Shawn Little
Encyclopedia
Shawn Little is a former City Councillor in Ottawa
, Canada
, for the urban Kitchissippi Ward
, consisting of neighbourhoods west of the city centre. He was born in Ottawa and raised in its Westboro neighbourhood, where he attended Woodroffe Avenue and Broadview Public elementary schools followed by Nepean High School
. He has a bachelor degree in history and political science from Carleton University
, and a Diploma in Health Sciences from Humber College
.
In the 1994 municipal election Little ran in the Elmdale Ward, finishing second to the incumbent Joan Wong. He helped lead the effort to oppose the NCC
plan to widen the Champlain Bridge
, and was a local community leader, volunteer and activist for local organizations, charities and community service groups. Little served as the founding President of the revamped Westboro Community Association, Deputy Chair of the Board of not-for-profit community-based publication Newswest
and President of the Westboro Kiwanis Club.
During his subsequent 9 year council career (1997–2006), Little chaired the City's License Committee and Animal Control Tribunal, was Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee and was a member of the Community and Protective Services Committee, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, the City's Task Force on Property Tax Reform and the Priorities and Planning and Budget Committee. He served as a member of the Board of the Ottawa Civic Hospital, a Trustee for the Ottawa Public Library, on the Board of the Westboro Business Improvement Association, Ottawa Board of Health, and as a City Council liaison to the Ottawa Youth Cabinet.
store in the area. Little defeated Davis having received close to 50% of votes cast compared to Davis's 40%. Little was one of only three councillors from the former City of Ottawa re-elected to the newly-amalgamated Council.
Soon after his re-election, Little was accused by Davis of having overspent on his campaign. An outside audit conducted on the expenses before submitting them had found no irregularities. The City asked its auditing firm to review Little's expenses, who alleged he had exceeded the limit by $2,600. City Council proceeded to lay five charges under the Municipal Elections Act. The charges were dismissed after the City's prosecutor withheld evidence in violation of Little's constitutional
right to a fair trial. Little moved to sue the city to recoup his forced expenses and fellow councillor Alex Cullen
for defamation. The council later agreed to pay a portion of his legal bills and Little dropped his suit against Cullen.
s Councillor Little sought re-election for a third term. The race attracted many challengers, including Linda Davis. Little was re-elected, receiving a 27% plurality
. Little initially decided to stand as a candidate in the 2006 municipal election
, but had a change of heart before the elections took place, noting that he had accomplished all of the important goals for the area he set for himself when he first ran for office.
He now works as an independent consultant on local planning-related issues as well as working with local charities and community groups. In August 2010 he returned to politics as a candidate in Ottawa's 2010 municipal election
s for the Bay Ward, presently held by incumbent Alex Cullen
.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, for the urban Kitchissippi Ward
Kitchissippi Ward
Kitchissippi Ward is a city ward in the city of Ottawa, Canada. It gets its name from the Algonquin word for Great River. The ward is slightly west of downtown, and covers the neighbourhoods of Broadview, Champlain Park, Civic Hospital, Hampton Park, Highland Park, Hintonburg, Island Park,...
, consisting of neighbourhoods west of the city centre. He was born in Ottawa and raised in its Westboro neighbourhood, where he attended Woodroffe Avenue and Broadview Public elementary schools followed by Nepean High School
Nepean High School (Ottawa)
Nepean High School is a high school in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Westboro, at 574 Broadview Avenue. There are 1180 students enrolled for 2006-2007. Rene Bibaud is the current principal . The two vice principals are Peter Wilson and Jean Fulton-Hale.The school began as a continuation...
. He has a bachelor degree in history and political science from Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, and a Diploma in Health Sciences from Humber College
Humber College
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a polytechnic college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humber offers more than 150 programs including: bachelor’s degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate certificate and apprenticeship programs, across 40 fields of study. Humber serves...
.
Political career
Little was involved in politics from a young age both as a member of the provincial Ontario and Federal Progressive Conservative parties and working for Progressive Conservative MP Walter Baker at age 16. He first ran for election in Goulbourn outside of Ottawa in 1988 at age 24.In the 1994 municipal election Little ran in the Elmdale Ward, finishing second to the incumbent Joan Wong. He helped lead the effort to oppose the NCC
NCC
-Companies:*National Certification Corporation, a nursing specialty certification company*National City Corporation, a leading US bank*Newspapers Call Centre, a telemarketing business in Toronto*NCC AB, a Scandinavian company*NCC Group, an IT security company...
plan to widen the Champlain Bridge
Champlain Bridge (Ottawa)
The Champlain Bridge crosses the Ottawa River about west of Parliament Hill, joining the communities of Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. It is the westernmost link between the two cities....
, and was a local community leader, volunteer and activist for local organizations, charities and community service groups. Little served as the founding President of the revamped Westboro Community Association, Deputy Chair of the Board of not-for-profit community-based publication Newswest
Newswest
Newswest is a community publication serving a number of communities within Canada's National Capital Region. Newswest is a wholly Canadian publication and not related to the 1980s U.S. newspaper NewsWest, previously owned by Tab Communications....
and President of the Westboro Kiwanis Club.
Ottawa city council
On his second attempt, in 1997, for a seat on City Council Little was elected to represent the newly-formed Kitchissippi Ward (which included the former Elmdale and Queensboro Wards). Little was one of the youngest councillors in Ottawa's history. He represented the City at the World Capitals Forum in Tapei, Taiwan in 1997 and was elected to the national Board of Directors as an Ontario Director for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.During his subsequent 9 year council career (1997–2006), Little chaired the City's License Committee and Animal Control Tribunal, was Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee and was a member of the Community and Protective Services Committee, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, the City's Task Force on Property Tax Reform and the Priorities and Planning and Budget Committee. He served as a member of the Board of the Ottawa Civic Hospital, a Trustee for the Ottawa Public Library, on the Board of the Westboro Business Improvement Association, Ottawa Board of Health, and as a City Council liaison to the Ottawa Youth Cabinet.
Second term
In 2000 the former City of Ottawa and surrounding municipalities and townships amalgamated to form the new City of Ottawa. Little again ran for election to represent Kitchissippi Ward against Regional Council member Linda Davis. During the campaign Little supported plans to build a new LoblawsLoblaws
Loblaws is a supermarket chain with over 70 stores in Canada, headquartered in Brampton, with stores across Ontario and Quebec. Loblaws is a division of Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's largest food distributor...
store in the area. Little defeated Davis having received close to 50% of votes cast compared to Davis's 40%. Little was one of only three councillors from the former City of Ottawa re-elected to the newly-amalgamated Council.
Soon after his re-election, Little was accused by Davis of having overspent on his campaign. An outside audit conducted on the expenses before submitting them had found no irregularities. The City asked its auditing firm to review Little's expenses, who alleged he had exceeded the limit by $2,600. City Council proceeded to lay five charges under the Municipal Elections Act. The charges were dismissed after the City's prosecutor withheld evidence in violation of Little's constitutional
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982...
right to a fair trial. Little moved to sue the city to recoup his forced expenses and fellow councillor Alex Cullen
Alex Cullen
Alexander Shaun Cullen is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a former Member of Provincial Parliament in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and a former member of Ottawa City Council, representing the Bay Ward in Ottawa's west end.-Early life and city politics:Cullen was born February 18,...
for defamation. The council later agreed to pay a portion of his legal bills and Little dropped his suit against Cullen.
Third term and later career
At the 2003 electionOttawa municipal election, 2003
The Ottawa municipal election of 2003 was held in Ottawa, Canada, to elect the city's mayor, City Council, and school trustees for the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The vote was held on November 10, 2003...
s Councillor Little sought re-election for a third term. The race attracted many challengers, including Linda Davis. Little was re-elected, receiving a 27% plurality
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
. Little initially decided to stand as a candidate in the 2006 municipal election
Ottawa municipal election, 2006
The 2006 Ottawa municipal election was held on November 13, 2006, in Ottawa, Canada, to elect the mayor of Ottawa, Ottawa City Council and the Ottawa-Carleton Public and Catholic School Boards. The election was one of many races across the province of Ontario...
, but had a change of heart before the elections took place, noting that he had accomplished all of the important goals for the area he set for himself when he first ran for office.
He now works as an independent consultant on local planning-related issues as well as working with local charities and community groups. In August 2010 he returned to politics as a candidate in Ottawa's 2010 municipal election
Ottawa municipal election, 2010
The Ottawa municipal election was contested on October 25, 2010 to elect the mayor of Ottawa, Ottawa City Council and the Ottawa-Carleton Public and Catholic School Boards...
s for the Bay Ward, presently held by incumbent Alex Cullen
Alex Cullen
Alexander Shaun Cullen is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a former Member of Provincial Parliament in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and a former member of Ottawa City Council, representing the Bay Ward in Ottawa's west end.-Early life and city politics:Cullen was born February 18,...
.