5 Questions With Muyiwa Ojo, Council Candidate For Riverside South-Findlay Creek

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 Riverside South-Findlay Creek (Ward 22) Council candidate Muyiwa Ojo.

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

My name is Muyiwa Ojo, and I am a resident, professional, community advocate, husband, and father who understands the challenges facing families in our rapidly growing community.

I came to Ottawa because I believe in the opportunities this city provides, and I have built my career working in leadership, governance, financial management, and community engagement. Through my professional experience, I have managed budgets, led teams, solved complex problems, and worked with diverse stakeholders to deliver results.

My greatest qualification, however, is that I live the same realities as the residents I am seeking to represent. I understand the frustrations with traffic congestion and unreliable transit because my family experiences them too. I am running to bring practical problem-solving, accountability, and a strong voice for residents to City Hall.

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?

Residents deserve a transit system that is reliable, safe, and worth the money they are paying for.

As a councillor, I would focus on three priorities:

First, improve reliability. Residents need buses that show up on time and connect efficiently with O-Train service. I would advocate for performance targets and regular public reporting so residents can see whether service is improving.

Second, strengthen service in growing suburban communities. Riverside South and Findlay Creek continue to grow rapidly, but transit service has not kept pace. We need better local routes, improved commuter connections, and more frequent service during peak hours.

Third, integrate transportation planning. Ottawa cannot rely solely on roads or transit. We need a balanced approach that includes reliable transit, safer cycling infrastructure, better pedestrian connections, and road improvements where congestion has become unacceptable.

Taxpayers are investing heavily in transit, and they deserve measurable results.

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 affects nearly every decision that families make today.

To make Ottawa more affordable, I would focus on four areas:

Housing Supply: Support faster approvals for housing projects while ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with growth. More housing options help improve affordability for renters, first-time buyers, seniors, and families.
Responsible Taxation: Property taxes should be managed carefully. Every budget decision should be evaluated through the lens of affordability and value for taxpayers.
Efficient City Services: Residents should receive better service for the taxes they pay. Improving efficiency helps reduce pressure for future tax increases.
Support Complete Communities: When residents can access schools, parks, recreation, shopping, and transit closer to home, they spend less time and money commuting.

The affordability crisis cannot be solved by any single action, but City Hall must ensure that every decision helps make life more affordable rather than more expensive.

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?

Balancing the city’s budget starts with accountability and responsible financial management.

I would support:

Regular reviews of major spending programs to identify inefficiencies.
Clear performance measures for large city departments.
Better long-term planning to avoid costly reactive decisions.
Prioritizing core services before expanding non-essential spending.
Seeking efficiencies through technology, process improvements, and intergovernmental partnerships.

At the same time, Ottawa cannot simply cut its way to success. Residents expect reliable transit, safe communities, and well-maintained infrastructure. The goal should be delivering better outcomes for taxpayers through smarter spending, not simply spending less.

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 Riverside South-Findlay Creek deserves a strong, responsive advocate at City Hall who will focus on results rather than politics.

The biggest issue facing our ward is that growth has outpaced infrastructure and services. Thousands of families have moved into our community, but transportation networks, schools, recreational facilities, road capacity, and transit services have struggled to keep up.

Residents are spending more time in traffic, worrying about school capacity, and feeling frustrated by slow infrastructure delivery.

My priority will be ensuring that as our community grows, investments in roads, transit, parks, recreation, and community services grow with it. Growth should improve quality of life, not diminish it.

I am running because I want to ensure that Riverside South-Findlay Creek remains one of Ottawa’s best places to live, work, raise a family, and build a future.