Charlie Taylor may not be a familiar name on Ottawa’s radar yet, but he said he’s doing everything he can to get noticed before the municipal election on Oct. 25.
Since he announced he was running for mayor of Ottawa in February, the 33-year-old Carleton journalism student has been trying to “talk about issues that nobody else is talking about.”
For Taylor, the new student transit pass (U-Pass), is one of those issues. The mandatory pass for almost all full-time Carleton students will cost $290 for the eight-month school year and is automatically included in tuition fees.
Taylor organized a protest against the U-Pass on July 22, and although only three people attended, protesters said they strongly disapproved of the program and staunchly supported Taylor. Those in attendance said they feel the U-Pass is unfair to students who do not take transit, since they will be forced to pay for a service they may not use.
“Rather than providing a cheap and affordable, efficient transportation system that attracts riders based on user choice, [city council] is trying to mandate that people have to pay for the system. People are getting billed . . . for a dinosaur that needs to be upgraded,” Taylor said.
Taylor added that his stance against the U-Pass has been the most successful part of his campaign so far, but also said he doesn’t want to be seen as just a one-issue candidate. Much of his platform revolves around thinking of sustainable ways of running the city.
“Obviously I’m a long shot to win here, going against big names and big bank accounts. But the role that I hope to play is somewhat similar to what the Green Party fills in in provincial and federal politics,” he said. “We want to be a vehicle for bringing new and innovative ideas to the political mainstream.”
Until the election in October, Taylor said the plan is to garner support from voters who aren’t satisfied with city hall’s past performances.
“I think that’s one of the positive things I’m bringing to the race, that I’m coming at this with a fresh perspective,” he said. “You’re not going to achieve substantial change if you keep voting for the same people.”
His advice to voters? Taylor said he believes people need to familiarize themselves with the candidates and involve themselves in municipal politics before election day.
“There’s a disconnect in democracy where the people who are best at winning elections aren’t necessarily the people who are going to be the best at governing,” he said. “But my message to voters is to inform yourselves before you vote.”