Mark Sutcliffe Launches “Fairness for Ottawa” Campaign: Demands Equal Funding for Bike Lane Removal

 

OTTAWA – Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has announced a bold new “Fairness for Ottawa” campaign, aimed at ensuring the city gets its fair share of provincial funding to tear up bike lanes. The campaign follows Premier Doug Ford’s announcement that Ontario will cover the costs of removing bike lanes across municipalities—a move Sutcliffe says is “an exciting moment for roadways, but we can’t let Toronto hog all the cash.”

“It’s a matter of fairness,” Sutcliffe said at a press conference. “If Toronto gets more money to remove bike lanes, that puts Ottawa at a disadvantage. I mean, what kind of message does that send? That they’re better at getting rid of cyclists than we are? Absolutely not. Ottawa deserves the same opportunity to reclaim our roads for what they were meant for—cars, SUVs, and the occasional Amazon delivery van.”

Sutcliffe expressed concern that Ottawa might be overlooked in the province’s rollout of the “Bike Lane Liberation” funding. “Toronto has way more bike lanes than us, and if they rip them all out, they could end up with millions more in provincial money. We can’t let them outdo us. Ottawa deserves its share—we need our share.”

The mayor outlined several key projects that would be shovel-ready “as soon as the cash hits.” First on the list: converting the Laurier Avenue bike lanes into a two-lane express route for rideshares and pizza deliveries. “Why should cyclists get all that prime real estate when Uber drivers are out there dodging potholes for the good of the city?” Sutcliffe asked.

As part of his fairness campaign, Sutcliffe is calling on city staff to conduct a comprehensive inventory of every inch of bike lane in Ottawa. “We can’t afford to leave any stone unturned—or bike lane un-removed,” he explained. “Every bike lane we don’t get rid of is provincial money left on the table. And in today’s economy, that’s just irresponsible.”

He went on to emphasize that removing bike lanes isn’t just about transportation—it’s about civic pride. “Why should Toronto have the nicest, most expansive roadways? We Ottawans deserve to experience the same wide-open streets and aggressive merging that make driving so satisfying in the GTA.”

To ensure the campaign’s success, Sutcliffe promised to personally advocate at Queen’s Park for equal funding. “I will be relentless,” he vowed. “If it takes a hundred meetings with Doug Ford to make sure Ottawa gets as much bike lane removal money as Toronto, I’ll do it. We will fight for our place as Ontario’s second-most-car-dependent city.”

Asked if the city had considered leaving some bike lanes intact for the sake of safety and active transportation, Sutcliffe appeared puzzled. “Look, that’s what sidewalks are for. And if the sidewalk isn’t wide enough for bikes, well, that’s what Sundays are for. It’s all about balance.”

Sutcliffe’s campaign has already won early praise from local drivers. “Finally, someone is standing up for car owners,” said one enthusiastic Barrhaven resident, gripping the wheel of their oversized pickup truck. “I can’t wait to see what Strandherd Drive looks like without those pesky bike lanes slowing everything down.”

As the press conference wrapped up, Sutcliffe reflected on the bigger picture. “This is about more than just removing bike lanes,” he said. “It’s about ensuring that every Ontarian, whether they’re driving an SUV or waiting in line at the Costco gas station, has a fair shot at cruising through life without being slowed down by cyclists.”

Sutcliffe offered a final rallying cry: “If Toronto gets a bigger slice of the asphalt pie, then what was all this suburban sprawl for? Ottawa demands fairness. We demand asphalt! And we won’t stop until every inch of this city’s roads is car-friendly, cyclist-free, and built for speed.”

He added with a grin: “And if traffic backs up? Well, at least it won’t be because of a bike.”