The 2022 Ottawa municipal election was held on Monday, October 24, 2022, to elect a mayor, city councillors, and trustees to the English and French public school boards and the English and French Catholic school boards in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Incumbent Mayor Jim Watson did not run for re-election, citing his age as the reason behind his decision. This election was the first since the 1997 municipal election that an incumbent mayor or its equivalent did not run for re-election. The mayoral election was won by businessman and former journalist Mark Sutcliffe.
Candidate nominations opened on May 2 and closed on August 19. The election was held on the same day as the 2022 Ontario municipal elections.
Background The outgoing city council was marred by a split between supporters of Mayor Jim Watson, known by detractors as the "Watson club", who represented mostly suburban and rural wards, and opponents of the mayor's agenda, who mostly represent more urban wards. Some of Watson's more vocal critics on council have included Jeff Leiper, Catherine McKenney, Shawn Menard, Carol Anne Meehan and Diane Deans. This divide on council has shown up on a number of key issues during the term, such as a fight over who should chair the transportation committee, the Ottawa Police Services budget, a tax break for a proposed Porsche dealership in Vanier, whether to call for a judicial inquiry into the beleaguered Ottawa light rail system, how to deal with the Freedom Convoy occupation of the downtown core, and a vote on an unpopular addition to the Chateau Laurier.
Incumbents not running for re-election IncumbentPositionWard/ZoneDate announcedNew office holderValérie AssoiTrusteeZone 6 (CECCE) (did not file)Denis ForgetChristine BoothbyTrusteeZone 2 (OCDSB) (did not file)Alysha AzizRob CampbellTrusteeZone 5 (OCDSB) (did not file)Amanda PresleyEli El-ChantiryCouncillorWest Carleton-MarchJuly 28, 2022Clarke KellyDenis M. ChartrandTrusteeZone 7 (CEPEO) (did not file)Philippe LandryRick ChiarelliCouncillorCollegeAugust 19, 2022Laine JohnsonJean CloutierCouncillorAlta VistaJanuary 27, 2022Marty CarrDiane DeansCouncillorGloucester-SouthgateDecember 10, 2021Jessica BradleyChris EllisTrusteeZone 6 (OCDSB) (did not file)Lyra EvansKeith EgliCouncillorKnoxdale-MerivaleApril 20, 2022Sean DevineMark FisherTrusteeZone 11 (OCDSB) (did not file)Matthew LeeMathieu FleuryCouncillorRideau-VanierMay 10, 2022Stéphanie PlanteJan HarderCouncillorBarrhavenDecember 3, 2018David HillWendy HoughTrusteeZone 4 (OCDSB) (did not file)Suzanne NashCatherine McKenneyCouncillorSomersetDecember 10, 2021Ariel TrosterCarol Anne MeehanCouncillorGloucester-South NepeanJuly 25, 2022Steve DesrochesScott MoffattCouncillorRideau-GoulbournNovember 14, 2021David BrownRoda MuseTrusteeZone 6 (CEPEO) (did not file)Marc RoyKeith PennyTrusteeZone 8 (OCDSB) (did not file)Donna DicksonSandra SchwartzTrusteeZone 12 (OCDSB) (did not file)Cathryne MilburnJim WatsonMayorOttawaDecember 10, 2021Mark Sutcliffe
Mayoral candidates Registered candidates
Brandon Bay
Brandon Bay, 34, is a software developer. Candidacy registered: May 2, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: Working Together. Campaign slogan (French): Travaillons ensemble. Policies: Build smart, affordable housing, invest in businesses and the future, market Ottawa to itself and the world
Zed Chebib Zed Chebib, 67 is a Lebanese-born Canadian limousine driver and police reform advocate who is most known for being deported from Australia despite having resided in the country with his family for over a decade. Candidacy registered: August 10, 2022
Bob Chiarelli
Bob Chiarelli, 81, is the former Mayor (2001–2006) and Regional Chair (1997–2001), a former provincial cabinet minister under Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne, and the former MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean (2010–2018) and Ottawa West (1987–1997). He is the second cousin of outgoing city councillor for College Ward Rick Chiarelli. Candidacy announced: December 10, 2021 Candidacy registered: May 2, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: Moving Ottawa Forward Campaign slogan (French): Faire progresser la ville d'Ottawa Policies: Repairing a 'fractured, toxic city council'; "instilling leadership" through hearing and responding to the needs of its citizens, getting the right people in the same room at the same time, assisting councillors in reaching their constituents’ goals, respecting all councillors regardless of their views, working in partnership with councillors, special interest groups; Getting value for tax dollars.
Bernard Couchman
Bernard Couchman, 43, is a businessman and perennial candidate. He ran for mayor in the 2014 and 2018 elections. Candidacy registered: May 2, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: It's about you and I. Campaign slogan (French): Il s'agit de toi et de moi.
Celine Debassige Celine Debassige, 22, is an Indigenous activist and poet. She is Ojibwe and Dene, and described herself as a "radical socialist". Candidacy registered: July 15, 2022
Gregory "Jreg" Guevara
Gregory "Jreg" Guevara, 25, is a YouTuber and journalist who goes under the pseudonym Jreg (also JrEg) online. He writes for Capital Current, and formerly for The Charlatan and Apartment613. Guevara denied that his campaign is a joke, instead referring to it as post ironic. He stated that he is simultaneously a libertarian and a socialist, and describes his political beliefs as anti-centrist. Candidacy registered: July 22, 2022 Candidacy announced: August 9, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: OttaWall for all!!!
Nour Kadri Nour Kadri, 48, is a professor and an expert-on-call at the University of Ottawa, president & CEO of Skyline Health Systems, and president of the Canadian Arab Federation. Candidacy registered: August 2, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: Leadership that Works for You Campaign slogan (French): Un leadership à votre service
Graham MacDonald
Graham Macdonald, 39, is a businessman and the founder & former CEO of Ottawa Mortuary Services. He previously served as the president of the Ottawa District Funeral Service Association. Candidacy registered: May 3, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: Accountability
Mike Maguire
Mike Maguire, 61, is an independent management consultant and a former public servant. He was the mayoral runner-up in the 2014 and a candidate in 2010. He considers himself to on the right wing of the political spectrum. Candidacy registered: June 29, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: Responsibility, Integrity, Leadership Campaign slogan (French): Responsabilité, Intégrité, Leadership
Catherine McKenney
Catherine McKenney, 61, is the city councillor for Somerset Ward since 2014. Prior to being elected to city council, McKenney was a political staffer to councillors Alex Munter and Diane Holmes, and MPs Ed Broadbent and Paul Dewar. Candidacy announced: December 10, 2021 Candidacy registered: May 3, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: Let's build a city that works for all of us Campaign slogan (French): Bâtissons une ville inclusive! Policies: More trees and greenspace, putting climate action at the centre of all the City's decisions, reinvesting in social services and supports for Ottawa's most vulnerable, investing in active transportation and recreation, make bussing and the LRT easier and more convenient, make transit as affordable as possible to reduce congestion, restore trust, transparency and accountability at city hall, grow arts, entertainment and culture sector.
Ade Olumide
Ade Olumide, 51, is a taxpayer rights advocate and former president of the Municipal Taxpayer Advocacy Group. He sought the Conservative Party of Canada nomination for Kanata—Carleton for the 2015 Canadian federal election, but was disqualified with no reason provided. Olumide later challenged the decision in court, citing his ethnic origin as the reason for his disqualification. Candidacy registered: May 10, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: Competence and Ethics Campaign slogan (French): Compétence et éthique Policies: Develop a Police Complaints Bill of Rights for victims which include the general public & police officers; maximize the ratio of sworn vs unsworn police through attrition to reduce the impact of $151,000 annual compensation per person; appoint an Ottawa Ombudsman to review complaints about the Integrity Commissioner, Auditor General, Board or City Manager decisions in accordance with an Ottawa Civil & Property Bill of Rights; end home construction policies that disadvantage new home buyers; manage the city through an Income Equity Lens and place a 1% cap on taxes increases; invest approximately $63 million towards free transit for low-income residents, a rural home to shuttle LRT, and increase road maintenance through a 4-year hiring freeze on city employees and hire contractors to fill any gaps that may arise; end landfill methane emissions by building an ethanol zero-waste recycling center for weekly collection of organics, recycling, garbage, construction, electronics; and develop a bylaw regarding windmills.
Param Singh Paramjit Singh, 46, is a police officer with the Ottawa Police Service. Singh is fluent in three languages: English, French, and Punjabi. Candidacy registered: May 16, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: A Vision for a Better Future Campaign slogan (French): Une Vision pour un avenir meilleur
Jacob Solomon
Jacob Solomon, 19, is a student at the University of Ottawa studying political science. Candidacy registered: August 19, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: I will fix this city
Mark Sutcliffe
Mark Sutcliffe, 54, is an entrepreneur & business consultant, and a former local radio, print, & television media personality. Candidacy announced: June 29, 2022 Candidacy registered: June 29, 2022 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: Leadership for a safe, reliable, and affordable Ottawa. Campaign slogan (French): Leadership pour une Ottawa sécuritaire, fiable, et abordable. Policies: Funding police, fire and paramedic services, being tough on the causes of crime, restore confidence in public transit, improve roads, keep taxes, recreation fees and other costs as low as possible.
Declined or dropped out
Bryan Brulotte, CEO and chair of employment firm MaxSys Staffing and Consulting (1993–present), deputy chief of staff to Paul Dick (1993), Progressive Conservative candidate for Lanark-Carleton in 2000 Diane Deans, incumbent city councillor for Gloucester-Southgate Ward (1994–present). She had announced she would be running but dropped out. (Endorsed McKenney) Mathieu Fleury, incumbent city councillor for Rideau-Vanier (2010–present) Lisa MacLeod, incumbent MPP for Nepean; former provincial Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport (2019–2022), Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Women's Issues (2018–2019) (Endorsed Sutcliffe) Catherine McKenna, former MP for Ottawa Centre (2015–2021), former federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change (2015–2019) and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities (2019–2021) (Endorsed McKenney) Shawn Menard, incumbent city councilor for Capital Ward, former manager of government relations for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (Running for re-election; endorsed McKenney) Jim Watson, incumbent mayor; former MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean (2003–2010), former provincial cabinet minister under Dalton McGuinty, former city councillor for Capital Ward (1991–1997)
Issues