Jeff Leiper promises to reverse OC Transpo bus cuts if elected this fall

Mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper is pledging to reverse recent cuts to Ottawa's bus service and restore reliability if elected this fall, unveiling a five-part transit plan Tuesday at Tunney's Pasture station.

Leiper said unreliable buses have left riders worried about getting to work or school on time. "Every ghost bus and misconnection is time that is stolen from family and friends and your career," he said.

His plan would restore a citizen representative for transit riders on the city's transit committee and introduce a "transit service guarantee" with published standards for on-time performance and service frequency. He also pledged to reverse frequency and route reductions introduced through the New Ways to Bus network overhaul, expand dedicated bus lanes, advance the Baseline bus rapid transit project and establish a long-term fleet replacement plan.

The New Ways to Bus overhaul, introduced in 2025, changed more than 100 bus routes across the city and was designed to reduce the transit operating budget by about $10 million. A June audit by the city's auditor general found decisions behind the overhaul were mainly driven by budget considerations rather than service improvements and were based on outdated data.

Leiper said reversing the New Ways to Bus cuts would cost about $10 million. He said the funding could be found by reprioritizing spending within the city's budget, while larger fleet purchases would require additional support from provincial and federal governments.

He did not promise to freeze or reduce transit fares, despite fellow mayoral candidate Neil Saravanamuttoo proposing a "Buck a Ride" fare plan. Instead, Leiper argued reducing fares before stabilizing the system would remove revenue needed to improve service. "Right now, I'm focused on delivering a service that is worth paying for, one that is reliable and convenient," he said.

Noah Vineberg, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279, which represents OC Transpo workers, attended the announcement but stopped short of endorsing Leiper. Vineberg said the union rarely endorses municipal candidates, although it could consider doing so later in the campaign if a candidate's platform clearly serves its members and Ottawa residents.

Transit is expected to be a major issue in this fall's municipal election as federal public servants increased their in-office presence in early July and students will soon return to school, placing additional pressure on OC Transpo.