The votes have been cast and the victory speeches given. So, now what?
A truce in the sign war
Candidates and their weary campaign volunteers are fanning out across the city to start collecting campaign signs.
They have 48 hours to pick them all up.
Officially official
The city’s website began posting unofficial results soon after polls closed Monday at 8 p.m., and it is upon this information that media outlets, including the Citizen, based their election-night coverage.
But the city clerk is not expected to declare the results official until Thursday.
During the interim period, an external auditor hired by the city will review and assess the systems and procedures used by the city’s elections office to ensure the voting system’s confidentiality and integrity.
The city says the audit guarantees that all votes cast, including those cast during the special and traditional advance voting days, were accurately summarized and reported. Once the external auditor provides a final report, the city clerk will declare the results as official.
First day of work
The new council will be sworn in on Dec. 1.
That means councillors-elect are not technically office holders until then and aren’t allowed to conduct casework on behalf of a resident until the current term of council is completed.
Last day of work
Departing councillors, who remain in office until Nov. 30, are eligible for what’s called “Transition Assistance Allowance.”
The allowance is equivalent to one month’s pay for each consecutive year served on Ottawa city council, to a maximum of six months. That means defeated councillors Peter Clark (Rideau-Rockcliffe) and Katherine Hobbs (Kitchissippi) will both get four month’s pay because they have each served one term. The pair are also entitled to a three-month career transition program paid for by the city.
Bootcamp for the beginners
The clerk’s office is organizing a series of orientation sessions for the eight rookie councillors.
The sessions will touch on a range of subjects, from a city councillor’s role, to meeting procedures, to city planning, budgets and the Freedom of Information Act. The rookies also need to do many typical new-job things, such as getting security badges and meeting with the HR department.
City staff will also prepare for the changeover, setting up equipment, arranging new locks and keys, and updating the city’s website with bios for the new council members.
