.
Every major expenditure should have clear objectives and accountability. Residents should be able to understand where their tax dollars are going and what they are getting in return.
I would also support stronger advocacy with the provincial and federal governments when services such as transit, policing and housing place pressures on the municipal budget.
My principle is simple: spend responsibly, protect essential services, eliminate waste where possible, and be transparent with taxpayers.
5. Why are you running for Council? What do you think is the biggest issue facing your ward today?
I am running because I believe Ward 17 deserves a councillor who listens, communicates and delivers results.
I have spent more than 12 years serving my community, and I want to bring that same community-first approach to City Hall. I am not running simply to hold a political position; I am running to represent people.
The biggest issue I see in the ward is the need for better basic services and infrastructure — safer streets and sidewalks, better transit, improved parks and community facilities, and greater accountability for how residents’ concerns are addressed.
I want residents to know that when they raise an issue, they should not have to wonder what happened to their complaint. I would work toward regular community communication and clear “What We Heard / What We Did” reporting.
Ward 17 deserves a councillor who is accessible, accountable and focused on getting things done.
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