Great launch party for @jchianello.bsky.social yesterday. Feels like a winning campaign. If Chianello wins, she will be one of only a few new members of Ottawa Council. @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @timtierney.ca www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4Pb...

Joanne Chianello for Kitchissippi

YouTube video by bellscorners

youtube.com

@jleiper.bsky.social road to victory runs through ground game. @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @timtierney.ca If Jeff Leiper Can’t Electrify the Race, Can His Ground Game Save Him? cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/if-jeff-le...

If Jeff Leiper Can’t Electrify the Race, Can His Ground Game Save Him?

If there’s no Leiper surge coming, his campaign will have to manufacture one, door by door.

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com

campaign discussion @brigittepellerin.bsky.social This isn't “change election”unless 4-way mayoral race makes it one. @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social@ Four Theories of the Election, the RTO Sleeper, and Inputs vs. Conversions cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/four-theor...

Four Theories of the Election, the RTO Sleeper, and Inputs vs. Conversions

This is not a “change election” – unless the mayoral race makes it one.

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com

@brigittepellerin.bsky.social and I are pretty sure that #ottcity could do more to match local employers with local talent. Alex Lawson is on "right track" with the release of his proposal to stimulate local employment. Our weekly Ottawa election chat comes out today.

Packed house at Nepean Sportsplex (Hall A) for first mayoral debate. Seven candidates showed up, including two of the front-runners -- @neilsara.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social Not sure about format, though. Doesn't feel like a debate when people have prepared answers. #ottpoli

Some members of Ottawa Council may be scratching their heads. I explain to @brigittepellerin.bsky.social why I think Chris Alexander (Toronto) & @neilsara.bsky.social are talking about international issues during municipal election. @arieltroster.com @lainejohnson.bsky.social @timtierney.ca

Lots for me & @brigittepellerin.bsky.social to discuss. * Council starts to take shape with 2 elected * @neilsara.bsky.social gets recognized * Mayor's BBQ @alexcullen.bsky.social Deadline Day: Two Acclamations, One Spoiler, and a Cold Hot Dog cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/deadline-d...

Deadline Day: Two Acclamations, One Spoiler, and a Cold Hot Dog

Is the 2026 Ottawa municipal election going to be a “change election”?

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com

I attended OC Transpo information session in Orleans. Star attraction: GM Rick Leary * Residents frustrated with system * Leary gave thoughtful answers. * He wouldn't be pushed on line extension until he talks to Council @catherinekitts.bsky.social @lauradudas.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social

We're approaching 2:00 pm EST deadline. Up to 4 candidates will be acclaimed for #ottawa election. People ask whether @neilsara.bsky.social will be kingmaker for @jleiper.bsky.social After 2:00 pm today, his name stays on the ballot even if he decides to drop out. @brigittepellerin.bsky.social

Former Rideau-Vanier Councilor Mathieu Fleury is endorsing the Mayor. His letter is measured & thoughtful. He's an asset for Sutcliffe campaign. He may also be looking at 2030. @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social substack.com/@evanhpotter...

Evan Harold Potter (@evanhpotter)

Former Rideau-Vanier Councilor Mathieu Fleury (2010-2022) endorses Mark Sutcliffe. Fleury's letter of endorsement is a stark contrast from John Baird's attack letter on Alex Lawson and @Jeff Leiper. ...

substack.com

@arieltroster.com right on points 1 and 3. But on point 2: A. Toronto Councilor salary $170,000 vs $120,000 for Ottawa Councilor B. Toronto wards have twice as many residents Election not best time to talk salary. @brigittepellerin.bsky.social

Ariel Troster@arieltroster.com · 3w ago

With a week till nominations close for the Oct 26 municipal election, there are several wards where the candidate is unopposed. I think this speaks to 1) the toxic political climate, 2) the inadequate compensation for hours worked, and 3) general burnout. Still, this is bad for democracy.

Mayor Sutcliffe has argued that the way to bring riders back to OC Transpo is to make the system more reliable, not cheaper. Now, 2 months before an election, he proposes making it much cheaper. How will @jleiper.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social respond? www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Sutcliffe to make campaign pledge for $95 monthly adult transit passes | CBC News

Mark Sutcliffe will make the first major policy announcement of his re-election bid on Monday, releasing a transit platform that includes a pledge to cut the cost of OC Transpo's adult monthly pass by...

cbc.ca

How the City of Ottawa communicates with residents comes up frequently during this election (e.g., floods) @brigittepellerin.bsky.social & I discuss during our weekly campaign chat. @lainejohnson.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social

People want to know if @neilsara.bsky.social will drop out of mayoral race to prevent fragmentation of Centre-Left vote. @brigittepellerin.bsky.social & I give Neil some free advice. Put Yourself in Neil Saravanamuttoo's Shoes cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/put-yourse...

Put Yourself in Neil Saravanamuttoo's Shoes

The mayoral campaign is past the half-way mark and it looks like this will be a four-way contest.

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com

I went to Mayor’s Annual BBQ looking for a little politics. I came away with lesson in what #ottcity actually does for the residents of Ottawa. @shawnmenard.bsky.social @arieltroster.com Did I Attend Mark Sutcliffe’s Final Mayor’s Barbecue? cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/did-i-atte...

Did I Attend Mark Sutcliffe’s Final Mayor’s Barbecue?

I went to the Mayor's BBQ and discovered vital municipal services.

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com

@neilsara.bsky.social is posting very effective political marketing ads. The key is their ability to show contrast. In this case, his ad forces us to think about @jleiper.bsky.social raising taxes -- never a good thing in an election. @jleiper.bsky.social substack.com/@evanhpotter...

Evan Harold Potter (@evanhpotter)

Neil Saravanamuttoo has cut another very effective political ad. Too bad it isn’t running on local television stations. But it should get penetration on all socials. In 14 seconds, he does something e...

substack.com

How the City of Ottawa communicates with its residents has come up for repeated criticism by the Mayor's challengers. Is it all spin? City Hall Is Supposed To Tell You What You Need to Know When You Need To Know It cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/city-hall-...

City Hall Is Supposed To Tell You What You Need to Know When You Need To Know It

Public communicators have to use the techniques of public relations to do their jobs, but this doesn't mean that what they do is "spin."

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com

2/ @kengray20.bsky.social political description of the city of Ottawa hits nail on head: .."you’d think it [Ottawa] would be very liberal, which it is in provincial and federal elections... #ottpoli Lawson Gives Voters What They Want: CHANGE THING bulldogottawa.com/lawson-is-th...

Lawson Gives Voters What They Want: CHANGE THING - THE BULLDOG

Aug. 9, 2026: Mayoral candidate Alex Lawson's rise from nowhere to second place in the polls is not without precedent. Lawson, a right-winger, had no

bulldogottawa.com

Can you become Mayor of Ottawa with 32%? 3-way race with @neilsara.bsky.social as 4th candidate & Sutcliffe under 40% means this is a change election. @brigittepellerin.bsky.social & I discuss. How to Become Mayor of Ottawa with 32% of the Vote cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/how-to-bec...

How to Become Mayor of Ottawa with 32% of the Vote

Can the mayoral campaigns tap into Ottawa's "rizz" vote?

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com

Is @jleiper.bsky.social connecting with the broader Ottawa electorate? @brigittepellerin.bsky.social shares a very balanced perspective with me during our weekly chat. I wonder what Leiper's fellow Councillors think?

Lessons from Michigan for Ottawa polling: Data guru Nate Silver reminds us that polling error depends on type of election. Low-turnout municipal races are notoriously difficult to poll. That's why next Capital Tracker poll is indispensable snapshot of Ottawa voters. substack.com/@evanhpotter...

Evan Harold Potter (@evanhpotter)

Lessons from Michigan for Ottawa municipal election polling: Data guru Nate Silver makes an important point in his discussion of this week’s Michigan Democratic Senate primary. Polling error isn't con...

substack.com

@brigittepellerin.bsky.social provides a thoughtful and detailed take on why Mark Sutcliffe could be a one-term mayor. Brigitte made this prediction 3 years ago and returns to it in this video. @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @arieltroster.com

Brigitte Pellerin@brigittepellerin.bsky.social · last mo.

Politics for but smart people: The Mark Stucliffe is a one-term mayor edition. randomactsofurbanism.substack.com/p/politics-b...

This week in #ottawa campaign: @brigittepellerin.bsky.social doesn't hold back. She's got choice words. Back to 4-way mayoral race. @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @arieltroster.com Some Eye-Rolling Developments in the Mayoral Campaign open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...

Some Eye-Rolling Developments in the Mayoral Campaign

Lisa MacLeod is out and there's no real mystery so far in the mayoral contest.

open.substack.com

@mirgray.bsky.social It's highly doubtful.

Miranda Gray@mirgray.bsky.social · last mo.

You don't think she could yet make a U-turn to enter the race?

Nerding out on the Ottawa election campaign trail. @brigittepellerin.bsky.social and I discuss my recent visit to a @neilsara.bsky.social event.

It was an early exit. Door #2. A bit of a head-scratcher but we're not in her shoes. @kegli.bsky.social

Keith Egli@kegli.bsky.social · last mo.

And it was door # 2.

Lisa MacLeod has 3 options: 1. become candidate 2. exit stage left 3. endorse a candidate Best option is to run. @neilsara.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social It May Be Hard for Lisa MacLeod to Say No open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...

It May Be Hard for Lisa MacLeod to Say No

She would be a "disruptor" in the mayoral campaign.

open.substack.com

Lisa MacLeod tells @kengray20.bsky.social on LinkedIn that Mayor has lost her support for 2026 race. A breadcrumb into her thinking. CBC/CTV radio & TV will likely only cover her if she files her nomination papers. If she does, it's new race. @neilsara.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social

In that case, Keith, there's an option. He has a long last name. No one should turn blind eye to what's going to be 90 days of personal attacks. Right or Left, residents & Councillors (incumbent & retired) can't condone this type of politics. It needs to be called out. @kegli.bsky.social

Keith Egli@kegli.bsky.social · last mo.

Not taking sides . But my take is that “right” side of the City is dissatisfied with Mark’s level of “rightness “. But too many “right” challengers may open the door to 4 years of Mayor Leiper . I am pretty sure those folks wouldn’t like that result.

Councillor @arieltroster.com you're now officially "radicalized" by our Mayor. He's opened up battle front with you. T-shirt is great idea. "Radical Councillors" should show up to Chamber with T-shirt on. We'll let @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social respond as they see fit.

Ariel Troster@arieltroster.com · last mo.

Where do I get my, “other radical councillor” tshirt?