5 Questions With Orléans East-Cumberland Council Candidate Tammie Trellert

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 Orléans East-Cumberland Council candidate Tammie Trellert.

1. Who are you? Where are you from? What relevant experience do you have for the job?

I’ve called Ottawa home for 27 years. I raised my family in Cumberland and Orléans, and this community is home in every sense of the word.

I’m a mom, a volunteer, a business development and communications professional, and someone who has spent my career bringing people, organizations and ideas together. I have more than 20 years of experience across business development, communications, marketing, finance, defence, insurance and government and the private sector.

I’ve also spent years advocating, fundraising and volunteering in our community, from hockey and youth programs to charitable and community organizations.

I’m new to elected politics, but I’m certainly not new to leadership, problem-solving or getting things done. I know how to listen, build relationships, ask tough questions and bring people together around practical solutions.

Most importantly, I understand that being a councillor isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about listening to the people you represent, doing the work, being accountable and making sure their voices are heard.

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 transit system they can actually rely on.

I would start with accountability. Before asking residents to pay more, we need to make sure we are getting value from the nearly $1 billion we already spend on OC Transpo.

For Orléans East–Cumberland, that means getting the LRT right, improving reliability and connections, addressing overcrowding and ensuring the system works for commuters, students, seniors and people with accessibility needs.

I would also push for better transparency around performance: Are buses and trains running on time? Are routes meeting demand? Where are we spending money, and what results are we getting? Residents should see reliability, accountability and value first. We need a transit system that works for the entire city, including the east end.

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 has to be looked at from every angle. It’s not just housing, it’s property taxes, transportation, utilities, groceries and the everyday costs of raising a family.

At the municipal level, we need to be disciplined about spending and make sure tax dollars are delivering real value. We also need to increase housing supply and support a range of housing options so that young families, seniors, first-time buyers and renters can actually afford to live in Ottawa.

For our ward, that also means making it easier for people to live closer to the services, schools, businesses and transit they rely on, while continuing to invest in the infrastructure that keeps our communities functioning.

I believe affordability starts with responsible government: spend wisely, prioritize what matters and be honest and transparent with residents about where their money is going.

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?

I believe residents expect two things from their city government: responsible spending and reliable services.

Before looking to taxpayers for more money, I would want to understand where we can operate more efficiently, reduce duplication, improve procurement and make sure city programs are delivering measurable results.

That doesn’t mean blindly cutting services. Some investments save money over the long term, particularly infrastructure maintenance, prevention and technology that improves efficiency.

I would also want stronger accountability around major projects and city agencies. If something isn’t working, we need to be willing to say so, fix it and, where necessary, change course.

If additional revenue is genuinely required, I would consider it, big ‘but’, residents deserve transparency about why, where the money is going and what they can expect in return.

A balanced budget shouldn’t simply be about numbers on a spreadsheet. It should be about making sure taxpayers are getting the best possible value for their money.

5. Why are you running for Council? What do you think is the biggest issue facing your ward today?

I’m running because I believe Orléans East–Cumberland deserves a councillor who is present, accessible and willing to listen, not just during an election, but every day, this is personal.

I’ve been knocking on doors across the ward and having real conversations with residents. I’m hearing about roads, traffic, school safety, transit, housing, development, infrastructure and the cost of living. But underneath all of those issues is something I hear again and again: people want to know that someone is actually showing up and listening and advocating for them.

I don’t think the biggest issue is just one road, one transit line or one development project. It’s making sure our growing community gets its fair share of attention, investment and representation.

Orléans and Cumberland are incredible communities. We have families, seniors, young people, small businesses, volunteers, farmers, athletes and community organizations that make this place special.

I’m running because I want to be the person who brings their voices to City Hall, honestly, transparently and without the political theatre.

My goal is simple: listen, work hard, get things done and make sure our community comes first and not forgotten.