'Saddened' by Liberal loss, Jim Watson eyes new alliances

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson lost some of his key Liberal allies at Queen's Park in Thursday's provincialelection, and will now have to work on building relationships with local Progressive Conservatives.

"I'm obviously saddened by the loss of a number of localMPPswho worked very hard for the city, including YasirNaqviand Bob Chiarelli," Watson said Friday morning, hours after the PCs' majority victory.

"While I may be of a different political stripe, my job is to represent all the citizens of Ottawa," Watson said. "[Premier-designate Doug Ford's] constituents are my constituents, and vice versa."

LisaMacLeodto be 'go-to' MPP

Watson is already eyeing NepeanMPPLisaMacLeod, who was re-elected with more than 45 per cent of the vote. MacLeodis widely expected to become one of Ottawa's strongest voices around the PC cabinet table.

MacLeod andKanataCarletonPCMPP-electMerrilee Fullerton met with Watson and premier-designate Doug Fordin April to discuss the city's priorities.

"[Ford]is a former councillor himself, he understands the importance of that provincial city relationship," Watsonsaid.

LRTcommitment

Ford has already committed to funding the second phase of the city's LRTproject, Ottawa's single-largest funding request from the province.

It's not clear whether Ford will honour the former Liberal government's promise to extend that line all the way to Riverside South, a planannounced shortly before the election.

Watson said he wants to make sure he and Ford are on the same page on other important files includingaffordable housing. He also want to make sure the PCplanto cut government spending won't impact the municipal budget.

The mayoris no stranger to working with Progressive Conservatives: Watson was Mayorunder the Mike Harris government in 1997.