--- title: "Steve Desroches: candidate for Councillor in Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek, Ottawa 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/steve-desroches" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:05:40.840Z" meta: description: "Steve Desroches is the sitting Councillor for Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek, according to the City’s list of elected officials, and is on the City’..." "og:description": "Steve Desroches is the sitting Councillor for Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek, according to the City’s list of elected officials, and is on the City’..." "og:title": "Steve Desroches: candidate for Councillor in Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek, Ottawa 2026" "twitter:description": "Steve Desroches is the sitting Councillor for Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek, according to the City’s list of elected officials, and is on the City’..." "twitter:title": "Steve Desroches: candidate for Councillor in Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek, Ottawa 2026" --- ** Councillor in Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek · Ottawa 2026 # Steve Desroches Sitting Councillor for Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek since 2022, also a Councillor from 2006 to 2014, seeking re-election. Steve Desroches is the sitting Councillor for Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek, according to the City’s list of elected officials, and is on the City’s list of certified candidates for the same ward, with a nomination dated May 4, 2026. The City’s results give him 5,684 of the 8,378 votes cast in Ward 22 in 2022, which is 67.8 percent, in a race of 4 candidates. CBC News reports that he also held the seat for the Gloucester-South Nepean ward from 2006 to 2014. The Council minutes record him voting for the 2026 Ottawa Police Service budget, the Safe Access to Social Infrastructure By-law and the Development Charge Reduction Program, and against the Rental Renovation Licence By-law review. He moved the motion that made transit free for riders aged 18 and under on weekends and holidays from July 1, 2026. His campaign says its priorities are the Southeast Ottawa Recreation Complex, Bank Street and Leitrim Road traffic, police resources, and low taxes. His only challenger is Muyiwa Ojo. Explore priorities Campaign links Researched by voche.me · Not a campaign-authored page Candidate space2026 ![Steve Desroches, from Steve Desroches campaign (stevedesroches.vote).](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/images/candidates/steve-desroches-640.webp) *Steve DesrochesCouncillorv.* [Image: Steve Desroches campaign (stevedesroches.vote)](https://stevedesroches.vote/) 01 / Introduction ## About Steve Desroches The City of Ottawa’s list of elected officials for 2022 to 2026 shows Steve Desroches as Councillor for Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek. The City’s list of certified candidates shows his nomination for the same ward dated May 4, 2026, with the same date for his registration in the Contribution Rebate Program. The City’s published results for the October 24, 2022 election give him 5,684 of the 8,378 votes cast in Ward 22, which is 67.8 percent, the most votes in a race of 4 candidates (Zainab Alsalihiy received 1,537, Salah Elsaadi 902 and Em McLellan 255). CBC News reported in 2022 that he represented the Gloucester-South Nepean ward from 2006 to 2014, when he stepped down after saying he would serve only two terms, and that he won the redrawn Riverside South-Findlay Creek seat after Carol Anne Meehan chose not to run again. The City’s page for him, copied on August 11, 2025, gives the same dates and titles him Councillor and Deputy Mayor. In the CTV News Ottawa questionnaire he says he served three terms on Council, including four years as Deputy Mayor. CTV News Ottawa writes elsewhere in the same article that he served two terms between 2008 and 2014, which differs from the 2006 start in CBC News and on the City’s page. Muyiwa Ojo is the other candidate on the 2026 ballot. The City’s page for him, the CTV News Ottawa questionnaire and the CBC News questionnaire describe a career as a federal public servant, with departments that include Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Privy Council Office, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Elections Canada. The City’s page also lists a Master of Arts in history from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Arts in public administration from Carleton University. These are his own statements and the City’s page was written by his office, and voche.me did not check them with the bodies named. The Council minutes of four meetings record his votes by name. On December 10, 2025 he voted for the 2026 Ottawa Police Service budget (carried 20 to 5, with Councillors King, Menard, Johnson, Bradley and Troster against). He voted against a motion by Councillor King that would have matched a $5.4 million police reserve allocation with $5.4 million for ANCHOR (a program that sends non-police crisis teams) and community hubs (lost 9 to 16), and against the second part of that motion, which carried 17 to 8. He voted for the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee part of the budget (carried as amended 23 to 2), for the motion that adopted the 2026 budgets (carried 21 to 4), which he seconded, and against Councillor Kelly’s motion on conditions for a battery energy storage system at Marchurst Road (lost 9 to 16). That day he moved four motions that carried. One made transit free for riders aged 18 and under on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from July 1, 2026, asked staff to study free rides after 5 p.m. for the same riders, gave Para Transpo riders aged 65 and over a monthly credit of four urban fares and extended weekday transfer times from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. to 105 minutes, with $510,000 a year paid from fuel hedging savings. One asked staff to keep reviewing the City’s fee for pre-authorized debit payments, one named Riverside South Park 11 Moncion’s Park, and one was the formal motion to receive the draft budgets. On April 22, 2026 he voted for the Safe Access to Social Infrastructure By-law (carried 20 to 4, with Councillors Menard, Devine, Bradley and Troster against), and against both amendments to it: one that would have removed its ban on demonstrations inside safe access zones (lost 6 to 18) and one that would have limited the by-law to times when a facility is used for its main purpose (lost 10 to 14). On July 15, 2026 he voted for the Development Charge Reduction Program report (carried 23 to 1, with Councillor Menard against), against Councillor Menard’s motion to refer that report to a special meeting of Council (lost 11 to 14), and against the Rental Renovation Licence By-law review (carried 20 to 5, with Councillors Hubley, Hill, Brown and Lo also against). That day he moved a motion asking staff to include, in the update of the Transportation System Management Strategy, recommendations on who is responsible for the City’s mobility network and who decides how it is run, which carried. On September 9, 2026 he voted for a motion by Councillor King that asks the federal government to extend its consultation on the Eastern Bridge Project (carried 23 to 2). His campaign website says that in this term he secured funding for the Southeast Ottawa Recreation Complex, advanced the ward’s first library, supported more police resources and a south Ottawa police station, and that the City has found more than $250 million in savings over four years. It lists a health hub in Findlay Creek, upgrades to the Bank Street and Leitrim Road intersection, a multi-use path to Leitrim station and low taxes as plans. CTV News Ottawa reported in June 2026 that the recreation complex would cost an estimated $175 million by his estimate, with about two years of design and two years of construction. In the CBC News questionnaire he says the police budget should be increased, gives no figure for the highest 2027 tax increase he would support, gives no answer on how to cover OC Transpo deficits, and answers no when asked whether the City should put climate resilience ahead of spending in other areas. In the CTV News Ottawa questionnaire he does not say whether he would raise or lower transit fares and says he would support a budget that invests in roads and is mindful of affordability. These are his own statements, and voche.me checked only the votes, motions and election results described above. The sources read hold no complaint against him. 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 ### Southeast Ottawa Recreation Complex His campaign pages say he returned to Council in 2022 to deliver the ward’s first major recreation complex, with a swimming pool, hockey rinks, sports fields and other facilities, and that the project is closer than it has been.
Read the full position CTV News Ottawa reported on June 12, 2026 that he shared first images of a complex of more than 15,000 square metres on Earl Armstrong Road, and quoted him estimating a cost of $175 million, two years of design and two years of construction. In the CBC News questionnaire he says current timelines put completion around 2030.
[Steve Desroches campaign · Findlay Creek priorities ](https://stevedesroches.vote/findlay-creek) 02 ### Roads and traffic His campaign pages say the City is finalizing the design for the Bank Street and Leitrim Road intersection and that he will advocate for construction money in the 2027 budget, and that Bank Street was widened from two lanes to four in a $50 million project.
Read the full position In the CBC News questionnaire he also names a bus rapid transit link from the Vimy Memorial Bridge to Limebank Station and the extension of Earl Armstrong Road.
[Steve Desroches campaign · Findlay Creek priorities ](https://stevedesroches.vote/findlay-creek) 03 ### Health hub, library and recreation in Findlay Creek His campaign page says he has a plan for the ward’s first health hub on surplus City property in the northern part of Findlay Creek, and that he led a visioning exercise for City land near Fred Barrett Arena that could hold more recreation and a library branch.
Read the full position His Riverside South page says a library branch near Limebank Station is being designed.
[Steve Desroches campaign · Findlay Creek priorities ](https://stevedesroches.vote/findlay-creek) 04 ### Police and public safety His campaign pages say he supported hiring more than 200 additional police officers and a new South District Police Station near Riverside South.
Read the full position The Council minutes record his vote for the 2026 Ottawa Police Service budget. In the CBC News questionnaire he says the police budget should be increased, with a focus on frontline officers.
[Steve Desroches campaign · Findlay Creek priorities ](https://stevedesroches.vote/findlay-creek) 05 ### Taxes and efficiency His campaign pages say he will support budgets that keep property taxes low while finding efficiencies, and that the City identified more than $250 million in savings over the last four years.
Read the full position In the CBC News questionnaire he gives no maximum for a 2027 tax increase and says he would support a budget that shows fiscal discipline.
[Steve Desroches campaign · Findlay Creek priorities ](https://stevedesroches.vote/findlay-creek) 06 ### Transit His campaign page says he is working for better access to LRT and better links across the south end, and his About page says he played a leadership role in the launch of O-Train Lines 2 and 4.
Read the full position The Council minutes of December 10, 2025 record his motion that made transit free for riders aged 18 and under on weekends and public holidays from July 1, 2026, which carried.
[Steve Desroches campaign · Findlay Creek priorities ](https://stevedesroches.vote/findlay-creek) Research status ## What voche.me has checked Evidence reviewed on October 7, 2026: the City’s list of certified candidates for Ward 22 (an Internet Archive copy), its open data file of nominations, its list of elected officials and its 2022 results, the City’s page for him (an Internet Archive copy of August 11, 2025), his campaign website (home, About Steve, Riverside South and Findlay Creek), CBC News of August 25, 2026 and its questionnaire, CTV News Ottawa of September 2026 and June 12, 2026, CBC News of October 24, 2022, and the Council minutes of December 10, 2025, April 22, July 15 and September 9, 2026. Gaps. His Facebook page and his X account showed no posts to a visitor who is not logged in. The Priorities, ward map and form pages of his campaign site were not read. The City’s page for him is a copy of August 11, 2025, so his title and committee roles may have changed. Committee minutes were not searched. His statements about funding secured, the library, the police station, savings figures and his degrees were not checked with the bodies named. The start of his earlier service is given as 2006 by CBC News and the City’s page and as 2008 by CTV News Ottawa, and the City’s results for those years were not read. His votes on matters outside the four Council meetings above were not searched. The voche.me questionnaire has not been sent. 03 / Background ## Experience & community 2022 to present ### City Councillor, Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek The City’s list of elected officials 2022 to 2026 shows him as the Ward 22 Councillor, and the City’s 2022 results give him 5,684 of 8,378 votes. [City of Ottawa open data · Elected Officials 2022-2026 (Ward 22 row)](https://services.arcgis.com/G6F8XLCl5KtAlZ2G/arcgis/rest/services/_Elected_Officials_2022_2026/FeatureServer/0) 2006 to 2014 ### City Councillor, Gloucester-South Nepean CBC News reported in 2022 that he represented the Gloucester-South Nepean ward from 2006 to 2014 and stepped down after saying he would serve only two terms. The City’s page for him gives the same dates. CTV News Ottawa gives 2008 to 2014. voche.me did not read the City’s results for those years. [CBC News · Steve Desroches returns to lead revamped Riverside South-Findlay Creek, October 24, 2022](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-municipal-election-riverside-south-findlay-creek-winner-1.6618828) Four years, as he describes it ### Deputy Mayor In the CTV News Ottawa questionnaire he says his three terms on Council included four years as Deputy Mayor. The City’s page for him, copied on August 11, 2025, titles him Councillor and Deputy Mayor. voche.me has not checked the dates in Council records. [City of Ottawa · Steve Desroches, Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Ward 22 (Internet Archive copy of August 11, 2025)](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/mayor-and-city-councillors/steve-desroches-councillor-and-deputy-mayor-ward-22-riverside-south-findlay-creek) 20 years or more, as he describes it ### Federal public servant In the CBC News questionnaire he says he has more than 20 years in the federal public service, across federal departments. voche.me has not checked this with the government. [CBC News · Candidate questionnaire: Steve Desroches, Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek](https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/28713125/steve-desroches-ward-22-riverside-south-findlay-creek.pdf) 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 Steve Desroches 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 Steve Desroches's page itself, answered directly rather than left blank.
Is this an official page for Steve Desroches? No. This page is researched by voche.me from public sources, listed below, and is separate from Steve Desroches's own campaign.
Does Steve Desroches currently hold public office? Not according to this profile. voche.me has not listed a current public office for Steve Desroches.
How many sources does this Steve Desroches profile cite? This profile lists 19 sourced references, each with the date voche.me checked it, in the Sources section below.
Why do some questions on Steve Desroches's page show no answer? The "Questions & answers" section on this page lists questions voche.me would put to Steve Desroches 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 Steve Desroches is running in? The 2026 Ottawa municipal election, including the Councillor 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, Councillor ](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/elections/candidates/certified-and-acclaimed-candidates)Checked October 7, 2026 - [City of Ottawa · certified candidates, Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek (list last updated August 21, 2026; Internet Archive copy) ](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/elections/candidates/certified-and-acclaimed-candidates/certified-and-acclaimed-candidates-city-councillor/certified-candidates-ward-22-riverside-south-findlay-creek)Checked October 7, 2026 - [City of Ottawa open data · 2026 Municipal Elections, nominated candidates ](https://open.ottawa.ca/datasets/5b79177ae7524c9fa68f79e852527604)Checked October 7, 2026 - [City of Ottawa open data · Elected Officials 2022-2026 (Ward 22 row) ](https://services.arcgis.com/G6F8XLCl5KtAlZ2G/arcgis/rest/services/_Elected_Officials_2022_2026/FeatureServer/0)Checked October 7, 2026 - [City of Ottawa open data · 2022 Elections Official Results (Statement of Votes Cast) ](https://open.ottawa.ca/datasets/ec1423ac43254bff8692fabd5d47772b)Checked October 7, 2026 - [City of Ottawa · Steve Desroches, Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Ward 22 (Internet Archive copy of August 11, 2025) ](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/mayor-and-city-councillors/steve-desroches-councillor-and-deputy-mayor-ward-22-riverside-south-findlay-creek)Checked October 7, 2026 - [CBC News · Riverside South-Findlay Creek: Here’s who’s running to be your Ottawa city councillor, August 25, 2026 (updated October 1) ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/riverside-south-findlay-creek-ward-election-city-ottawa-2026-9.7314193)Checked October 7, 2026 - [CTV News Ottawa · Meet the candidates for councillor in Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek, September 2026 ](https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/meet-the-candidates-for-councillor-in-ward-22-riverside-south-findlay-creek/)Checked October 7, 2026 - [CBC News · Candidate questionnaire: Steve Desroches, Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek ](https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/28713125/steve-desroches-ward-22-riverside-south-findlay-creek.pdf)Checked October 7, 2026 - [Steve Desroches campaign · Re-Elect Steve Desroches (home page) ](https://stevedesroches.vote/)Checked October 7, 2026 - [Steve Desroches campaign · About Steve ](https://stevedesroches.vote/about-steve)Checked October 7, 2026 - [Steve Desroches campaign · Riverside South priorities ](https://stevedesroches.vote/riverside-south-1)Checked October 7, 2026 - [Steve Desroches campaign · Findlay Creek priorities ](https://stevedesroches.vote/findlay-creek)Checked October 7, 2026 - [CBC News · Steve Desroches returns to lead revamped Riverside South-Findlay Creek, October 24, 2022 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-municipal-election-riverside-south-findlay-creek-winner-1.6618828)Checked October 7, 2026 - [CTV News Ottawa · Riverside South residents to get first look at plan for massive recreation complex, June 12, 2026 ](https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/riverside-south-residents-to-get-first-look-at-plan-for-massive-recreation-complex/)Checked October 7, 2026 - [City of Ottawa · City Council minutes, December 10, 2025 (2026 budget meeting) ](https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=4d914219-00c6-48c4-bcc6-b82ca579c430&Agenda=PostMinutes&lang=English)Checked October 7, 2026 - [City of Ottawa · City Council minutes, April 22, 2026 (Minutes 78) ](https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=b8f046ed-1ad8-41a3-9c20-c177b0dde00a&Agenda=PostMinutes&lang=English)Checked October 7, 2026 - [City of Ottawa · City Council minutes, July 15, 2026 (Minutes 83) ](https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=ba9d583c-b16d-4f97-9e87-a7b16b5825f4&Agenda=PostMinutes&lang=English)Checked October 7, 2026 - [City of Ottawa · City Council minutes, September 9, 2026 (Minutes 85) ](https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=0576ac9f-74e8-4986-b8f8-9c96b26f6e67&Agenda=PostMinutes&lang=English)Checked October 7, 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. [Steve Desroches campaign website](https://stevedesroches.vote/) [Councillor Steve Desroches on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CouncillorSteveDesroches/) [Steve Desroches on X](https://www.x.com/SteveDesroches) ## View more candidates. [All candidate spaces ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates) [Councillor**Ahmed Alsabaawi**](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/ahmed-alsabaawi) [Councillor**Ahmed Rashid**](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/ahmed-rashid) Candidate Q&A ## Ask Steve Desroches 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.