BERNARD COUCHMAN: THE FAT CATS AND THE GRAVY TRAIN MUST STOP — OTTAWA'S MONEY BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE

BERNARD COUCHMAN: THE FAT CATS AND THE GRAVY TRAIN MUST STOP — OTTAWA'S MONEY BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE

BERNARD COUCHMAN: THE FAT CATS AND THE GRAVY TRAIN MUST STOP — OTTAWA'S MONEY BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2026

NO MORE BLANK CHEQUES. NO MORE AUTOMATIC SPENDING. EVERY PUBLIC DOLLAR MUST ANSWER TO THE PEOPLE.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Bernard Couchman, Candidate for Mayor of Ottawa, is calling for a new standard of financial accountability at City Hall: the days of automatic spending, unchecked contracts and a public purse without sufficient scrutiny must end.

Ottawa residents work hard for their money. They deserve to know that their tax dollars are being spent responsibly—not simply carried forward through budgets without enough examination.

Couchman's Municipal Re-Engineering Plan proposes a zero-based operational budgeting review, requiring departments to justify discretionary and controllable spending rather than automatically relying on previous budgets.

The review would examine:

  • Executive and administrative spending, with transparent justification and accountability.

  • Recurring consultants, vendors, software licences and professional-service contracts.

  • Procurement practices, contract terms, renewals and measurable value.

  • Duplicated services, unnecessary processes and underused municipal assets.

  • Whether public spending is delivering measurable benefits to Ottawa residents.

Couchman stated:

“Let me be absolutely clear: City Hall is not a private club, and taxpayers are not an unlimited source of money. Public service is a responsibility, not a gravy train. I want every department to open the books, justify its spending and demonstrate the value it delivers. If a contract is not delivering value, examine it. If spending cannot be justified, challenge it. If there are better ways to deliver services, find them.

“I am not coming in to make blind cuts. I am coming in to ask hard questions, follow the money and put taxpayers first. We will identify the waste, protect essential services and publish the results. No predetermined savings promises—just evidence, accountability and action.”

The proposed review would establish clear financial baselines and publicly report verified savings, costs, service impacts and progress.

THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLE: THE GRAVY TRAIN MUST STOP. CITY HALL WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE—NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

Bernard Couchman
Candidate for Mayor of Ottawa — 2026

KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE. PUT IT TO WORK. MEASURE THE RESULT. BUILD WHAT COMES NEXT.

 

H2OBoy.