Sutcliffe, Lawson and Leiper each announce new pledges on Tuesday
Three Ottawa mayoral candidates released separate campaign plans on Tuesday: Mark Sutcliffe on combating hate, Jeff Leiper on a Kanata recreation centre, and Alex Lawson on youth drug prevention.
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Three Ottawa mayoral candidates each released new campaign pledges on Tuesday, October 13, as reported by CTV News Ottawa: Mark Sutcliffe on combating hate and extremist recruitment, Jeff Leiper on building community infrastructure in Kanata, and Alex Lawson on reducing youth substance use.
Sutcliffe commits to doubling hate and bias crime unit
Sutcliffe's campaign said it would work with the Ottawa Police Service Board to double the size of the hate and bias crime unit. The campaign cited reports of white nationalist recruitment posters appearing on postsecondary campuses and in communities across Ottawa, as well as hateful messages sent to Muslim schools and increased police patrols at Jewish institutions following an attack at a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario.
Sutcliffe said he would convene a faith leaders council within 60 days of a new term, bringing together community leaders to identify practical ways to confront hate and support affected residents. He also said he would launch a city-wide campaign to help residents recognize and report extremist recruitment, working with local MPs, the Ottawa Police Service, and community groups including Ottawa Stops Hate.
"There is no place for hate in Ottawa," Sutcliffe's campaign said. "Residents should be able to go to school, work, worship and raise their families without being targeted because of who they are or where they come from."
Leiper pledges recreation centre with medical space in Kanata
Leiper said he would build a new recreation centre in Kanata that includes dedicated medical space, if elected mayor. He said the neighbourhood is growing and its infrastructure has not kept up. "A city that works builds the facilities residents need to stay healthy and active," Leiper said, as reported by CTV News Ottawa.
Further details on the Kanata plan were expected Tuesday afternoon, after the CTV News Ottawa article was published.
Lawson proposes Planet Youth drug prevention program
Lawson said he would bring the Planet Youth organization to Ottawa to reduce youth substance use. The plan, as he described it to CTV News Ottawa, would include annual surveys of students in grades 7 through 12 across all four Ottawa school boards, covering topics such as time with family, sports, arts and clubs, sleep, screen use, and early substance use. Responses would be anonymous, and parents or guardians could choose to opt their children out of the questionnaire.
Lawson said survey results would guide decisions on community programs, and he would offer vacant rooms and idle hours at city facilities to community groups such as the Boys' and Girls' Club or the YMCA. He said he would work to keep community centres, libraries and other city-run facilities open longer. Lawson said he would also seek federal and provincial funding to help expand programs.
Election day is October 26, 2026. Ottawa has one advance voting day on October 16, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Profiles of all three candidates are on this site's Ottawa candidates page.
Questions this story answers
What did Mark Sutcliffe announce on October 13?
Mark Sutcliffe's campaign announced a commitment to work with the Ottawa Police Service Board to double the size of the hate and bias crime unit. Sutcliffe also said he would convene a faith leaders council within 60 days of a new term to identify ways to confront hate, and would launch a city-wide campaign against extremist recruitment. His campaign cited reports of white nationalist recruitment posters appearing on postsecondary campuses and in communities across Ottawa.
What did Jeff Leiper announce for Kanata?
Jeff Leiper, who currently serves as a councillor and is running for mayor, said he would build a new recreation centre with dedicated medical space in Kanata if elected. Leiper said the neighbourhood is growing but its infrastructure has not kept pace. CTV News Ottawa reported that more details were expected Tuesday afternoon, and this brief is based on what the outlet reported at the time of publication.
What is Alex Lawson's Planet Youth plan?
Alex Lawson said he would bring the Planet Youth organization to Ottawa to help reduce youth substance use. His plan, as described to CTV News Ottawa, includes annual surveys of students in grades 7 through 12 across all four school boards, covering topics such as time with family, sports, sleep, screens and early substance use. Survey results would be anonymous and would guide decisions on community programs. Lawson also said he would offer vacant rooms and idle hours at city facilities to community groups, and would seek federal and provincial funding to expand programs.
Who is running for mayor of Ottawa in 2026?
CTV News Ottawa reported on October 13 that 14 candidates are running to be mayor of Ottawa. The candidates listed are Queen Divine Priya Amber Bakshi, Zed Chebib, Bernard Couchman, Suraj Harish, Alex Lawson, Jeff Leiper, Geoff Nicholas, Josh Rachlis, Neil Saravanamuttoo, Ali Shayvard, Jacob Solomon, Mark Sutcliffe (the incumbent), Amjad Ali Syed, and Peter Westaway. Voters can read candidate profiles at the link below.
When is advance voting in Ottawa?
Ottawa has one advance voting day on Friday, October 16, 2026. Voting places will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The main election day is October 26, 2026. You can find voting place information through the City of Ottawa's website.
Why did Sutcliffe focus on anti-hate measures?
Sutcliffe's campaign cited reports of white nationalist recruitment posters and stickers appearing on postsecondary campuses and in communities across Ottawa, as well as hateful messages sent to Muslim schools and increased patrols at Jewish institutions following an attack at a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, the previous month. These are the campaign's stated reasons, as reported by CTV News Ottawa, and the campaign is the source of those claims.
What are the four school boards in Ottawa?
Ottawa has four school boards: the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Ottawa Catholic School Board, the Conseil des ecoles catholiques du Centre-Est, and the Conseil des ecoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario. Lawson's Planet Youth plan would involve surveys of students across all four boards. Voters choosing school board trustees can see the candidates at the link below.
Where can I find more information about Ottawa mayoral candidates?
Profiles of Ottawa mayoral candidates, including Mark Sutcliffe, Jeff Leiper, and Alex Lawson, are available on this site. You can compare their platforms and backgrounds at the Ottawa candidates page. The main election day is October 26, 2026, with advance voting on October 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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