--- title: "Jeff Leiper: candidate for mayor, Ottawa 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/jeff-leiper" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:05:26.682Z" meta: description: "Jeff Leiper is the City Councillor for Ward 15 Kitchissippi according to the City's own page, and the City's list of certified candidates shows his nominat..." "og:description": "Jeff Leiper is the City Councillor for Ward 15 Kitchissippi according to the City's own page, and the City's list of certified candidates shows his nominat..." "og:title": "Jeff Leiper: candidate for mayor, Ottawa 2026" "twitter:description": "Jeff Leiper is the City Councillor for Ward 15 Kitchissippi according to the City's own page, and the City's list of certified candidates shows his nominat..." "twitter:title": "Jeff Leiper: candidate for mayor, Ottawa 2026" --- ** Mayor · Ottawa 2026 # Jeff Leiper Sitting councillor for Kitchissippi, running for Mayor. Jeff Leiper is the City Councillor for Ward 15 Kitchissippi according to the City's own page, and the City's list of certified candidates shows his nomination for Mayor dated May 1, 2026. His campaign says Ottawa should be a city that works, with transit that runs on time, homes people can afford and a City Hall that is open about its decisions. Council's minutes of December 10, 2025 record him voting against the 2026 budget, and on September 15, 2026 he proposed a 1 percent property tax levy for infrastructure. Explore priorities Campaign links Researched by voche.me · Not a campaign-authored page Candidate space2026 ![Jeff Leiper, from Jeff Leiper campaign (leiper2026.ca).](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/images/candidates/jeff-leiper-640.webp) *Jeff LeiperMayorv.* [Image: Jeff Leiper campaign (leiper2026.ca)](https://www.leiper2026.ca) 01 / Introduction ## About Jeff Leiper The City's page about him says Jeff Leiper was first elected to Council in 2014 and represents Ward 15 Kitchissippi. CBC News calls him a three-term councillor and reported on June 25, 2025 that he chairs the Planning and Housing Committee, that he had been an executive at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, and that he had been president of the Hintonburg Community Association. On that day he told CBC News he was planning to run for mayor. The City's list of certified candidates shows his nomination for Mayor dated May 1, 2026, the first day nominations opened. CBC News reports that he cannot run for mayor and councillor at the same time. Council's minutes of December 10, 2025 record his votes on the 2026 budget. He voted against the motion that adopted the 2026 budgets, which carried 21 to 4. The other three councillors against were M. Luloff, S. Devine and A. Troster. The same minutes record him voting for the 2026 Ottawa Police Service budget, which carried 20 to 5. CBC News reported that the budget raised property taxes by 3.75 percent. CBC News also reports that he opposed the Lansdowne 2.0 project and led an unsuccessful effort against reducing how often light rail trains run. His campaign website says he has spent 11 years on City Council and is running because Ottawa 'should be a city that works'. It lists plans for transit, housing and an open City Hall. Those are the campaign's own statements. On August 4, 2026 he told CBC News that he has 'voted against bad budget after bad budget from both Watson and Sutcliffe' and that he is running because he believes he can be more effective as mayor. voche.me checked only the December 10, 2025 budget votes against that statement. CBC News reported on May 1, 2026 that he promised 1,500 new non-profit homes each year, a City fund to buy rental buildings at risk of being lost to affordable housing, a refusal of donations from developers, no use of the strong mayor powers (the extra powers Ontario gives some mayors to override council), a weekly published mayoral schedule and wider use of ANCHOR, the City's crisis response program that offers an alternative to police for some calls about addiction and mental health. On August 4 he presented a transit plan with five points, and said he is not promising a fare freeze or lower fares. On September 15 he proposed a 1 percent property tax levy (an extra charge on property tax bills) to repair roads, sewers and other City assets. He told CBC News the levy would cost the average homeowner $28 a year and bring in $25.5 million a year. City finance staff earlier estimated $46 a year for a 1 percent levy, and Leiper used a different calculation from the 2026 budget. On the main tax question he has not named a total increase. At the October 2 debate he said 'I don't want to pay more tax' and described the increases he would accept as 'modest'. In a statement to CBC News, Mark Sutcliffe accused him of 'continuing to push for higher taxes during the election campaign'. Leiper replied that Sutcliffe was trying to frighten voters. voche.me found no complaint, finding or court case about Leiper in the sources it opened. [Alex Lawson proposes 200-bed addiction recovery centre on Greenbelt land ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/lawson-drug-recovery-plan-2026-10-09) [Seven mayoral candidates lay out transit and environment plans at Nepean Sportsplex forum ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/mayor-forum-transit-trees-2026-10-09) [Sutcliffe leads Leiper by 18 points in Nanos poll with 17 days to go ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/sutcliffe-poll-lead-2026-10-09) [Alex Lawson releases fiscal plan promising 2027 property tax freeze ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/lawson-tax-freeze-plan-2026-10-08) [Mayoral candidates lay out economic plans as Ottawa Board of Trade holds industry panel ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/ottawa-economic-panel-2026-10-07) [Jeff Leiper lays out five-point plan for rural Ottawa ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/leiper-rural-plan-2026-10-07) Read the sources 02 / The issues ## Priorities & positions Campaign-source summary Summarized from the campaign’s published profile. These are stated positions, not an assessment of results or a complete platform. 01 ### Transit that works On August 4, 2026 he put forward five points: restore the citizen seat on the Transit Commission, a transit service guarantee with public standards, reverse recent route cuts, dedicated bus lanes across the city, and a long-term plan to replace and maintain buses.
Read the full position He did not promise a fare freeze or lower fares and said 'a regular series of fare increases that are as absolutely low as possible' may be needed. Sutcliffe's campaign answered that Leiper voted in 2022 against keeping the citizen members on the transit commission. Leiper told CBC News that the loss of trust since then is why he wants them back.
[CBC News · Mayoral rivals spar: Does solving Ottawa's transit woes require experience or fresh eyes?, August 4, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-mayoral-candidates-share-competing-transit-plans-ahead-of-fall-election-9.7296254) 02 ### Housing that works His campaign says he would deliver 1,500 new non-profit homes each year on City land and with faster approvals, set up a City fund to buy at-risk rental buildings, and expand inspections with higher fines for repeat offenders.
Read the full position CBC News noted that the rental building fund idea did not pass when councillors considered it in 2024.
[CBC News · Jeff Leiper unveils partial mayoral platform on Day 1 of campaign, May 1, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/jeff-leiper-unveils-partial-mayoral-platform-on-day-1-of-campaign-9.7183113) 03 ### An open City Hall He promised to refuse donations from developers, to publish a weekly mayoral schedule, to disclose meetings with lobbyists and not to use strong mayor powers to override Council. [CBC News · Jeff Leiper unveils partial mayoral platform on Day 1 of campaign, May 1, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/jeff-leiper-unveils-partial-mayoral-platform-on-day-1-of-campaign-9.7183113) 04 ### Paying for repairs On September 15, 2026 he proposed a 1 percent property tax levy to repair aging roads, sewers and other City assets.
Read the full position He says it would raise $25.5 million a year and cost the average homeowner $28 a year. City finance staff estimated $46 a year earlier in 2026. CBC News reports he gave no end date for the levy and would not say what the full tax increase would be.
[CBC News · Jeff Leiper pitching 1% property tax levy for infrastructure if elected mayor, September 15, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/jeff-leiper-ottawa-levy-infrastructure-mayor-9.7345247) 05 ### Public safety He promised to rely on other models for some police work, expand the ANCHOR crisis response program across the city with funding that grows with the police budget, and add staff for bylaw enforcement. [CBC News · Jeff Leiper unveils partial mayoral platform on Day 1 of campaign, May 1, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/jeff-leiper-unveils-partial-mayoral-platform-on-day-1-of-campaign-9.7183113) [City of Ottawa · Jeff Leiper, Councillor](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/mayor-and-city-councillors/jeff-leiper) Research status ## What voche.me has checked Evidence reviewed on October 5, 2026: the City of Ottawa's list of certified candidates and its page about him, the minutes of City Council of December 10, 2025, five pages of his campaign website, and CBC News reports dated June 25, 2025 to October 2, 2026. His role as councillor comes from the City's own page. His plans come from his campaign and from the reports that quote it. Gaps. His X, Facebook and Instagram accounts showed only a profile line and no readable posts, so none is used. The campaign's Meet Jeff page showed no text to a script, and its Fix Your City page was not opened. Minutes of Council meetings other than December 10, 2025 were not opened, so no other vote is attributed to him. The City's page about him is an archived copy and may not show his current committee roles, so the committee chair role comes from CBC News. His statement that he voted against budgets under both Jim Watson and Mark Sutcliffe was checked only for the 2026 budget. The questionnaire has not been sent. [City of Ottawa · certified candidates, Mayor](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/elections/candidates/certified-and-acclaimed-candidates/certified-candidates-mayor) [City of Ottawa · City Council minutes, December 10, 2025](https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=4d914219-00c6-48c4-bcc6-b82ca579c430&Agenda=PostMinutes&lang=English) 03 / Background ## Experience & community 2014 to present ### City Councillor, Ward 15 Kitchissippi The City's page says he was first elected in 2014. It says he has been chair of the Information Technology Sub-committee and vice-chair of the Transportation Committee, and a member of the Planning and Environment Committees and the Transit Commission. CBC News reported in June 2025 that he chairs the Planning and Housing Committee. [City of Ottawa · Jeff Leiper, Councillor, Ward 15 Kitchissippi](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/mayor-and-city-councillors/jeff-leiper) Before 2014 ### Executive at the broadcasting and telecommunications regulator The City's page says he worked as a manager and executive at Canada's broadcasting and telecommunications regulator, and earlier as a trade journalist and analyst in the information and communications technology industry. CBC News names the regulator as the CRTC. [City of Ottawa · Jeff Leiper, Councillor, Ward 15 Kitchissippi](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/mayor-and-city-councillors/jeff-leiper) Dates not given ### President of the Hintonburg Community Association CBC News reports he served as president of the association before joining Council. [CBC News · Coun. Jeff Leiper eyes mayoral run against Mark Sutcliffe, June 25, 2025](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-leiper-mayoral-run-1.7569914) 04 / Questions & answers ## Questions for the candidate Proposed questions for a future interview. They have not been sent to the candidate, and no answers have been supplied. No questions and answers have been supplied. ### Have your own question? Ask Jeff Leiper directly. We send it to the campaign, and publish the reply here if we get one. 05 / About this page ## Questions about this page Facts voche.me can state about Jeff Leiper's page itself, answered directly rather than left blank.
Is this an official page for Jeff Leiper? No. This page is researched by voche.me from public sources, listed below, and is separate from Jeff Leiper's own campaign.
Does Jeff Leiper currently hold public office? Yes. Jeff Leiper currently serves as City Councillor for Ward 15 Kitchissippi.
How many sources does this Jeff Leiper profile cite? This profile lists 14 sourced references, each with the date voche.me checked it, in the Sources section below.
Why do some questions on Jeff Leiper's page show no answer? The "Questions & answers" section on this page lists questions voche.me would put to Jeff Leiper in a future interview. They have not been sent yet, so the page says plainly that no answer has been supplied instead of leaving the section blank.
When is the election Jeff Leiper is running in? The 2026 Ottawa municipal election, including the Mayor race, is decided on October 26, 2026.
06 / Candidate contributions ## Space for campaign updates ### No campaign updates yet Announcements, event details and messages can be added here, with their source and publication date. No campaign submission has been added. ## Sources & transparency - [City of Ottawa · certified candidates, Mayor ](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/elections/candidates/certified-and-acclaimed-candidates/certified-candidates-mayor)Checked October 5, 2026 - [City of Ottawa · Jeff Leiper, Councillor, Ward 15 Kitchissippi ](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/mayor-and-city-councillors/jeff-leiper)Checked October 5, 2026 - [City of Ottawa · City Council minutes, December 10, 2025 ](https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=4d914219-00c6-48c4-bcc6-b82ca579c430&Agenda=PostMinutes&lang=English)Checked October 5, 2026 - [Jeff Leiper campaign website ](https://www.leiper2026.ca)Checked October 5, 2026 - [Jeff Leiper campaign · Why I'm Running ](https://www.leiper2026.ca/why_im_running)Checked October 5, 2026 - [Jeff Leiper campaign · Jeff's Priorities ](https://www.leiper2026.ca/priorities)Checked October 5, 2026 - [Jeff Leiper campaign · News and updates ](https://www.leiper2026.ca/updates)Checked October 5, 2026 - [Jeff Leiper campaign · In the news ](https://www.leiper2026.ca/inthenews)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · Jeff Leiper unveils partial mayoral platform on Day 1 of campaign, May 1, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/jeff-leiper-unveils-partial-mayoral-platform-on-day-1-of-campaign-9.7183113)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · Coun. Jeff Leiper eyes mayoral run against Mark Sutcliffe, June 25, 2025 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-leiper-mayoral-run-1.7569914)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · Mayoral rivals spar: Does solving Ottawa's transit woes require experience or fresh eyes?, August 4, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-mayoral-candidates-share-competing-transit-plans-ahead-of-fall-election-9.7296254)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · Jeff Leiper pitching 1% property tax levy for infrastructure if elected mayor, September 15, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/jeff-leiper-ottawa-levy-infrastructure-mayor-9.7345247)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · What's your number? Mayoral candidates pressed on tax pledges, October 2, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-mayor-promise-plan-platform-taxes-2026-9.7366694)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · City budget passes with pledge to make LRT trains run more often, December 10, 2025 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/city-budget-passes-with-pledge-to-make-lrt-trains-run-more-often-9.7010761)Checked October 5, 2026 Missing information does not imply a candidate’s position. [Read our editorial standards.](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/about) Campaign contact ## Campaign links & contact. Find the candidate’s website, social accounts and contact information. [Jeff Leiper campaign website](https://www.leiper2026.ca) [Jeff Leiper on X](https://x.com/LeiperOttawa) [Jeff Leiper on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jleiper) [Jeff Leiper on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/jeffleiperottawa) ## View more candidates. [All candidate spaces ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates) [Mayor**Alex Lawson**](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/alex-lawson) [Mayor**Ali Shayvard**](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/ali-shayvard) Candidate Q&A ## Ask Jeff Leiper a question. Give your name, email and question. We send it to the campaign, and publish their answer here if we get one. ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/on/ottawa-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.