Catherine McKenney endorses Jeff Leiper for mayor of Ottawa
The Ottawa Centre MPP chose Leiper over former colleague Neil Saravanamuttoo, citing Leiper's eight years on city council.
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Catherine McKenney, the Ottawa Centre MPP, endorsed Jeff Leiper for mayor of Ottawa on October 19, choosing the longtime city councillor over former close colleague Neil Saravanamuttoo, the Ottawa Citizen reported.
McKenney cited Leiper's council experience as the reason for the choice. "I think it's a difficult job. I just felt that you need that experience, and I feel that Jeff has it," McKenney told the Citizen. "You cannot be an effective mayor if you've never been on council."
Saravanamuttoo had worked alongside McKenney before this race. He served as McKenney's economic adviser during their 2022 mayoral campaign. After McKenney lost that election, the two co-founded CityShapes, a national non-profit focused on advocacy and community engagement for better cities, in 2023. Despite that history, McKenney chose Leiper when both sought the city's top job.
Saravanamuttoo told the Citizen he was not offended. He attributed the decision to party loyalty. "Catherine is a member of the NDP and party politics comes first in a lot of these decisions," he said. "The NDP wanted a mayor in the City of Ottawa. I don't take it personally; it's just party politics."
He also pushed back on the idea that Leiper is the stronger challenger to incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. "Jeff has some support in the core among downtown progressives, but his support in the rest of the city is just not sufficient," Saravanamuttoo said. "We need a candidate who can attract voters from all of the different regions of Ottawa, and that's me."
Leiper welcomed the endorsement. "They and I share many of the same values and approaches. I'm grateful that they've chosen to express that publicly," he told the Citizen.
Both Leiper and Saravanamuttoo have said they hold second place behind Sutcliffe, pointing to different polls. Ottawa voters choose the mayor on October 26, 2026. You can read about all four mayoral candidates, including Jeff Leiper and Neil Saravanamuttoo, at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates#mayor.
Questions this story answers
Who did Catherine McKenney endorse for Ottawa mayor?
McKenney endorsed Jeff Leiper, a longtime city councillor, according to the Ottawa Citizen's report on October 19, 2026. McKenney said Leiper's eight years on council gave him the experience the job requires.
Why did McKenney choose Leiper over Saravanamuttoo?
McKenney told the Ottawa Citizen they believed council experience was necessary to be an effective mayor, and that Leiper had it. McKenney said, 'You cannot be an effective mayor if you've never been on council.' Saravanamuttoo served as McKenney's economic adviser during the 2022 campaign but has not held elected office.
What did Neil Saravanamuttoo say about the endorsement decision?
Saravanamuttoo said he was not offended and not surprised. He told the Citizen, 'Catherine is a member of the NDP and party politics comes first in a lot of these decisions. The NDP wanted a mayor in the City of Ottawa. I don't take it personally; it's just party politics.'
What connection did McKenney and Saravanamuttoo have before this election?
Saravanamuttoo served as an economic adviser during McKenney's 2022 mayoral campaign. After McKenney lost that race, the two co-founded the national non-profit CityShapes in 2023, according to the Ottawa Citizen.
How did Jeff Leiper respond to the endorsement?
Leiper said he was glad to have McKenney's support. He told the Ottawa Citizen, 'They and I share many of the same values and approaches. I'm grateful that they've chosen to express that publicly.' Leiper is a longtime city councillor who has represented a ward in Ottawa's urban core. Ottawa voters choose their mayor on October 26, 2026.
What did Saravanamuttoo say about his own chances in the race?
Saravanamuttoo said Leiper's support is concentrated among downtown progressives and is not sufficient city-wide. He told the Citizen, 'We need a candidate who can attract voters from all of the different regions of Ottawa, and that's me.' Both Leiper and Saravanamuttoo have said they are in second place behind incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, citing different polls.
Who is Catherine McKenney?
McKenney ran for mayor of Ottawa in 2022 and lost that race. They are now the MPP for Ottawa Centre, according to the Ottawa Citizen. Before running for mayor, McKenney served on Ottawa City Council. They remain a prominent figure in Ottawa politics and their endorsements carry weight in the city's progressive community.
Where can I learn more about the mayoral candidates?
You can read about all four mayoral candidates, including Jeff Leiper and Neil Saravanamuttoo, at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates#mayor on voche.me. Each candidate profile lists their platform commitments and sources. Ottawa's municipal election voting day is October 26, 2026. Advance voting has already closed.
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