Marie-Ange Ahinful. Photo courtesy of the Marie-Ange Ahinful campaign
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 Stittsville (Ward 6) Council candidate Marie-Ange Ahinful.
1. Who are you? Where are you from? What relevant experience do you have for the job?
I am a Stittsville resident, a mother of three, and the founder and president of Leading Ladies Canada, a nonprofit that helps women connect, lead and build stronger communities. I have called Stittsville home for many years and am running because I care deeply about how growth, City decisions and local services affect families in our community.
I bring experience in public service and finance, formal studies in politics and economics, and a Master of Public Administration. Most importantly, I bring the experience of listening to people, bringing different voices together and following through. A councillor must understand the details, ask difficult questions and keep residents informed—not only at election time, but throughout the term.
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 must make the transit system residents use today more reliable before asking them to have confidence in future expansion. That means buses that arrive when scheduled, more frequent service when people need it, clearer communication during disruptions and better connections to the rapid-transit network.
For Stittsville, I would push for a public Ward 6 transit and infrastructure plan that identifies the most pressing reliability gaps, sets timelines and reports progress. I support Stage 3 LRT toward Kanata and Stittsville as an important long-term investment, but families need visible improvements now: reliable buses, safer connections to stops and transit that works for seniors, students, workers and people with disabilities.
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 requires both careful City spending and more housing choices that people can realistically afford. I would protect taxpayers by demanding clear costs, funding sources and measurable results for major projects, while focusing available resources on the services residents rely on most.
On housing, Ottawa should use City land, partnerships with nonprofit providers and existing tools such as the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan to create more permanently affordable, family-sized homes. In Ward 6, I would work to identify viable sites or projects and ensure that new growth is matched by roads, transit, parks and services. When infrastructure comes years after development, families pay the price in time, transportation costs and reduced quality of life.
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?
Council must take a disciplined, transparent approach to the budget. I would ask for clear, public reporting on service performance, costs, procurement and the results residents are receiving. Major investments should have realistic business cases, timelines and accountability for delays or cost overruns.
Balancing the budget should not mean cutting essential services without understanding the consequences for residents. It means making informed choices, protecting value for money, seeking provincial and federal partnerships where appropriate, and ensuring growth-related infrastructure is properly funded through development charges rather than leaving existing residents to carry the cost.
5. Why are you running for Council? What do you think is the biggest issue facing your ward today?
I am running because Stittsville deserves an independent, accessible and community-focused voice at City Hall. Residents should not have to chase answers after decisions are already made. They deserve a councillor who listens early, explains what is possible and works consistently to deliver results.
The biggest issue facing Ward 6 is growth that has moved faster than the infrastructure and services needed to support it. Traffic, transit reliability, road connections, school-zone safety, parks, recreation, drainage and health access are all connected. My priority is responsible, infrastructure-first growth: a clear plan, a realistic timeline, transparent funding and regular public updates so residents can see what is moving forward and what still needs work.
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