Jean Cloutier won't seek re-election in Ottawa's Alta Vista ward

After two terms as the Ottawacity councillor for Alta Vista ward, Jean Cloutier says hewill not run for a seat on council in 2022.

In a newsletter sent to his residents on Thursday, he told them it had been an honour to serve but he looked forwardto taking part in the fall election as a constituentand would like to spend more of his time with his family.

"I have been able to accomplish many of the goals I set out to achieve when I first ran, and to respond to the challenges which arrived unannounced, as they so often do," he wrote.

During the eight years Cloutier will have representedAlta Vista ward, themost high-profile issue has been the mass evictions of tenants in the community of Heron Gate, beginning in 2015.By the time the massive redevelopment of that site was approved last fall, he had negotiateda "social contract" with developer Hazelview to preserve affordable housing.

"It has laid the groundwork for community expectations of developers in Ottawa and set a bar which I hope others continue to raise," Cloutier told residents in his newsletter.

• Massive redevelopment, 'social contract' approved for Heron Gate
• Delay mass townhome evictions, Heron Gate residents say

Alta Vistaresidents were also very vocal during last year's debate over the City of Ottawa'snew official planbecause the early draft proposed allowing infill development to intensify the area fourfold. Ottawa city staff ended up changing the boundaries of the area called "inner urban" to leave out much of the city's oldest suburb.

Cloutier told residents in his letter that Alta Vista had fought fora better outcome, "but it requires thinking beyond our own backyards and even beyond our own generation." That would be a "significant challenge" for some neighbours as Ottawaembarks on a three-year review of zoning city-wide, he wrote.

Tight race in 2018

Cloutier was first elected to council in 2014, endorsed by his predecessor Peter Hume. Before politics, hewas the chief financial officer of Tubman Funeral Homesandpresident of the Canterbury Community Association.

Cloutierthen won re-election in 2018in a tight race, receiving a third of the votesandjust201 morethansecond-placecandidate Raylene Lang-Dion.

Developer influence became an issue for Alta Vista in that 2018 election, after CBC News reported Humeand local developers planned to host a fundraising lunch for Cloutier'scampaign and sent the invitation to many members of the development community. Cloutiercancelled thefundraiser.

This term, Cloutier has chairedthe city's audit committee, and is vice-chair of the transit commission. He alsohas seats on several other committees, including planning, finance and economic development, environment, andthe board of health.

With Cloutier's announcement, Ottawans can expect to see change forat least five council seats when the vote is held on Oct. 24.

Mayor Jim Watson will not seek re-election, while councillors Catherine McKenney and Diane Deans have said they will give up their seats in bids to replace Watson. Coun. Scott Moffatt, meanwhile, announced he will not seek a fourth term in hislarge rural ward.

Nominations for the next municipal elections in Ontario, and for those seeking to replace Cloutier in his ward,will be open from May 2 to Aug. 19.