Abakar Malloum. Photo courtesy of the Abakar Malloum 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 College (Ward 8) Council candidate Abakar Malloum.
1. Who are you? Where are you from? What relevant experience do you have for the job?
I’m Abakar Malloum. I’m originally from Chad, I spent some time in Sudbury/ON then Calgary/AB and have lived in Ottawa since 2014. I teach at the University of Ottawa’s School of Political Studies, where I’ve been a lecturer since 2021, and I hold a PhD in political thought and public administration. Before academia, I spent 6 years in regulatory compliance: the job of checking that what was promised is what was delivered. That’s the job I want to do at 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?
Show the work first. Riders should see, every year, what was promised on each route and corridor, what it cost, and what was delivered. In College Ward, the Baseline rapid transit corridor was studied in 2017; 9 years later only 1 intersection is funded. Dedicated bus lanes are the fastest, most affordable way to improve reliability, and I’d make that corridor my priority.
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?
Start with what residents already pay. The stormwater charge rose 7.6% this year, to $252.97, and no one can see what it fixed on their street. Before asking residents for more, the City should show what it does with what it collects. I’d keep tax increases close to inflation, and make sure growth pays for the pipes and roads it needs, so that cost doesn’t land on existing households.
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?
You can’t balance what you can’t see. I’d push for a service and spending review each term, with results published, and for any tax increase above inflation to come with a public justification. One page a year, ward by ward, is where accountability starts.
5. Why are you running for Council? What do you think is the biggest issue facing your ward today?
On July 1, College Ward filed 2,282 service requests, more than any other ward in Ottawa. Flooding is the biggest issue here, and residents deserve to see what their stormwater charge is fixing. My ask is simple: one page a year, stormwater spending published ward by ward, tabled with the water rate review. Answering the phone is the minimum. Showing your work is the job.
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