Nagmani Sharma. Photo via nagmanisharma.ca
The following are 5 questions that we sent out to every 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 Stittsville (Ward 6) council candidate Mani Sharma.
1. Who are you? Where are you from? What relevant experience do you have for the job?
I am Mani Sharma, running for Councillor in Ward 6 Stittsville. I am a Stittsville neighbor of Bridlewood, who has lived the same daily challenges as every family here. Before my career in Ottawa’s tech sector, I worked on farms, in hospitals, retirement homes, and factory floors across Canada. I am also an active farmer, a greenhouse operator, a 2022 VIP Ploughing Match champion, a real estate entrepreneur, and a software professional with over a decade of experience.
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?
Stittsville needs transit that actually shows up and roads that move people, not trap them. I will push to widen key arterials like Huntmar Drive, open the Huntmar Drive connection to Highway 417, modernize signal coordination on major corridors, fight for additional 417 ramps, and build safe cycling connections across the ward.
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?
I will vote against any development that lacks confirmed school capacity, water, roads, and transit. I will require legally binding commitments from developers on parks and amenities, demand real community consultation before approval, and create a public developer accountability tracker so growth pays for itself instead of costing residents more.
4. Certain city services like OCTranspo 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?
Infrastructure first planning prevents costly surprises later. I will push City Hall to publish regular audited reports, hold developers accountable for their commitments, and make sure spending decisions are transparent so taxpayers see where every dollar goes.
5. Why are you running for Council? What do you think is the biggest issue facing your ward today?
Stittsville is growing fast and our infrastructure has not kept pace. Traffic, transit, and trust in City Hall are the three issues shaping daily life here, and they are connected. That is my focus, one plan to fix all three, with monthly town halls to stay accountable to residents.
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