College ward candidate wants to bring a collaborative approach to council
Posted Jul 27, 2022 12:00:00 AM.
Laine Johnson is looking to bring her background in affordable housing to city council.
Johnson, a candidate for College ward, told The Sam Laprade Show on July 26 that as an executive with a non-profit housing organization, she would bring a realistic approach to the conversation.
“What makes me an especially interesting candidate, in my estimation, is that I am comfortable with these issues,” Johnson said. “I've talked about them with people and with city staff for over 10 years.”
Johnson first learned the power of helping others when she worked at the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre as a volunteer coordinator. She now serves as an executive with a non-profit housing corporation that oversees 54 properties home to 12,00 families.
“This democratic accountability for our institutions that serve people is part of my blood,” she said.
Johnson also recently founded the Ottawa Community Land Trust, a new tool for the City to address its housing crisis.
“It is a fully independent organization that is led by the non-profit housing sector,” she explained.
With a desire to “work across differences of opinion” to get things done, Johnson plans to bring a collaborative approach to housing, transit and other issues.
“People are wanting that relationship back with their city. They want to feel trust again with that institution. And I think that's why our positive campaign has been able to gain such ground early on,” she said.
Listen to the full interview below:
