Five questions with Jeff Atkinson, candidate for Carleton Place council in the 2026 municipal election

Editor’s note: To help voters to be better informed, Lanarkist will be asking the same five questions of all council candidates in Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Perth and Mississippi Mills in advance of the municipal election, which will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Questions were sent to all candidates on Sept. 4, 2026. We will publish their responses as we receive them. Below are the responses from candidate Jeff Atkinson. You can view a roundup of all our Carleton Place municipal coverage here.

1. Tell us a little bit about your professional background, including any prior municipal or other political participation, as well as about you, personally. What made you want to run for council?

I ran for Carleton Place Council eight years ago because our Town needed new voices at the decision-making table and a different approach to how it was (or wasn’t) planning for the growth we all knew was looming. I offered a future-focused approach that was professional, positive, and optimistic. I brought years of experience in governance on the national, provincial and local boards of a major political party, plus my leadership experience with my old community association when I lived in Ottawa and my service as the treasurer of a registered charity.

Despite having lived in Carleton Place for only two years, I won that election. Since then, my approach to the job has and continues to deliver results. People tell me they like it.

Like most people living in Carleton Place today, I have a full-time job that’s based in Ottawa. I develop and deliver adult education programming focused on leadership development for union members, activists and officials. I have also worked in government relations and communications for the Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and briefly worked as a legislative assistant to a Member of Parliament.

2. How would you describe your personal political ideology and/or affiliation?

I’ve been active in politics for over 40 years and hold a degree in Political Science from Carleton University. In the 2003 Ontario provincial election, I was the NDP candidate in Ottawa Centre and I have been active in that political party ever since, having recently stepped down after ten years of service as the Chief Financial Officer of the Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston riding association.

But partisan politics doesn’t work at the municipal level. My eight years of service as a councillor in Carleton Place has shown me time and time again that conversation, collaboration and working together is what gets things done.

3. What are the three most common issues voters bring up to you as you campaign?

The three most common issues I hear about from local residents are:

1) Safety on town roadways, sidewalks and trails.

2) The high cost of housing, whether you are buying or renting.

3) The lack of an affordable public (or private) transportation service for getting around town as well as to and from Ottawa and other surrounding communities.

4. What three issues are most pressing/important to address locally in your opinion?

Keeping up with growth to maintain the local quality of life has always been #1 on my list. Making sure the services we have keep pace with our population and planning for the services we will need in the future is the biggest challenge today. The next council will need to come up with a solid plan for future public/private transportation services – even if it’s only focused students or seniors to begin with. Another looming issue we need to prepare for is waste disposal that’s affordable and sustainable.

5. What do you feel sets you apart from other candidates?

My experience is what sets me apart from the other candidates. Eight years as a member of the Carleton Place Town Council during a period of rapid growth and during a time of extensive planning for the years to come gives me a perspective that few others can bring to the table. That, and my approach to the job – professional, optimistic and future-focused. We will face some big decisions about our town’s future over the next four years. I think the current council has shown that it is ready to take those big decisions on in a way that puts community and quality of life first. Which is why I’m asking for another term on council this year.