MacLeod for mayor?

Good morning! 

As I mentioned last week, there are now fewer than 100 days until Ottawa voters head to the polls to elect the city’s next mayor and council. Up until now, it’s been a relatively quiet campaign — but that could soon change as a familiar political name weighs a return to public office.

Remember Lisa MacLeod? She was one of Ontario’s longest-serving MPPs, representing Nepean (and previously Nepean–Carleton) from 2006 until her retirement in 2025. Last week, she hinted on Facebook that she’s considering a run at municipal politics, citing growing frustration with the direction the city is headed.

MacLeod’s potential entry comes as a new poll suggests incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe remains in a strong position. But with more candidates still expected to enter the race, will that advantage last?

Let’s get to it! 

By the way: Thanks to all of you who've written to me with your municipal election coverage ideas. While I might not have time to get back to each of you individually, please know I’ll be going over all of your fantastic ideas with our team. Keep those ideas coming!

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor

Have a story idea or editorial questions? Contact our team at [email protected]

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WEATHER

Monday: 27 🌡️ 18 | 🌧️

Tuesday: 23🌡️ 18 | 🌧️

Wednesday: 22 🌡️ 19 | 🌧️

By Charlie Senack. Read the story online here.

It was during what should have been a quick trip to the grocery store last week that former Nepean MPP and Ontario cabinet minister Lisa MacLeod began thinking about municipal politics.

The Barrhaven resident said on Facebook that a normally 10-minute drive “turned into a 45-minute crawl” through the suburb because of traffic congestion, construction and detours.

She outlined her frustrations on social media, arguing that anyone running for city council or mayor should explain what they intend to accomplish within their first 100 days in office to make Ottawa a more livable city.

“Tell me how you’ll get Ottawa finances under control so taxpayers see better value for their money. Tell me how you’ll fix traffic and transit so people can get to work on time…,” MacLeod wrote. “Tell me how you’ll make it worth going downtown again. Today, too many people avoid the core because of unreliable transit, traffic congestion, public disorder, vacant storefronts, and the simple feeling that it’s easier to go somewhere else.”

The post struck a nerve. In just over a day, it had been viewed more than 19,000 times, with many commenters suggesting MacLeod herself should consider running for mayor. As it turns out, she has been thinking about it, too.

9,100

The number of federal workers who have applied for early retirement before the Friday deadline, though the final number won't be known until this week. A total of 68,000 were eligible. [CBC]

📱 The 911 system is changing, though no one will notice a difference when calling. The city has joined other Canadian communities in replacing the existing analog infrastructure with a system that provides more precise location data, real-time text, and voluntary sharing of additional information, though those advanced features are not yet available in Ottawa. Read more ($). [Ottawa Citizen]

🎤 Mark Sutcliffe told the media on Friday that it wasn’t the “responsibility of the federal public servants to make downtown businesses financially viable” in response to the downtown Business Improvement Areas campaign to get public servants to stay more in the area. It comes as the city prepares to deal with an estimated 65,000 additional weekly trips in September, due primarily to the federal return-to-office plan. Read more ($). [Ottawa Citizen]

🎒 As of now, there are 19 candidates running for school trustee in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. At least one person is registered in each of the 12 zones. It comes even as the board has been sidelined after the province put them under supervision, with a provincial appointee making all the decisions. Read more. [CBC]

👮 A man who was stabbed at Craig Henry Park on Thursday evening was a 55-year-old parent who was intervening in a conflict among several female youths under the age of 15. He was taken to the hospital, but his injuries are non-life-threatening. Two suspects have been arrested. Read more. [CTV]

🇨🇦 The mayor announced that the city would be flying a giant maple leaf flag outside of City Hall in response to Trump’s tariff threats. Usually, the flag flies only on Canada Day at Marion Dewar Plaza. Read more. [CTV]

Chamberfest 2026 | Ottawa, Ontario | July 23 to August 2 | Experience Council: Pekka Kuusisto and Gabriel Kahane unite genre-defying music, storytelling, and fearless collaboration in one unforgettable performance | Learn more [Sponsored]

Champions of Community Care Gala Nominations | Champlain Region | Nominations Open Until August 15, 2026 | Someone was there when it mattered most. Honour an exceptional healthcare professional by submitting a nomination today | Learn more [Sponsored]

Geek Trivia | Level One Game Pub, 14 Waller St. | July 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Bring your friends and test out all your nerdy and geeky expertise | Free with purchase

Board Game and Chess Meet-Up | 1-80 Marketplace Ave. | July 28, 6-10 p.m. | Bring your own games or play from the selection of more than 100 games and meet up with new people to play | Free entry

Grief Walk | 211 Bronson Ave. | July 29, 11:50 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Join others for fresh air, exercise and companionship for a grief walk along the Ottawa River | Free

Jewelry & Accessories Sale | Unitarian House, 20 Cleary Ave. | July 30, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Browse a selection of jewelry, handbags, scarves, accessories and more, donated by local supporters | Cash only

Old Ottawa East Community BBQ | Brantwood Park | July 30, 5:30-7 p.m. | Join your neighbours for outdoor fun, food, music and community-building | Free entry

Mocktails and Masterpieces | Studio G, Fenton Road | July 30, 6-8 p.m. | Join in an evening of connection and creativity among the sober community | Tickets $40

Ottawa Psychic & Crystal Fair | Nepean Sportsplex | July 31-Aug. 2 | Enjoy a convention featuring top psychics, mediums, astrologers, rune reading, healers, tea leaf and palm readers, and crystals and jewelry | $10 admission

Touch-A-Tractor | 100 Bay St., Embrun | July 31 at 10 a.m. | Come out for a free kids’ fun day featuring face painting, balloons, and the chance to interact with tractors and big wheels | Free

Vegans Who Snack | Parkdale Market | July 31, 5-9 p.m. | Come out with more than 70 small businesses, music in the park and all the vegan snacks you need | Free entry

Learn to Swing Dance | 174 Wilbrod St. | July 31, 7:45-11:30 p.m. | Try out swing dancing, no partner or experience needed | Tickets $15

Want to see your event here? Submit them to our event calendar.

By Charlie Senack

Three and a half weeks after nominations opened for this fall's municipal election, incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has officially registered as a candidate in a bid to win a second term. 

But on the same day, municipal governance advocacy group Horizon Ottawa filed a complaint with the city’s integrity commissioner over ads Sutcliffe has been running in community newspapers, which they say read more as campaign material than a message from the mayor's office. 

The ads in question were published in the OSCAR newspaper and list some of Sutcliffe’s priorities and accomplishments from the past four years, including keeping taxes low, hiring more first responders, investing in transit, and ending youth homelessness by 2030. It also includes a QR Code to his newsletter and the slogan “moving Ottawa forward” — borrowed from Bob Chiarelli’s failed mayoral campaign back in 2022. 

Read the story.

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